Exercise

Writing and AI Use

Overview

Artificial intelligence has become a powerful tool for writing, offering support in idea generation, text organization, grammar checking, and style improvement. However, using it effectively requires understanding how to integrate it ethically and responsibly. AI may be used for:

  • Inspiration and idea generation: get suggestions and creative approaches to start a text.
  • Organization and structure: create outlines and organize arguments coherently.
  • Revision and style improvement: detect grammar errors, enhance clarity, and improve flow.
  • Research and citation: assist in finding information and references responsibly.

It is important to remember that AI should complement critical thinking and your own voice, not replace them. When used thoughtfully, it can enhance productivity and the quality of writing, becoming a valuable ally at any stage of the creative process.

Tips for Writing using AI

Did you use any AI tools in your work?
If you used tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, Elicit, or others, let your instructor or tutor know. Be clear about which tools you used and when—for example, during research, writing, or editing.
Using AI is not necessarily a problem, but being transparent helps build trust and ensures you’re following academic integrity guidelines.

Which parts of the work are truly your own?
Take time to reflect: which parts did you write or create without help from AI tools? This helps you understand your own learning and develop your academic voice.

Need help deciding what’s okay?
If you’re unsure how to use AI tools responsibly, talk to your instructor or visit the Writing Centre at TRU. Tutors there can help you understand how to use these tools ethically and effectively.

Do you understand the AI-generated content?
If you used AI tools like ChatGPT or Elicit, please make sure you understand the suggestions they gave. Can you explain why you accepted or rejected certain ideas? Could you justify or even challenge what the AI suggested?

Are you thinking about your thinking?
This is called metacognition—being aware of how you make decisions. Ask yourself:

Why did I choose to follow that AI suggestion?
What did I learn from using the tool?
Did it help me think differently or more clearly?

Not sure how to reflect on this?
You can talk to your instructor or visit the TRU Writing Centre. Tutors there can help you think critically about your use of AI and guide you in making thoughtful, ethical choices.

Are you maintaining academic integrity?
AI tools can be helpful, but they shouldn’t do all the work for you. Your assignments should reflect your own thinking, learning, and effort. If you’re relying too much on AI, you might miss out on important learning opportunities.

Did you acknowledge your use of AI?
In some courses or assignments, it’s important to cite or mention that you used AI tools. This is part of ethical academic practice.
If you’re not sure how or when to acknowledge AI use, ask your instructor or visit the TRU Writing Centre for guidance.

Is AI helping you build skills—or replacing them?
AI tools can support your learning, but they shouldn’t replace key academic skills like critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, or argumentation. Use AI as a learning aid, not a shortcut.

Are you making your own decisions?
It’s important to stay in control of your work. AI can offer suggestions, but you should decide what to include, change, or reject. This builds your autonomy and confidence as a learner.

Can your use of AI be co-evaluated?
Some assignments may include rubrics that assess how you used AI tools. This could involve:

Critical use of AI (not just copying outputs)
Reflection on the process (what you learned, what you questioned)
Integration of human and AI input (how you combined your ideas with AI suggestions)

Are you documenting your process?
Keeping track of your AI use can help you reflect and improve. You might be asked to share:

Drafts showing how your work evolved
Screenshots of your interactions with AI tools
Notes or logs explaining your decisions

This kind of documentation can make your learning more visible and meaningful—and it helps tutors support you better.

TRU Writing Centre

Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, The Writing Centre welcomes you to book an appointment and receive feedback from their tutors. They provide support and peer-to-peer guidance at every stage of the writing process, including understanding assignments, brainstorming ideas, organizing outlines, crafting clear and persuasive arguments, conducting research and citing sources, revising for grammar and punctuation, and developing a variety of other essential writing skills.

Practice Your Understanding

If you are a tutor or help a classmate

AI Usage Assessment

Evaluation Tool for University Tutors

Student Information

Student and Assignment Information

1. Writing quality vs. student’s previous academic level

Consistent with student’s usual level
Slightly above usual level
Significantly superior, but possible
Dramatically superior, unlikely without assistance

2. Structure and content organization

Irregular structure or typical of the student
Well structured but natural
Perfectly structured, almost professional
Structure too perfect for the student’s level

3. Vocabulary and technical terminology usage

Vocabulary appropriate for student’s level
Good use of technical terms
Very sophisticated vocabulary
Excessively advanced or inconsistent terminology

4. Writing style consistency

Consistent style throughout the work
Small natural variations
Some noticeable style changes
Drastic style changes between sections

5. Depth and originality of analysis

Personal and original analysis evident
Good analysis with some original ideas
Very elaborate analysis, possibly assisted
Analysis too sophisticated or generic

6. Source and reference handling

Appropriate and well-integrated references
Good source management
Very elaborate references
Perfect references or suspicious patterns

7. Natural errors and imperfections

Work completely perfect, no errors
Very few minor errors
Some typical student errors
Normal errors for academic level

8. Submission time vs. work complexity

Reasonable time for the complexity
Submitted relatively quickly
Submitted very quickly for its complexity
Impossibly fast for the work completed

9. Personalization and connection to course context

Clearly connected to course material
Good connection to topics covered
Limited or generic connection
Disconnected from specific course context

10. Ability to explain or defend the work

Not applicable or not yet evaluated
Can clearly explain their work
Vague or inconsistent explanations
Cannot explain key aspects of the work

Student Self-Declaration

Question for the Student: Did you use any AI assistance for this assignment?

11. Student declares AI usage

Student declares NO AI assistance was used
Student declares MINIMAL AI assistance
Student declares SIGNIFICANT AI assistance
Student has not yet been asked about AI usage

Evaluation Results

AI Usage Declaration Form

AI Usage Declaration Form

This form can help you keep track of your AI usage, but it does not replace the statement that your instructor or tutor may request from you.

Your declaration has been generated successfully!
Recommendation: Describe how AI tools were used. For example: generating ideas, checking spelling and grammar, finding academic references, assisting in writing structure or code review.
Recommendation: Discuss how AI influenced your work, what you learned, and any limitations or challenges encountered.

Thank you for making critical use of AI in the academic environment.

Download visual resource from TRU Writing Center

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