This was an interesting experiement. I recently starting writing about my first year of motherhood. Right now, it’s formless so I took this opportunity to ask ChatGPT about what forms I may consider for writing this CNF essay.

Simple but I liked having a list here. I dug deeper into the “lyric essay.” GPT gave me a decent list of examples of lyric essays I could read, though it mostly listed full collections instead of specific pieces which would have been more helpful. I fed GPT some of my work and asked it to “translate into a lyric essay:”

I kept gettig this message no matter how many times I changed my prompt. Finally I realized that my own writing had the word “molest” in it. Sure enough, after I changed out molest for “assault,” it worked. The examples GPT generated, however, were crap. I tried to direct GPT a little more but asking to write in the style of writers like Maggie Nelson but it was pretty bleak. For example:

In the realm of longings and choices, our journey with Teddy unfolds. From the depths of desire to the weight of revelations, we navigate the intricacies of expectations, the shadows of the past, and the boundless possibilities of the future. Each moment becomes a lyrical note, and every word contributes to the symphony of our voyage.

This sounds pretty, I guess, but is about nothing. GPT’s responses any real lack substance.

First, just a reminder that you can find my Zoom liink Under “Tools” in the menu on the right (towards the bottom).

To prepare for our activity next week, you should:

• Do the readings and make some notes. Come in with questions or insights.
• Conduct an experiment with form using ChatGPT
  • Choose a form you want to think more about, one you want to use in your own writing or you’re just curious about. This could be any form–sestina, newspaper article, ghazal, magazine feature, a scene from a nonfiction narrative, sci-fi, or anything else you come up with. Find out what the bot can tell you about the form.
  • Ask it whether specific technologies made this form possible. Ask it about the form’s influence on the evolution of literature.
  • Then give ChatGPT some of your writing (a paragraph to several pages can work) and ask it to translate it into the form you’re experimenting with. Play around with refining or just repeating the prompt to see what variations you get.
• Then, create a post on our site. If you’re logged in, you just choose New–>Post. It’s pretty self-explanatory from there, Post whatever portion relevant sections of your chat with the bot. Introduce what you’re posting with a few sentences explaining what you tried to do, what you got, and what you might use going forward (if anything).

These are the instructions for class this week, so you have them all in one place.

1. Do the readings for On the Same Page + the short piece about AI and translation by Marcin Frąckiewicz.
2. Watch Charlie Chang,’s ChatGPT Tutorial. As you watch, try out the prompts he suggests, using a topic you want to write about or one you already have underway. Prepare to talk about the results–what worked, if anything, and what didn’t. What is interesting and what may be hilarious.
3. Read “Intelligent Artifice,” from Eugene Lim’s novel Search History (linked in Calendar). Come to class prepared to discuss it and ask Eugene questions.

That’s it!

1. Ask for specific facts
2. Ask for suggestions
3. Language translation
4. Comparing
5. Creative Writing / write emails
6. Brainstorm ideas
7. Summarizing Text
8. Lists
9. Pros and cons
10. Quotes or Studies
11. Give feedback on a text
12. Role play
13. Explain concepts
14. Ask Chat GPT what to ask it.
15. Mentorship

I asked GhatGPt to “use a creative nonfiction style, to tell the true story of the founding of Queens College, CUNY.” Let’s say I want to write this story in my voice and include more details and a more critical take. How might I use the AI’s narrative as a starting point for further research? How might I make the voice feel livelier and more like me? How can I make it less cheesy?

A Dream in the Boroughs: The Tale of Queens College, CUNY

In the heart of New York’s most diverse borough, as the Great Depression’s shadows began to recede, a new beacon of hope was on the horizon. It was 1937. The sprawling city, having survived one of the darkest economic periods in its history, was pulsing with resilience and dreams of a brighter future. And from this post-Depression fervor, a new institution would rise: Queens College.

The vast open fields of Queens, dotted with the occasional tree, had always been a respite from the cacophony of Manhattan. But on this particular tract of land, instead of the typical city buzz, one could hear the clatter of construction and the distant murmur of scholars and educators passionately debating the future.

