There is a range of attitudes about the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) for writing. Some believe it is a tool that will change the nature of writing, while others are opposed to its use in any context. At the Writing Center at Ball State, we find that many writers fall somewhere in between: acknowledging the potential usefulness of this tool while also feeling uncertain about the practicality, ethics, and social implications of its use.
As a writing center, our mission is to serve writers in the Ball State community. That includes writers who are using GAI, writers who are curious about it, and those who choose not to use it. When you work with a tutor in the writing center, we always meet you where you are, and that includes navigating GAI alongside you in whatever context you’re working. This might include:
- Helping you understand rules about using GAI, whether they’re set by your instructor, your employer, your discipline, or any other body.
- If you already use GAI, encouraging you to think critically about how and why you choose to use it, and when you bring it into your process.
- Engaging in conversations about how GAI might impact your learning and writing processes.
- Supporting you as you navigate accessibility concerns.
- Helping you articulate your ideas in your own voice, while also navigating the conventions and expectations of your audience and the genre you’re working in.
To be clear: in the writing center, we help writers navigate expectations and goals in communication. As such, we neither force nor forbid the use of GAI. The writing-related discussions you have with your tutor are private, whether you’re discussing issues of academic integrity, asking questions, or working on building your confidence in writing; with the exception of required Title IX reporting, we do not surveil writers or “report” what we find in their work to anyone.
Our tutors represent a diverse range of majors and disciplines. As such, they, too, have a range of attitudes toward the use of GAI. Some tutors may be a better fit for discussions about GAI than others. If you’re interested in discussing an issue related to GAI at greater length with a tutor, make sure to include this in your appointment form. You can also reach out to the writing center (writing@bsu.edu) to talk more about finding a tutor who best suits your needs.
We encourage everyone in the Ball State community to learn more about GAI, including its environmental and ethical impacts around the globe. Below are resources for students, faculty, and staff, including Ball State resources and reporting and information from a range of sources about the impacts of this technology.