31 Module Nine: Creative Writing Wrap Up
Module 9 Overview
- Analyzing the quality of AI-produced creative writing
- Assignment: You vs. AI (500 word short story on the topic of your choice) Due Sunday
- Week Nine discussion Due Sunday
9.01 Read OpenAI’s Short Story “A Machine-Shaped Hand”
Part of the reason I don’t plan my content very far in advance is that as you’ve probably noticed, AI is constantly changing. Last week, Sam Altman posted a short story written by ChatGPT’s new creative writer model to X. The Guardian reprinted the short story. You can access it here. Read the short story and take notes. What do you think? You will use this short story for your week nine discussion.
9.02 AI Creative Writing in the News
Part 1: Research and Analysis (😀 Human Task)
- Read “A Machine-Shaped Hand,” the short story from OpenAI’s new creative writing model (posted above)
- Find and read at least two news articles or blog posts discussing the story or OpenAI’s new creative writing capabilities
- In your discussion post, summarize the key points from your sources
- Share your personal reaction to the AI-generated story
- Reflect on what you found most interesting about how critics or journalists are responding to AI creative writing
Part 2: AI Evaluation (🤖 AI Task)
- Choose an AI tool (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) to evaluate the short story “A Machine-Shaped Hand”
- Important: When submitting the story to the AI, present it as if YOU wrote it. Do not reveal that it was written by an AI model.
- Ask the AI to provide a literary analysis or critique of “your” short story
- Include the AI’s complete response in your discussion post
Part 3: Reflection (😀 Human Task)
- Compare your own assessment of the story with the AI’s evaluation
- What did you notice about how the AI analyzed the story? Did it pick up on things you missed?
- Was the AI’s feedback helpful, insightful, or off-base?
- What do you think about the fact that one AI is evaluating another AI’s writing (without knowing it)?
- Consider what this exercise reveals about the relationship between human and AI creativity
Submission Requirements:
- Minimum 500 words for your own analysis and reflection (Parts 1 and 3)
- Include the complete AI evaluation (Part 2)
- Cite all sources used in your research
- Please use headings to separate the parts of the assignment in your response.
No responses to classmates are required. Due Sunday. 20 points.
9.03 Human vs. AI
Assignment Overview
Submit two 500-word short stories on the same theme – one written by you and one generated by an AI assistant (please use the “author voice” bot you created in Week Eight). Do NOT identify which is which. Include your AI prompt in a separate section at the end of your submission. Also include a brief 1-2 paragraph reflection comparing your human writing with the AI-generated text.
Note to students: This assignment is designed to explore the relationship between human and AI creativity, not to determine which is “better.” Focus on creating the most authentic expression of your chosen theme in your human-written story, and on crafting an effective prompt that guides the AI to create a compelling complementary piece.
Grading Rubric (100 points total)
Story Quality (60 points – 30 points per story)
| Criteria | Excellent (25-30) | Proficient (19-24) | Developing (13-18) | Needs Improvement (0-12) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrative Structure | Clear beginning, middle, and end with thoughtful pacing and purposeful arrangement | Logical structure with identifiable beginning, middle, and end | Basic structure present but may feel uneven or predictable | Disjointed or confusing structure that impedes understanding |
| Character Development | Characters feel distinct, complex, and authentic with clear motivations | Characters have some depth and dimension | Characters are identifiable but lack depth | Characters feel flat, generic, or inconsistent |
| Language & Style | Language is vivid, precise, and engaging with effective stylistic choices | Clear and appropriate language with some stylistic flourishes | Functional language that may lack distinctiveness | Language is vague, repetitive, or inappropriate to the story |
| Thematic Coherence | Theme is skillfully woven throughout the narrative | Theme is clear and consistently addressed | Theme is present but may not be fully developed | Theme is unclear, inconsistent, or absent |
Prompt Engineering (20 points)
| Criteria | Excellent (17-20) | Proficient (13-16) | Developing (9-12) | Needs Improvement (0-8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Prompt Quality | Detailed, strategic prompt that effectively guides the AI with specific parameters | Clear prompt that provides good direction to the AI | Basic prompt that communicates the theme but lacks detail | Vague or confusing prompt that doesn’t effectively guide the AI |
| Understanding of AI Capabilities | Prompt demonstrates sophisticated understanding of AI strengths and limitations | Prompt shows good understanding of how to direct AI effectively | Prompt shows basic understanding of AI capabilities | Prompt shows limited understanding of how to work with AI |
Reflection (20 points)
| Criteria | Excellent (17-20) | Proficient (13-16) | Developing (9-12) | Needs Improvement (0-8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative Analysis | Insightful analysis of similarities and differences between human and AI writing processes | Thoughtful comparison of human and AI approaches to the theme | Basic comparison with some meaningful observations | Superficial or limited comparison of the two writing processes |
| Critical Thinking | Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of AI’s impact on creative writing | Shows thoughtful consideration of AI’s role in creative writing | Shows some reflection on the implications of AI in writing | Shows minimal engagement with the larger implications of AI writing |
Extra Credit (5 points)
- 5 points awarded if the instructor cannot correctly identify which story was written by the human and which by the AI
Submission Requirements
- Two 500-word short stories on the same theme without identification of authorship
- The prompt given to the AI (in a separate section at the end)
- A brief reflection (300-500 words) comparing the two writing processes and results
