Overview

This undergraduate creative writing module offers students the opportunity to explore the role that AI plays in our lives. Through both practical and critical exploration, students will develop an understanding of how AI can be used to enhance writing, as well as the implications of its growing presence in our society. They will critically examine the impact of AI on our world and the ways in which it is changing the way we write and communicate. While AI can help to identify patterns in data and suggest new ideas based on those patterns, it raises questions about originality, emotions, authorship and ethics that will be the starting point for discussion and exploration of what it means to write, as either human or machine.

This course will explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative writing. Students will learn about the various applications of AI in creative writing, including natural language processing, machine learning, and text generation. Students will learn to judge when the use of AI tools may or may not be appropriate. They will also explore the ethical implications of using AI in creative writing, and consider what it reveals about the nature of authorship. They will learn about the ways in which AIs are trained on particular bodies of text, and gain a critical awareness of the normative and excluding potentials of algorithmic content generation. Students will be able to choose to write collaboratively with AI or write creatively about AI in their fiction, non fiction or poetry. Through practical workshops and group discussion they will develop their own AI-related creative writing projects and reflect critically on the process.

Assessment Strategy

Excellent Typically, work graded A- to A** (or 70 to 100) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas with confidence and precision • Demonstrates maturity and sophistication • Displays deep knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is totally relevant • Shows independent, analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of substantial and relevant reading • Shows great accuracy in expression, displaying total mastery over all aspects of the language • Shows occasional signs of brilliance and originality of thought • In creative work: displays considerable originality • Command over medium; may have potential for publication/production

Good Typically, work graded B- to B+ (or 60 to 69) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas adeptly • Most of the arguments about a specific field are well-aired • Displays knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is relevant • Shows analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of relevant reading • Shows accuracy in expression with mastery over language. • A few minor errors here and there. • Signs of creative thought deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: shows signs of originality, having understood the requirements of the medium • Plans of well-balanced and full answers, despite some gaps

Satisfactory Typically, work graded C- to C+ (or 50 to 59) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas, but without much confidence • A respectable effort but not showing any unusual talent; a few flashes of originality here and there • Makes reference to the subject in question, but some important matters not mentioned • Fairly clear thought on most occasions, and the arguments relevant on the whole • Evidence of having read some works associated with the field in question • Quite accurate expression, though the points may sometimes be presented clumsily • Signs of conscientious work deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: not having quite mastered the requirements of the medium • Evidence of planning in the answers, but a lack of coherence at times; undisciplined and unsure at times

Pass Typically, work graded D- to D+ (or 40 to 49) will show many of the following qualities: • Unsure and lacking in confidence when discussing ideas • Referring to the subject in question in a superficial manner • Making an effort to provide fairly balanced answers • Some points in the argument irrelevant to the topic • Little evidence of background reading • Some uncertainty over language and syntax • Strengths and weaknesses fairly balanced; occasionally clumsy and unimaginative • In creative work: superficial • Not succeeding in mastering the requirements of the medium

Learning Outcomes

• The ability to evaluate critical and cultural theories and concepts and describe their significance for creative practice

• Critically reflect on the role of AI and other augmented creativity in their own creative processes and practices and develop new writing strategies from that reflective practice

• Examine the ethical questions raised by AI and other algorithms and the ways in which they relate to questions about human authorship.

• Produce writing using AI that demonstrates command of the form, medium, and linguistic register in which the student is working.