You were given a topic
Then you can skip topic finding and directly gather the relevant materials. StudyTexter uses your topic as the frame for research, proposal, outline and later full text.
24h paper work plan
Research Paper
Result of this guide: a complete paper, for example a term paper, seminar paper or bachelor thesis, that you review, finalize and can submit.
Part 1
Before you start the StudyTexter flow, clarify topic and material. This gives StudyTexter the right frame from the beginning.
Preparation
The first step is of course to orient yourself toward a topic. If you do not yet have a topic or have only prepared a first, not fully formulated idea, do not worry. What matters is that you give StudyTexter the frame: field, direction, scope and existing requirements.
Then you can skip topic finding and directly gather the relevant materials. StudyTexter uses your topic as the frame for research, proposal, outline and later full text.
That is also enough to start. StudyTexter can develop a concrete research question within your direction. After literature research, the research gap is additionally checked and the question refined if needed.
Perfect. StudyTexter can then align literature research, outline and chapter planning very specifically with this question.
The best way is not to ask ChatGPT only 'Give me research questions', but to use it step by step like a sparring partner: first narrow the topic, then collect perspectives, then evaluate and sharpen questions.
A good starting prompt would be:
I am writing a paper in the field [field]. My rough topic is: [topic]. I have about [X] weeks and the paper should be around [X] pages. I want to find a feasible research question. Please help me in 3 steps: 1. Narrow the topic into 5 possible subareas. 2. Formulate 2-3 possible research questions for each subarea. 3. Assess each research question by feasibility, academic relevance and data/source situation.
If you do not yet have an exact topic:
I only know that I want to write my paper in the area [field]. My interests are: [interests]. I study [degree program]. Please suggest 10 possible topic areas suitable for a paper. Make sure they are not too broad and that there is enough academic literature.
Then have the suggestions sharpened:
These research questions appeal to me most: 1. [...] 2. [...] 3. [...] Please compare them critically: - Which is most realistic for a paper? - Which is too broad or unclear? - Which can be handled well with literature, survey, interview or case study? - How could each question be formulated more precisely?
Also ask for variants by method:
Formulate my topic as a research question in 4 variants: 1. as a pure literature-based paper 2. with expert interviews 3. with an online survey 4. as a case study of a company or example Briefly explain which variant is easiest to implement for a paper.
A good research question is usually:
Preparation
Before you open StudyTexter, collect everything that should shape your paper. Some requirements may be very concrete, others freely selectable. Both are fine: StudyTexter can also work with more flexible requirements.
First prepare the information that defines scope, form and expectations for your paper: Assignment, Assessment rubric or university guide, Citation-style requirements, Supervisor notes, Seminar documents, scripts or slides, Proposal, outline or notes, Earlier term paper as context.
If you have a bit more time, collect everything that brings the draft closer to your course, your supervisor and your current state of work, and enter it in Free-form input or upload:
A good paper stands or falls with good sources. If you already have a rough topic choice, you can provide StudyTexter with sources that align with your topic.
Part 2
Now you go through StudyTexter step by step: briefing, uploads, settings, proposal, sources, outline, chapter content and export.
Step: Free-form input
Free-form input is not just a field for your topic. It is your briefing to StudyTexter. Enter the information that should later guide research question, outline, literature search and chapter planning.
In short: under time pressure, think about which details are truly important, gather them and enter them here in Free-form input.
Copy the template into Free-form input and replace the placeholders with your details.
Prompt:
I am writing an academic paper with StudyTexter.
Topic / rough direction:
[insert topic]
Type of paper and scope:
[term paper / seminar paper / bachelor thesis / master thesis], about [X] pages or [X] words.
