Posted to the blog. Due no later than 12PM (noon) on May 22.
Read Until You Understand.
Choose a reading from our syllabus. How has that reading illuminated your understanding of an important concept? For instance, how has one of our readings deepened your understanding of trust? Of faith? What reading has made you think more deeply about courage? Or freedom?
In your final assignment, please make a project that explains your understanding. You can collaborate with other folks in this class to:
- Make a poem, or a series of poems (5pp, including a explanation of your process)
- Make a podcast (5-10 minutes, plus 1-2 p explanation of your process)
- Write a formal essay (5pp)
- Make a mixed media (images, sound, text) presentation
- Make a vlog via TikTok, Vimeo, or Youtube (5 minutes)
All projects should have a title and the name(s) of maker posted to the blog.
Other works due no later than by noon on May 22:
- Your revised midterm essay. Please be sure to schedule an appointment to discuss your previous draft. Submit hard copy along with the graded original, to Professor Eversley NVC 4-281.
- Update/submit your class presentation post. Remember: your class presentations should include a quote from the text, images, and a question for discussion.
Midterm Assignment: Experiment with ChatGPT
BLS/ENG 3034: Survey of African American Literature
Spring 2023
Due no later than March 29.
Change is constant. For better or worse, the rise of machine “intelligence,” such as ChatGPT, is here to stay. It is one more paradigm shift that will change how we learn and how we work. And rather than understand machine “intelligence” as a total threat, let’s explore it as a way to distinguish why and how human intelligence will remain paramount. Let’s explore the ways in which human attentions to the details, to voice, and to critical, creative analysis informs good writing.
We’ll use the month of March to draft an original essay, beginning with ChatGPT and then critiqued, revised and fully developed by human intelligence. Let’s work together and individually to determine what how machine “intelligence” can help us, and how human intelligence sustains us.
Week #1: Identify a topic and organizing question based on one of the readings we’ve discussed so far. What is your question? Text? Think about your reasons for pursuing this topic. Take notes in your notebook.
You should complete this on your own by March 6.
Week #2: Using your topic and organizing question, prompt the free version of ChatGPT to write a 3-page paper double spaced, college essay using quotes from your chosen text to support its claims. This machine-generated essay should also include a title. Print this essay and add your handwritten annotations: how is the essay well-organized, well-written, or insightful about your topic and organizing question. Did it offer an argument/thesis supported by close readings of the text? What reads as formulaic? Too general? Incorrect?
Your ChatGPT first draft essay (3pp double-spaced) is due in class on March 13.
Week #3: Do you need to revise your organizing question? Using the answers you generate from your organizing question, design an argument/thesis based on your topic. What are the 3 or 4 claims you intend to prove? Has the ChatGPT essay added any insight into how you are thinking about your topic? Has ChatGPT been helpful as you organize your thinking? What textual specifics (i.e., form, quotes, metaphors, allusions, etc.) will you use to illuminate and explain your claims? Take notes in your notebook. Start writing your midterm essay. Highlight, bold, or italicize any sentence, phrase, or concept that originated from the machine.
March 20, 22 we will discuss your experiences in class.
Week #4: Revise your expanded essay. Does your argument/thesis offer multiple claims? Have you used those claims to organize the structure of your essay? Does your essay explain and justify its claims by offering close readings of the textual details? Is your title original? How does this essay communicate your reasons for pursing this topic and argument? How does your essay show how you are “reading until you understand” something about African American literature, about literature, or something relevant in your world?
Midterm essay (6-8pp, double spaced) is due no later than by noon on March 29. Be sure to show the distinction between your own thinking/writing and the machine.
