21 ENGL 199 Course Syllabus

Catalog Course Description

This course introduces students to the evolving landscape of writing and research through the lens of generative AI tools. Students will explore how AI can assist in academic writing, research processes, professional writing, and creative expression, while critically examining the ethical implications and challenges that arise from the use of these tools. This course is designed for students interested in harnessing the power of AI to support and elevate their academic and creative work. Students will produce a culminating course project that will showcase their skills in writing, researching, and learning with artificial intelligence.

Schedule

English 199-001W is a regular 16-week asynchronous online course

Course Focus

Discover how evolving generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude can transform your writing process. This course offers hands-on experience with generative AI technologies that will enhance your academic, creative, and professional writing. You’ll explore AI’s role in idea generation, research, and content creation, while also tackling the ethical questions that inevitably arise when we use these tools. You’ll learn how to make sure you’re the human in the loop when you work with generative artificial intelligence. By the end of the course, you’ll have a portfolio of AI-assisted projects that showcase your adaptability and innovation, giving you a competitive edge in writing for academic, creative, and professional settings. Step into the future of writing with AI at your side!

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO 1: Understand the fundamentals of generative AI and its applications in writing

• 1a: Identify key generative AI tools used in academic and creative writing.
• 1b: Discuss the ethical implications of using AI in writing including academic integrity.
• 1c: Discuss the historical context and potential future developments of AI in writing

CLO 2: Use generative AI tools to support academic writing and research

• 2a: Demonstrate effective prompt engineering techniques for academic writing tasks
• 2b: Use AI to assist in gathering and organizing research sources.
• 2c: Integrate AI-generated content with original writing while maintaining academic integrity.

CLO 3: Explore the creative potential of generative AI in writing

• 3a: Experiment with AI-assisted storytelling and poetry generation
• 3b: Use AI to enhance character development and plot structures in fiction writing.
• 3c: Analyze AI-generated creative content for strengths and limitations

CLO 4: Apply generative AI tools to enhance professional writing and digital communication

• 4a: Use AI to draft clear, persuasive, and professional business communications, such as emails, proposals, and reports.
• 4b: Develop content marketing materials, including blog posts and social media updates, utilizing AI to optimize for audience engagement and SEO.
• 4c: Create technical documentation with AI, focusing on clarity, accuracy, and user accessibility in manuals, guides, or instructions.
• 4d: Adapt AI-generated content to different professional contexts, ensuring appropriate tone, style, and format for various industries and audiences.

CLO 5: Critically evaluate the ethical implications and limitations of AI in writing

• 5a: Discuss issues of authorship, originality, and academic integrity in AI-assisted writing
• 5b: Identify potential biases and limitations in AI-generated content
• 5c: Produce a reflective essay on the personal impact of AI on your writing process.

CLO 6: Communicate effectively about AI-assisted writing in academic and professional contexts

• 6a: Articulate the benefits and challenges of using AI tools in writing
• 6b: Develop a portfolio showcasing AI-assisted writing projects
• 6c: Prepare for evolving expectations and practices in academic and professional writing

Outcomes Assessment

The course outcomes for ENGL 199 will be assessed in the following ways:

• Weekly Discussions 25%
• Assignments 20%
• Prompt engineering videos: 25%
• Culminating project: 30%

For the culminating project, students will choose ONE of the options below:

Option One: English Literature/Academic Research

English literature students will conduct a research-based literary analysis, integrating AI tools for research and textual analysis. The project will explore how AI can assist in analyzing themes, character development, or stylistic elements in a chosen literary work. The student will use AI to help with tasks like identifying patterns, extracting quotes, and comparing different scholarly interpretations. The final submission will include a traditional literary analysis essay and a reflective essay discussing the role AI played in supporting their research. NOTE: Students who are in other academic transfer programs may modify this project to fit their major’s requirements with instructor permission.

Option Two: Creative Writing

Creative writing students will produce an AI-assisted creative writing portfolio, showcasing their ability to blend human creativity with AI-generated content. The portfolio should include at least three distinct pieces of writing (e.g., short stories, poetry, or creative non-fiction), with each piece demonstrating a different use of AI tools. The final submission must include a reflective essay discussing how AI influenced their writing process, how they refined AI-generated content, and the challenges and benefits they encountered.

