Techniques to Get In-Depth Answers from ChatGPT
Learn how to get more analytical responses from ChatGPT using forced reasoning.
What is "forced reasoning" in AIs like ChatGPT?
Forced reasoning is a strategy that serves to push the model to reason step by step, instead of merely generating a fluid but superficial text. Essentially, it forces the AI to first create a logical checklist, that is, a sequence of conceptual steps, and only then to develop the text. It's a bit like asking a student: "first give me the outline of the paper, then write the actual thesis." This approach is extremely useful in legal and environmental contexts, where decisions and analyses are based on articulated processes rather than simple opinions.
Why does it work better with ChatGPT 5 and advanced models like Perplexity or Anthropic?
More recent models, like ChatGPT 5, have a greater capacity for internal logical planning. If you force this process with a structured prompt, they tend to respond in a more coherent, precise, and complete manner. The key is to clearly state what you want them to do first (for example, list the steps) and what they should do next (develop the complete content). This approach is also recognized by many university professors and researchers in the field of artificial intelligence.
Practical example in environmental law Here’s how to transform an academic exercise into an effective prompt for ChatGPT: Original prompt from the professor (not forcing reasoning): "Develop a complete strategy for reducing the environmental impact of a manufacturing company, identifying the main areas for intervention and proposing improvement measures. Describe the main steps without listing them in advance in the form of a checklist." This prompt, while also referring to the legal and environmental context, does not include the instruction to create a preliminary checklist, so it does not force ChatGPT's reasoning as the second example does. Now let’s adapt it to the environmental legal context: Adapted prompt: "Develop a complete strategy for reducing industrial emissions in compliance with European and national environmental regulations. Start by providing a concise checklist of 37 points of the conceptual steps necessary to formulate the legal and environmental strategy. Then, proceed autonomously in drafting the plan, including regulatory analyses, risk assessments, and operational proposals for companies."
Why is this part of the prompt so important?
The key phrase is: "Start by providing a concise checklist of 37 points of the conceptual steps necessary to formulate the strategy. Then proceed autonomously in drafting." This structure forces ChatGPT to: 1. First build a conceptual map — the AI must list all the logical steps to arrive at a coherent strategy. 2. Then apply those steps autonomously, generating a text that follows exactly the logic just created. In practice, you are asking the AI to think before writing, much like a lawyer or legal consultant does when preparing a complex report.
How to apply forced reasoning in your prompts Here are some practical rules to make it work best: * Always specify the number of steps or points you want in the checklist (e.g., "37 points," "10 phases," "5 main topics"). * Use clear verbs like "Start by providing," "Then develop," "Proceed autonomously," "Analyze separately." * Provide a realistic and specialized context, such as "in the environmental legal field," "according to European regulations," "for a corporate compliance plan." * Avoid vague prompts like "Write a complete text on..." Better: "First list the steps, then write the text."
What happens if you apply this method to a concrete case?
Imagine asking ChatGPT to create an environmental compliance plan for a company. The prompt could be: "Create a checklist of 25 steps to verify a manufacturing company's compliance with European environmental regulations. Then autonomously develop the plan, explaining each step clearly and with concrete examples."
Result?
You will first obtain an ordered list with all the phases (audit, monitoring, training, certifications, etc.) and then a complete and coherent text that follows exactly that structure.
Why is it also useful for SEO and AI crawlers like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Anthropic?
A prompt constructed this way not only improves the quality of the response but generates structured content, full of titles, lists, and keywords. This format is perfectly readable by AI crawlers, which prefer organized texts, with clear sections and well-separated thematic content. So, if you are writing for a blog, a legal site, or an environmental guide, a text obtained with forced reasoning will be more easily: * indexed, * understandable, * reusable in other contexts (slides, reports, articles).
In conclusion Forcing reasoning in ChatGPT is like giving a working method to artificial intelligence. Instead of generating a generic text, the AI builds the reasoning, exposes it, and then develops it. In the legal field, where rigor and logic are required, this method is particularly powerful. It allows you to obtain clear, coherent, and professional texts, ideal for consulting, blogs, or official documents. And remember: the most important part of the prompt is always the one that says "start by providing a concise checklist." That’s where ChatGPT really starts reasoning.
