AI-Assistance Is, AI-Abdication Is…
A Repost for Classroom Use
Dear Writing Student,
When you're staring at a blank page for your next essay, you've got a choice that matters more than you might think. You can have AI assist you, maybe explore ideas, suggest words, or check your idea organization. That's like having a friend give you a hand, an extra set of eyes, and give you feedback while YOU do the work.
But there's another path. You could abdicate to AI, basically hand over the keys and let it write the whole thing. Sounds easier, right?
Here's the thing: When you abdicate, something weird happens. Your writing ability starts getting weaker instead of stronger. It's like telling someone else to do your workout for you. Sure, you didn't have to sweat, but your body isn’t getting any stronger.
Every time you write something yourself, maybe with assists and suggestions, your brain is building new connections, finding your voice, and getting better at expressing your unique ideas.
When you just let AI do it all, those connections never get built. The more you abdicate, the harder it gets to write on your own, and you’ll need those skills. as you grow and mature. Ask AI to tell you about how important it is for you to become a truly excellent writer.
Learning to use AI-Assist well WILL make you a better writer. Abdicating to AI will NOT make you a better writer. It will weaken you.
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AI-Assistance is prompting the machine to suggest light and dark metaphors about autumn; AI-Abdication is prompting it to write an autumn sonnet while you restock the printer with paper.
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AI-Assistance is prompting the LLM to identify counterarguments and their sources; AI-Abdication is prompting it to write your thesis, both sides of the argument, and a conclusion while you perfect your self-assessment requirement re: "exploring multiple perspectives."
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AI-Assistance is requesting feedback on your paragraph structure; AI-Abdication is requesting a fully structured five-paragraph essay with "just a few tweaks to make it sound more like me” after uploading a paper you wrote BA (before AI).
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AI-Assistance is using AI to help identify logical fallacies in your reasoning; AI-Abdication is using logical fallacies to justify why your suddenly impeccable writing style isn't suspicious at all.
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AI-Assistance is prompting ChatGPT to do something you would feel comfortable asking a peer to do or suggesting to the class; AI-Abdication is commanding the bot to complete a task you would be ashamed to admit to a peer.
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AI-Assistance is asking for suggestions to vary your sentence structure; AI-Abdication is varying your prompts to generate multiple versions of the same essay, hoping one won't trigger the plagiarism detector your hopelessly technologically confused and distraught teacher still uses to call students on the carpet.
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AI-Assistance is using AI to check your essay's coherence; AI-Abdication is checking how many essays you can generate before your free trial expires.
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AI-Assistance is asking the bot to explain complex concepts you'll incorporate into your writing; AI-Abdication is incorporating complex concepts you can't explain when your teacher asks.
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AI-Assistance is using AI to expand your vocabulary; AI-Abdication is expanding your vocabulary with words you can neither pronounce nor define.
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AI-Assistance is asking for help organizing your thoughts and raising questions for further research; AI-Abdication is asking for help because you don’t really care about having a thought, forget the questions. You just want to be done.
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AI-Assistance is using the technology to enhance your natural creativity and your personal stamp on your writing; AI-Abdication is enhancing your explanation for why your midnight essay sounds like it was written by a distinguished professor.
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The fine line between digital dignity and lost learning flashes like a yellow light on a freeway. Approach with caution.