33 Module Eleven: The Future of Professional Writing with AI

Week 11 Overview

• 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.

11.01 Watch “How to Master the Art of Writing with AI”

How to master the art of writing with AI | Alice Delorme Benites | TEDxZHAW

11.02 AI in Professional Writing Industries

🤖 AI Task: Watch Alice Delorme Benites’s talk “How to Master the Art of Writing with AI” (above). Then research one specific professional writing industry (journalism, marketing, technical writing, content creation, publishing, etc.) and analyze how AI is currently being used in that field. Focus on current applications, tools being used, and examples of how professionals in that industry are incorporating AI into their workflows.

Use at least one frontier AI model (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) to help you research this topic. Be sure to document your prompts and the AI’s responses.

😊 Human Task: Based on your research and personal reflection, discuss:

1. How do you think AI will change this professional writing industry in the next 5-10 years?
2. What types of jobs or roles might disappear? What new roles might emerge?
3. What skills will human writers need to develop to remain valuable in this AI-integrated future? (think about the TED talk)
4. How might educational programs (like this course) need to evolve to prepare future writers for this changing landscape?
5. What lesson that Alice Delorme Benites shared resonated most with you? How can you apply her “driving lessons” in your interactions with AI?

Remember to include a citation for your AI use and an acknowledgment statement explaining how and why you used AI for this assignment.

11.03 Discussion Two: Ethical Considerations and Boundaries

🤖 AI Task: Use an AI assistant to help you draft a corporate policy for the ethical use of AI in professional writing contexts. Your policy should address issues such as:

• Transparency about AI use
• Guidelines for human review/editing
• Attribution and authorship concerns
• Quality control measures
• Privacy considerations
• Avoiding bias and ensuring inclusivity

Ask the AI to consider different perspectives and potential objections to each policy point.

😊 Human Task: After reviewing the AI-generated policy draft:

1. Identify the 2-3 policy points you believe are most critical for maintaining ethical standards in professional writing.
2. Describe a specific scenario where adhering to these policies might be challenging in a real-world professional context.
3. Where would you personally draw the line between appropriate and inappropriate AI use in professional writing? Are there writing tasks that should never be delegated to AI?
4. How might your perspective on these boundaries change as AI capabilities evolve over time?

Include both your AI-generated policy draft and your human analysis in your post. Remember to properly cite your AI use and include an acknowledgment statement.

11.04 Looking Ahead: Culminating Project Proposal Due Week 12

In Week 12, you will need to submit your final project proposal. As a reminder, you will choose ONE of the following options:

Option One: English Literature/Academic Research
Conduct a research-based literary analysis, integrating AI tools for research and textual analysis. Explore how AI can assist in analyzing themes, character development, or stylistic elements in a chosen literary work.

EXAMPLE PROPOSAL

Option Two: Creative Writing
Produce an AI-assisted creative writing portfolio with at least three distinct pieces, each demonstrating a different use of AI tools. Include a reflective essay discussing how AI influenced your writing process.

EXAMPLE QUERY LETTER

Option Three: Professional Writing
Create a comprehensive digital communication strategy that showcases your ability to use AI tools in real-world professional writing scenarios, focusing on content for a business or organization of your choice.

EXAMPLE MEMO

Your proposal should include:

1. Which option you’ve chosen
2. A brief description of your specific project idea
3. How you plan to incorporate AI tools
4. What you hope to demonstrate or learn
5. A preliminary timeline for completion

I have attached the full assignment instructions and examples of all three proposals for you to review.

If you have something different in mind that fits the general scope of this assignment, feel free to propose your own unique project!

Start thinking about your proposal now, and feel free to ask questions in the discussion forum if you need clarification or guidance.