Option Three: Professional Writing
Professional writing students will create a comprehensive digital communication strategy that showcases their ability to use AI tools in real-world professional writing scenarios. The project will focus on developing content for a business or organization of their choice, integrating AI tools to enhance various aspects of writing such as content marketing, technical documentation, or business communication. The final deliverable will include a portfolio of AI-assisted documents along with a reflective essay discussing how AI tools influenced their professional writing processes and strategies.

Grading Policy

Assignments and discussions will be graded using a rubric provided to you. In general, your work will be assessed as follows:

• Full Credit (full points). If your work is complete, thorough, and thoughtful, then you will receive full credit.
• Partial Credit. If your work is unevenly developed, misses some directions, or lacks depth of thought, you will receive partial credit.
• No Credit (0 points). If your work is exceptionally uneven, seems perfunctory, or misses directions entirely, or if you fail to turn in an assignment, you will receive no credit.

Assignments must be typed and submitted to Blackboard to earn credit. Blackboard will not accept Pages or Google Docs files. Please submit your assignments as .pdf or .docx files.

Grading Scale:  Your work in this course earns you points on a 1000-point scale.

• A = 900 – 1000 points
• B = 800 – 899 points
• C = 700 – 799 points
• D = 600 – 699 points

Any grade below 600 points will receive a failing grade for this course.

You must submit your final culminating project to earn a passing grade in the course.

Textbooks and Required Materials

• Cyborgs and Centaurs: Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Liza Long, open education resource
• Critical Worlds by Liza Long, open education resource
• Additional readings and resources will be provided in Blackboard
• You will need free accounts to at least three frontier model LLMs (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, or Meta’s Llama)

Course Calendar

Week 1: Introduction to the Course and Overview of Generative AI

• History and evolution of AI in writing
• Course expectations and goals
• Week One Discussions Due Sunday

Week 2: Integrating AI with Academic Integrity

• Co-writing: How to blend AI-generated content with original writing
• Citing and Acknowledging AI use
• Week Two Discussion on plagiarism and authorship concerns Due Sunday

Week 3: Understanding Generative AI Tools

• Introduction to major AI tools for writing and research
• Virtual Workshop (Remote live session available): Hands-on exploration of basic AI functions
• Week Three Video Discussion (Prompt Exercise 1) Due Sunday

Week 4: Ethical Considerations in AI-Assisted Writing

• Discussion on the ethical implications of AI in writing
• Case studies on AI-generated content controversies
• Week Four Discussion Due Sunday

Week 5: AI in Academic Writing: Brainstorming and Outlining

• Using AI to generate ideas and structure academic essays
• Virtual Workshop (Remote Live Option available): AI-assisted brainstorming session
• Week Four Video Discussion (Prompt Exercise 2) Due Sunday

Week 6: AI in Academic Research: Gathering and Organizing Sources

• Tools for AI-supported research and data organization
• Practical application: Using AI to build a research database
• Week Six Discussion Due Sunday

Week 7: Creative Writing with AI: Generating Ideas and Prompts

• Exploration of AI tools for creative writing prompts
• Workshop: Developing creative pieces with AI assistance
• Week Seven video discussion (Prompt exercise #3) Due Sunday

Week 8: Using AI for Plot and Character Development in Creative Writing

• Using AI to create and refine characters
• Techniques for using AI to structure narratives
• Week Eight Group discussion/project: Collaborative plot development using AI due Sunday

Week 9: Evaluating AI-Generated Creative Content

• Analyzing the quality of AI-produced creative writing
• Virtual Workshop (remote live session available): Refining AI-generated content into polished work
• Week Nine discussion Due Sunday

Week 10: AI in Professional Writing and Content Creation

• Include a deeper focus on SEO, content marketing, and business communications.
• Introduce practical exercises on optimizing content for digital platforms.
• Week 10: Video discussion (Prompt Exercise #4) Due Sunday

Week 11: The Future of Professional Writing with AI

• Discuss the evolving role of AI in various professional writing industries, including journalism, marketing, and technical writing.
• Explore the potential for AI in automating routine writing tasks in corporate settings.

