Writing Methodology (with AI) in French
In this assignment, I (Spyros) take a red-light-then-green-light approach to using generative AI. For the first two parts of the assignment, students are asked not to use AI. For the last two parts, students are encouraged to use AI but with a critical lens.
Writing can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but it can also be challenging and intimidating, especially when doing so in another language. One of the goals of this course aims to help you communicate your ideas in written French clearly. With practice, we hope that you will be able to approach writing tasks in French with greater confidence and skill.
This methodology breaks the writing process into four stages: planning, drafting, revising, and editing. In the first two, you will rely on your own skills to generate ideas while practicing the vocabulary and grammar that you have already learned. In the last two, you will receive personalized feedback on your draft from Copilot (UVA’s official generative AI tool) and your instructor.
Generative AI (GenAI) can generate output (text, image, sound, video) based on your input (prompt). We recognize the pedagogical potential of this technology if used responsibly and critically. However, we shouldn’t underestimate the risks of delegating the entire writing process to an AI, which could lead to serious learning deficits. Relying too heavily on AI for writing may hinder the practice of important skills, not the least of which is finding and developing your own voice.