Teaching Writing in the Age of ChatGPT

The impact of artificial intelligence on how we teach writing and how our students produce writing is uncertain. However, there is no need to panic; Writing Studies has effectively– and even productively–responded to new technology before. From the introduction of everything from pencils and typewriters (Baron) to computers (Hawisher & Selfe) to multimedia tools (Akayoglu), writing theorists and teachers ultimately adapted to these new inventions and learned to use them effectively.

Students at the Writing Center.

Practical Teaching Resources

These resources offer ways you might utilize Writing Studies’ best pedagogical practices to address some of the challenges posed by ChatGPT.

Students at the Writing Center.

Writing Studies Responds to Technology

The field of Writing Studies has been responding to and theorizing the relationship of writing and technological inventions for decades, and this section offers a place to start learning about this history.

4 students talking at a table.

Scholarly Roots of Writing Studies’ Best Practices

These sources showcase some of the scholarship that led to the development of Writing Studies’ best practices, such as process pedagogy, critical self-reflection, and writing-to-learn strategies.

Students in class.

Sample Assignments

Use these sample assignments designed by UMass instructors and others either as-is or as inspiration to design your own writing activities and prompts that address a variety of technologies.

Students in the Writing Center.

The Current Conversation About ChatGPT

This section offers a curated overview of the vast public conversation happening around ChatGPT.

Tutors in the Writing Center.

Additional AI Resources for Instructors

As we continue to navigate the changing landscape of AI writing tools and other emergent digital technologies, this webpage is intended to provide a variety of resources you may find useful.