Advantages and Challenges in the Use of ChatGPT by Students in Writing English Academic Essay
RONI FERDIAN, Reg. No. 22 301 040 33, thesis title: “ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES IN THE USE OF CHATGPT BY STUDENTS IN WRITING ENGLISH ACADEMIC ESSAY”. English Teaching Department, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. State Islamic University (UIN) Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar. This research was motivated by the rapid emergence of ChatGPT as a supportive tool for EFL learners at UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar. While earlier studies have explored general perceptions of AI, there is still a lack of deeper exploration regarding the specific, process-oriented utilization of ChatGPT in academic writing. This research offers novelty by exploring the real, personal, and process-oriented experiences of students, specifically focusing on the advantages and challenges in the use of ChatGPT in writing english academic essay This research applied a phenomenological qualitative design, This study involved fifth-semester English students at UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar who had completed the Argumentative Text Writing course. Informants were selected using purposive snowball sampling based on their active use of ChatGPT to support their writing process. The researcher served as the primary instrument, supported by an interview guide, notebook, and smartphone for recording. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s (1984) model, which includes data reduction, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions. Based on the data analysis, the results showed two main categories of experiences faced by students. First, the advantages of using ChatGPT include: 1) technical and efficiency support, such as time efficiency, improving vocabulary and grammar quality, and academic research tools collaboration; 2) pre-writing and brainstorming support, including idea generation, structural and outlining support, and finding information, references and content; and 3) content development and revision support, specifically in argument development, thesis statement development, and language level adjustment. Second, the challenges faced by students include: 1) accuracy and technical limitations, such as Generation of false information, reliability and validity check requirements, Logical inconsistency, and failure to follow instruction; 2) language and style barriers, namely vocabulary difficulties, writing style adjustment, and need for refinement; and 3) academic and behavioral risks, including verification burden, over-reliance on AI, weakening of critical thinking, and delaying work (procrastination)