Week 12: Final Project Proposal

• Review requirements for final project
• Students develop a proposal for their final project due Sunday

Week 13: Final Project Development

• Live remote workshop and one-on-one sessions to develop final projects
• Focus on integrating AI in a meaningful and original way

Week 14: Peer and Instructor Feedback

• Students present their final projects (optional remote live session)
• Final Project peer review discussion due Sunday

Week 15: Final Project Presentations

• Final Project due Wednesday (draft/optional live presentation)
• Final Project revision due Sunday

Week 16: Putting It All Together: Course Reflection

• Week 16 Discussion: How has AI changed while you took this course? How have you changed as a writer? Due Friday

Course Expectations

Expectations for coursework: A student can expect to spend on an average approximately 7.5 hours per week in total on this class (reading, participating, doing homework, etc.). You are a unique individual and may require more or less time than the average. If the course takes you more than 20 hours per week, please reach out to me to discuss ways we can help you to succeed.

Weekly Live Sessions: We will have weekly remote live sessions for this course. Attendance is encouraged but not required.

Methods of Communication: Communication in this course will take place in several ways including Grade Center, Discussion Board, email, and/or Blackboard announcements. You should check the announcements each week to make sure you understand the requirements and due dates. Whenever you have questions, work with your instructor. I am here to help you succeed! If you cannot attend my regular office hours or our weekly live remote session, please schedule an appointment.

Online Collaboration Policy: Discussion posts in online course spaces are an integral part of online learning environments. In this course, assessment of discussion posts is included as part of the final grade. We will be reading and discussing texts that some of us may view as sacred within an academic context. Please demonstrate respect for others’ beliefs. CWI is committed to the rights of all community members to freedom of expression and academic freedom. To protect the rights of all participants and to preserve the educational tone of online course spaces, the following rules apply:

• Postings must relate to the subject matter.
• Postings must comply with CWI’s policy on appropriate use of computing resources. Illegal postings or postings that violate CWI policies, including those regarding harassment and discrimination or the Standards of Conduct for Students, are not permitted.
• Do not use generative AI to respond to classmates’ posts. Copying and pasting a classmate’s response into an Ai tool is a violation of their privacy. Please reach out if you have questions about this.
• Postings that are threatening to others are not permitted.

Instructors have the authority to remove posts that violate these rules. Continued postings in violation of these rules may result in removal of access rights, course failure, and, when appropriate, referral to the Office of Student Conduct.

Late and Make-Up Work: All work is due at 11:59 p.m. on the date indicated on the Course Calendar. Please contact me if you are not able to meet your deadlines to discuss your options. Make sure to back up your work (to the cloud or multiple hard drives) so that you do not lose work because of technology issues. Every student may turn in one assignment up to 3 days late without incurring a late penalty. The signature assignment (Final Course Project) must be turned in by the due date to receive credit.

Assessment Feedback: Feedback for assessments will normally be given within one week after the assessment due date. If I need more time to give feedback, I will notify you by email and/or announcement. Most of your feedback will be delivered into your My Grades center either in an attached document, rubric, or in the comment box.

End of Course Evaluations: Please complete your end of course evaluations. Because your feedback is so important to me, I give 5 extra credit points to every student in the class if 70% or more of students complete the end of course evaluation.

Generative Artificial Intelligence Policy:

This course requires the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude AI, or Microsoft Copilot. As a CWI student, you have access to Microsoft Copilot and Guardrailz free through the Edge browser. I do not require you to have a paid account for any other service; however, you may find it helpful to have one. My personal favorite is Claude.ai. I have been teaching with generative AI since Spring 2023 and often use these tools in a variety of ways.

I will allow any use of generative artificial intelligence that YOU think is ethical, subject to the conditions outlined below. Keep in mind that CWI defines the following as a violation of academic integrity: “submission of work created by artificial intelligence tools as one’s own work.”

1. Cite the tool (see this resource for more information on how to do this).
2. Write an acknowledgement statement at the end of your work explaining how and why you used generative AI for this assignment. Include a link to your chats OR a screenshot or Word document of the chat if a link is not available.

I reserve the right based on my assessment of your assignment to require you to revise and resubmit all or parts of the assignment if I conclude that you have not used generative AI appropriately.

Keep in mind that you will be accountable for what you submit If I suspect that you have used generative AI tools, and you have not included the required citation and acknowledgement statement, then you will need to meet with me either in person or through Zoom to talk about the assignment. This conversation will include knowledge checks for course content.