AI Resources

AI Writing Assistants

Having AI write or rewrite content is controversial in higher education. Always check with your instructor to see if using AI is acceptable or if there are certain things that are not acceptable. While AI does a decent job of writing, you still need to do your own work and put things in your own words.

Is it okay to copy and paste an AI response? 
No. Instructors want to see you learn and grow--mistakes, missing info, and all. Paraphrase and put things in your own words.

Can I use tools like Grammarly to help with spelling and grammar?
In most cases, yes. But check with your instructor to make sure.

Steps for improving your writing with AI

1. Identify the main points of your paper.
2. Write a draft of the paper yourself.
3. Plug your draft into a prompt. Ask the AI to check for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Ask for suggestions to improve your paper or to flesh out your topic.
4. In your prompt, include the length or word count, and specify the audience.
5. Consider the differences between your original writing and the AI response. Learn what you can to become a better writer.
6. Then paraphrase the AI content in your own words.
7. Finally, document how you used AI. Note your prompts and responses. 

While it is generally not okay to copy and paste an AI response, it is usually okay to glean useful bits of information and learn from AI examples. The examples may give you ideas for how to improve your writing. You may see how your writing could be structured differently. You may notice how it uses a discipline-specific voice or perspective. It may help identify more appropriate terms or phrases of the trade. If a response use unfamiliar words and terms, use the opportunity to look them up. Ask AI to explain why a comma is used in a specific sentence.

Ultimately, you must paraphrase anything you use that was produced by AI by put things into your own words. You also may need to cite or acknowledge the use of AI, so get into the habit of documenting how you used AI and including prompts and responses. Also, it is your responsibility to make sure the information you provide in your writing is accurate as well as clearly communicated.