This new section of Writing Commons focuses on best-use practices of aI-Assisted writing.

What is Pedagogy?

The integration of AI into writing necessitates innovative pedagogical approaches that leverage generative artificial intelligence to enhance learning while preserving essential writing and thinking skills. Educators are challenged to guide students in using AI tools thoughtfully and ethically, ensuring that technology serves as an aid rather than a replacement for critical cognitive processes.

What is AI Pedagogy?

What are Critical AI Literacies?

Key areas of focus include:

1. Developing Critical AI Literacies

Anchored in the recommendations of the MLA-CCCC Joint Task Force on Writing and AI (2024), developing critical AI literacies involves teaching students to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI tools. This includes:

1. Understanding AI Functionality: Educating students on how AI generates content, including its reliance on training data and algorithms, to foster awareness of potential biases and inaccuracies.
2. Critical Evaluation: Encouraging students to critically assess AI-generated content, questioning its validity, reliability, and relevance.
3. Ethical Use: Promoting responsible use of AI tools by discussing ethical considerations such as transparency, consent, and societal impact.

2. Balancing AI Assistance with Skill Development

To ensure that reliance on AI does not impede the development of writing proficiency and critical thinking, educators must help students balance AI assistance with personal skill growth. Strategies include:

• Active Engagement: Encouraging students to use AI as a tool for inspiration and support rather than a substitute for their own thinking and writing.
• Process Ownership: Teaching students to stay in control of their composing processes, ensuring they are actively making decisions about content and structure.
• Reflective Practices: Implementing activities that prompt students to reflect on their use of AI, assessing how it influences their learning and development.

3. Ethical Considerations in Education

Addressing issues of authorship, plagiarism, and academic integrity in the context of AI-assisted writing is crucial. Educators should:

• Clarify Authorship: Discuss the implications of AI-generated content on authorship and the importance of original thought, delineating the line between original thought and plagiarism.
• Establish Guidelines: Develop clear policies regarding the acceptable use of AI in assignments, including when and how to attribute AI contributions.
• Promote Academic Integrity: Reinforce the value of honest work and the ethical use of AI, discouraging practices that undermine personal learning and integrity.

4. AI as a Thought Partner and Teaching Assistant

AI tools can serve as valuable “thought partners” or “teaching assistants,” aiding students in advancing rhetorical analysis and critical thinking skills. Educators can leverage AI to:

• Enhance Critical Thinking: Use AI-generated prompts and feedback to challenge students’ perspectives, encouraging deeper analysis and synthesis of ideas.
• Facilitate Discussion: Incorporate AI into classroom activities to stimulate debate and exploration of diverse viewpoints.
• Support Individual Learning: Personalize learning experiences by using AI to address students’ specific needs and interests.

5. Facilitating Composing Processes

Generative AI can assist in various stages of the composing process, helping students to:

• Idea Generation: Use AI for brainstorming and exploring new concepts during prewriting and inventing.
• Organizational Support: Employ AI tools to plan and structure their writing, improving coherence and logical flow.
• Research Assistance: Leverage AI to find and summarize relevant information, enhancing the research phase.
• Revision and Editing: Utilize AI suggestions for refining drafts, focusing on clarity, consistency, and correctness.

6. Maintaining Control Over Composing Processes

It’s essential for writers to maintain agency over their work, ensuring that AI tools augment rather than dominate the composing process:

• Strategic Use of AI: Teach students to use AI intentionally at various stages, while keeping their own goals and ideas central.
• Decision-Making Skills: Encourage students to critically decide when and how to incorporate AI assistance.
• Monitoring AI Influence: Guide students to be mindful of the extent of AI’s contribution, ensuring their original voice remains prominent.

7. Improving Clarity, Voice, and Style

AI tools can aid writers in refining their voice and style by providing feedback on various elements of style:

Voice and Point of View: Helping writers maintain a consistent voice, tone, persona, and point of view appropriate for their audience and purpose.

Clarity and Brevity: Identifying areas where writing can be more concise and understandable. AI can suggest simplifications or point out redundant phrases to enhance readability.

Diction and Tone: Suggesting vocabulary adjustments to better suit the intended audience and purpose. AI can recommend word choices that align with the desired tone, whether formal, informal, persuasive, or informative.

Inclusivity and Unity: Promoting language that is inclusive and unifying, aligning with ethical communication standards. AI can help identify biased or exclusive language, offering alternatives that foster inclusivity.

Syntax and Rhythm: Assisting with sentence structure and variety to improve the flow and rhythm of the text. AI can suggest modifications to sentence length and complexity for better engagement.

Use of Concrete and Sensory Language: Encouraging the incorporation of vivid, concrete details and figurative language to provide readers with clear and engaging descriptions.

Application of Rhetorical Modes: Offering strategies for effectively employing rhetorical modes such as narration, description, and comparison-contrast to achieve specific discourse aims.