Resources for teaching writing in the age of AI text generators

Artificial Intellegence and the rapid development of tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and Quillbot, have the potential to disrupt norms and practices in the teaching and learning of writing. Wherever you sit on the spectrum of "hold the line" to "embrace the new," if students write in your courses, you are likely thinking about how to address AI text generators. 

The field of writing, composition, and rhetoric is rapidly responding to the need for information, ideas, and theories about the role of these AI-based tools in writing-attentive classes. Here are a few key resources exploring options, policies, pedagogies, and assignments in this era. 

  • For Faculty: Working with AI: George Cusack, director of writing across the curriculum at Carleton College, developed this resource for faculty at Carleton. It includes sample assignments and policies and considers the ethics and possibilities related to the tools.
  • The MLA-CCCC Joint Task Force on Writing and AI hosts a "quick start guide," teaching experiments, and blog. The group has authored two working papers on AI and writing. (The Modern Language Association and Conference on College Composition and Communication, 2023)
  • AI Text Generators: Sources to Stimulate Discussion Among Teachers This comprehensive, crowd-sourced Google Doc began in late 2022 when Anna Mills, writing faculty at College of Marin, began collecting resources, ideas, article links, and assignment ideas to support the work of writing instructors in higher education. Especially practical sections include assignment ideas, sample policy statements, and slides and handouts. Loads of ideas and information for college writing instruction, for teachers who embrace, abhor, or are curious about AI. 
  • AI Syllabus Language Heuristic: An interactive tool for designing a syllabus statement based on teaching philosophy. By Lance Cummings, assistant professor of English at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
  • Classroom Policies for AI Generative Tools: a collection of course policies and guidelines, shared by/for college faculty. The site was created by faculty developer Lance Eaton to help instructors develop their own language for navigating AI-Generative Tools.
  • The Association for Writing Across the Curriculum executive committee published its Statement on Artificial Intelligence Writing Tools in Writing Across the Curriculum Settings (Jan. 2023).

Resources at Amherst

AI At Amherst is a hub of information about ways to engage with Generative AI at Amherst College, including guidance on education, research, and events. 

Thinking about new approaches to writing in your class? Writing associates are available to consult on strategies for assignment design and feedback that may mitigate or engage AI tools, for instance: rhetorical analysis of AI-generated text; writing-to-learn activities; and iterative feedback, revision, and reflection.