ChatGPT, a Helpful Scaffold or a Debilitating Crutch for Academic Writing?

This paper critically examines the role of ChatGPT, a sophisticated language model, in academic writing and explores whether it serves as a helpful scaffold or a debilitating crutch. As artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance, ChatGPT has gained popularity as a tool for generating written content, including academic papers. This review paper assesses the advantages and constraints of utilizing ChatGPT in academic writing, considering its influence on the writing process, quality of content, and the enhancement of critical thinking skills. The analysis draws on existing literature, empirical studies, and expert opinions to provide a comprehensive evaluation of ChatGPT's influence on academic writing. The findings reveal that while ChatGPT can offer valuable support by assisting with generating ideas, improving language fluency, and enhancing productivity, it also presents challenges related to reliance, plagiarism, and potential erosion of writing skills. The paper discusses the ethical implications linked to the use of ChatGPT and proposes strategies to maximize its benefits while mitigating its drawbacks. Overall, this review adds to the current discussion on incorporating artificial intelligence tools in academic writing and offers valuable perspectives for educators, researchers, and students in navigating the complex landscape of technology-assisted writing.