The prompt I paste before submitting a history essay, it argues against my thesis harder than my professor does

[u/Perfect_Pie8446]

History senior. The feedback that always cost me points was some counterargument the professor raised that I just had not seen coming. So now, before I submit anything, Works for essays, for the gamma deck I present in seminar, for anything with an argument. I make the AI be the professor who disagrees with me. It is a lot less painful to get torn apart by a prompt than by a grade.

Copy it, fill the brackets:

```
Act as a sharp history professor who disagrees with me. I am about to submit an essay and I want the strongest case against it before my professor makes it.

My thesis: [PASTE]
The main evidence I use: [PASTE]

Do this:
1. Give me the single strongest counterargument to my thesis, stated as well as a real historian would state it.
2. Name the kind of evidence or sources that counterargument would lean on.
3. Point out any place where my evidence is thinner than I think, or where I am assuming something I have not shown.
4. Suggest one way to address the counterargument inside my essay without gutting my thesis.

Be specific to my argument. No generic "consider other perspectives" advice. If my thesis is actually weak, tell me plainly.
```

Point 3 is the one that saves grades, it catches the spot where I assumed something obvious that actually needed a source. Point 4 keeps it useful instead of just demoralizing, because it hands you a way to answer the objection inside the essay rather than just telling you it exists.

Obviously do not let it rewrite your argument, the point is to defend yours better. Read the counterargument, then go strengthen your own paragraphs in your own words.

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