The mission was clear and distinct: to provide a top-tier education that was affordable. A place where the sons and daughters of immigrants, factory workers, and teachers could walk through its doors and transform their lives. And so, under the vast sky and amidst the verdant green, Queens College was built as part of the City University of New York system.

With the sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline as its backdrop, Queens College wasn’t just another academic institution. Its founding professors, many of them refugees fleeing persecution in Europe, brought with them a profound sense of purpose. These were educators who had seen the darkness that ignorance could bring to the world, and they were determined to light the way with knowledge.

The hallways and classrooms of the College’s first buildings buzzed with life from the start. Students from various backgrounds came with dreams as vast as the Queens skies, eager to learn, debate, and shape the future. Discussions on literature, science, arts, and politics would often spill out of the classrooms, with students and faculty engaging in impassioned conversations.

While the world outside underwent dramatic shifts, from World War II to the Civil Rights Movement, Queens College remained a constant hub of intellectual and cultural exchange. As the years went on, it became known not just for its rigorous academic programs, but also for its commitment to social justice, equality, and the betterment of society.

Today, walking through the leafy campus of Queens College, one can still feel the echoes of its rich history. The institution stands as a testament to the city’s indefatigable spirit and the belief that education is the great equalizer.

In the heart of Queens, the dream that was born in the aftermath of the Great Depression thrives, reminding us all that from challenges can come the most enduring institutions of hope and learning.

I asked ChatGPT to “write a short story about the life of a neuron. Make it lively and funny.” This is what it generated. How could I use this to inspire me to collaborate with the AI.

The Fabulous Life of Neil the Neuron

In the bustling city of Brainopolis, Neil the Neuron was the life of the party. He wasn’t your average neuron; he was a sparkling, jumpy little fellow with electric enthusiasm.

Every morning, he’d wake up with a ZAP! “Good morning, Brainopolis!” he’d shout, even though most of his neighbors didn’t appreciate being jolted awake by his electric greetings.

Neil had a day job, like all neurons. He worked in the Memory Department, specifically in the “Awkward Teenage Years” section. His task was to light up whenever someone remembered that time they waved back to someone who wasn’t actually waving at them. Yep, that was all Neil. And he took his job seriously…well, as seriously as Neil could take anything.

During the nights, Neil loved to party. He’d head over to the Dance Cortex, where he’d spark electric moves on the dance floor. “Doing the Electric Slide, Neil?” Dendrite Daisy would tease.

“Always!” he’d respond, doing the moonwalk with an electric twist.

One day, there was a panic in Brainopolis. The neighboring city, Heartville, sent a message: “WE’RE FALLING IN LOVE! Send all the gushy memories, STAT!”

Being in the “Awkward Teenage Years” section, Neil was thrilled. “This is my moment!” He flashed all the memories of first crushes, awkward hand holdings, and blushing confessions. Brainopolis was flooded with nostalgia.

At the end of the day, tired but satisfied, Neil chuckled to himself, “Ah, love! Makes even the most electric neuron go all fuzzy.”

And with that, he gave one last zap, lighting up a memory of a stolen kiss behind the school, and drifted into a restful, electric dream.

While educators freak out about AI, some level-headed voices stand out. Click on “original sound” below to watch one libarian’s quick Tik Tok take on the question.

@bee_in_the_library

I know, your first week back to school is already sooo full of policy and procedure stuff – you don’t want one more thing – but I’m 99% sure that establishing a clear AI policy at the start of the year wirh save you headaches later on. Trying hard to strike a collaborative tone with this lesson as this is a new frontier for us all! #teachersoftiktok #librarainsoftiktok #ai

♬ original sound – A ? in the Library

This will be our online hub for English 757: Nonfiction Workshop–AI and the Near Future of Writing. I’ll post readings and assignments here. You’ll post drafts and writing experiments for workshopping. We’ll use it for communication outside class–including posting any materials any of us we come across that are relevant to the course.