In an attempt to answer to recent concerns (if not crises) generated by generative Artificial Intelligence, Art of Writing has been collecting writing assignments/prompts for a small pamphlet, “Teaching Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” We recognize the complexity of the situation but have chosen to proceed.
Here is one example a faculty member has already offered:
“Outwrite” the AI (activity based on one developed by Emily Pitts Donahoe): Ask students to input a very basic writing prompt into an LLM (e.g. “Write an analytical essay for an audience of academics arguing that…”). Ask students to copy and paste them into Google Docs or MS Word, and then turn on the Track Changes or “Suggesting” feature. Ask students to then revise the LLM output. After students have completed their revisions, ask them to write a brief reflection on why they made certain revisions (from Jenae Cohn).
We would greatly appreciate your participation. Please submit a writing assignment you have recently devised in response to undergraduate students’ current usage of AI. Alternatively, submit your assignments or strategies for not using AI in the classroom.
Our (great) hope is to avoid the end of writing in the classroom by thinking collectively about creative alternatives. We are especially focusing on upper-division courses.
Please enter your assignment on this Google Doc by August 30, 2026, if not before! We have already gathered some assignments from faculty.