From Curiosity to Classroom Practice Integrating generative AI into writing instruction

Abstract

This narrative examines the pedagogical impact of encouraging students to openly integrate generative AI tools like ChatGPT into their writing processes. The exploration begins with a simple guideline introduced during an Independent Study: italicize any content that comes directly from ChatGPT. Rather than functioning as a constraint or surveillance tool, this practice opened space for transparency, reflection, and authentic experimentation. Weekly meetings became collaborative sessions where both student and instructor learned from the process. These experiences challenged the assumption that AI use diminishes original thinking and instead revealed how it can act as a catalyst for deeper engagement with ideas. Ultimately, this piece argues that integrating AI into the writing classroom can strengthen instruction by promoting transparency, rhetorical awareness, and critical thinking. Rather than policing AI use, educators can guide students in using it responsibly—preparing them to write with integrity in an evolving digital landscape.