Field / degree program:
[insert]
Research question if already available:
[insert, or: please develop a suitable research question]
Method:
[literature-based / empirical / survey / interview / case study / unclear]
Important requirements:
[citation style, structure requirements, university requirements, grading rubric, supervisor notes]
Important content wishes:
[theories, authors, examples, companies, countries, time period]
What should be avoided:
[topics, methods, sources or angles that should not be used]
Please create a realistic, academically usable plan for this paper and pay attention to feasibility, sources and a clear throughline.Step: File upload
Before you open StudyTexter, collect everything that should shape your paper. Some requirements may be very concrete, others freely selectable. Both are fine: StudyTexter can also work with more flexible requirements.
Write a short note for important files: why it matters, whether it should be used as source, context or appendix, and which parts StudyTexter should pay special attention to.
Tip: upload seminar and lecture literature
Sources that were discussed in the seminar or lecture make the paper closer to the module and to your supervisor's focus. Many professors expect central course literature to be taken up in the paper.
!If there is required literature: prefer a digital full text, otherwise scan cleanly and upload.
Step: Settings and empirical method
The AI should have taken over the settings from your Free-form input. If needed, you can add information here that was not yet concrete in Free-form input but should be specified in Settings. Also skim the empirical method and check whether it fits your planned approach. You can adjust exact formatting and citation style again later in the final workflow step.
Step: Proposal draft
When StudyTexter creates a complete proposal, first get familiar with the suggestion.
If you still have some time, you can download the proposal draft at this point and discuss it with your supervisor. Ask specifically whether research question, method, scope and planned structure are coherent.
You can then incorporate the feedback back into StudyTexter before outline, sources and chapter content are developed further.
Step: Source evaluation
StudyTexter researches and structures sources so that they fit the paper. In this step, the point is therefore less to reassess the correctness of every source from scratch. Get familiar with the proposed source base and decide whether quantity, recency, languages and focus match your expectations and your university's requirements.
If you still have full-text PDFs that you have not uploaded yet, you can add them in the Source evaluation step.
Assess sources quickly: click individual sources. A small window opens with summary and table of contents. This gives you a quick first impression of whether the source fits your paper and meets your university's standards.
What the selection means:
Required = The source will definitely be used in the paper.
Yes = The source is analyzed and StudyTexter considers whether there are better sources with similar content.
No = The source will not be used under any circumstances.
Tip: take a look at the suggestions. The AI literature search has identified suitable sources. If needed, upload additional sources from the suggestions afterwards.
Public sources
Non-public sources
Step: Final proposal and empirical data
At this point, you look at the final proposal as the plan for your paper. StudyTexter has prepared research question and structure based on the source selection. This is about the rough drafting: do direction, order, method and academic style basically match your requirements? In the Empirical data step, you also see the draft of the empirical part; check mainly whether analysis, material and presentation basically fit your planned empirical approach.
Step: Chapter structure and Content review
StudyTexter has already prepared the content appropriately. You use this moment for content fine-tuning: which emphases should become stronger, where do you need more depth, less detail, different examples or different weighting? This turns the rough plan into a draft closer to your requirements and your desired focus.
Quick fine-tuning thought: if a chapter feels too large, too small or not weighted appropriately, you can shorten it, move it or align it more strongly with your desired focus.
If you enabled visualizations in Settings, you can choose here which figures or tables match your expectations. Suggestions that do not fit your style or focus can be deselected.
Step: Full text & Export and Bonus downloads
After export, you have a strong foundation. Read the paper once as your final version and adjust details that do not yet feel fully like your submission: tone, transitions, examples, weighting, cover sheet and formatting. Bonus downloads such as abstract, plagiarism check, AI check and other extras can also be downloaded, checked and, if needed, incorporated into your final submission version.
Part 3
After export, review the draft, add your own thoughts, check sources and use the templates for targeted revision.
Revision
Use extra time especially where it visibly improves quality: better sources, feedback, academic precision and your own fine-tuning.
Revision
Use this checklist at the end as a short control pass: what is prepared, what was checked in StudyTexter and what do you still need to secure yourself before submission?