Category Archives: student blogs

student blogs

AI and Writing

AI has become more noticeable in our everyday lives and sometimes, it’s helpful and other times it’s not. The article, “AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing” talks about how some writers use an AI as a writing companion. The AI would help generate ideas by giving prompts or paragraphs that may inspire the writer. Though there is a downside to AI, and that is that it may not give useful prompts or paragraphs.

That’s just one example of AI. In the documentary, “In the Age of AI”, they outlined different ways AI was being used in China. One being that it would send people tickets when they jaywalked. That usage can be beneficial, however, there have been times in the past when people (mostly minorities) were falsely identified. Granted, in the documentary, the AI seemed to be able to analyze people’s faces to an extent that it was sure of who it was viewing. But then what if someone has an identical twin? Will it be able to distinguish between the two the way humans do?

I see how AI will be beneficial in everyday life. Even I use an AI everyday. But I feel like there will always be a need for humans. Whether that’s verifying what the AI claims or doing what the AI can’t, or even teaching the AI how to be more human. It will need help, at least for now.

student blogs

“AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing” By Katy Ilonka Gero

In the article “AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing,” Katy Ilonka Gero discusses the use of Artificial Intelligence during the writing process while reverting to the example given of the woman writing her young adult fantasy novel. It highlights the potential of AI to automate the writing process and generate new forms of creative expression. However, it also acknowledges the limitations of AI in terms of understanding context, emotion, and meaning, which are the fundamental elements of human writing. The article concludes that while AI can assist with the writing process, it is unlikely to replace human authors.

I certainly agree with Gero’s statement when she states, “My hope is that computer-generated text gives more people the chance to say what they want to say, to enact their own vision, whether that be through a system helping them with planning, drafting, revising, or something else entirely. I don’t think we’ll be seeing fully computer-generated books out-competing human authors any time soon—not because computers won’t be capable, but because I think we will, for a long time, be far more interested in what a person has to say.”

I believe the usage of AI tools should be, for example, when writers experience writer’s block and are looking for that bridge to help connect and identify what ideas they want to come next. It should be used as a tool to help guide writers in the direction they are going. However, with pros always come cons. It is crucial that we not allow AI systems to gear us away from the direction we want to go, meaning if these systems are not used effectively as a tool to help during the writing process, this is where it begins to get tricky because we risk the AI tool changing what the writer sets out to achieve and as Gero mentions, “Writers may start to wonder whether their vision is getting muddied by an entity that lacks any experience with the real world.”

student blogs

Human Parts of Writing

Both the documentary and reading were both helpful and insightful to further dive into the subject of AI. Not sure if I have been living under a rock or something but being back in school for my second semester of graduate school, this is my first introduction of AI. I did have one student tell me one day that a system did write his paper, I was confused. With the lack of knowledge of these online tools, I had just assumed that the software had edited his paper for him to make it better. Little did I know.

I am not fully against computer systems. While there are more cons’ than pros’ of course, I do feel like in a way AI can benefit writers, if used correctly. But with everything in life, everything needs to be used with moderation. I like that in the reading there was a distinct message that compares what a creator and an artist is. This is important. While AI systems can be compared to ghost writers, AI still generates writing at a low bar. The artist/writer still needs to build and work on what was created. AI systems really can mostly push and help with any writers block one may have, and I feel like that’s what it mainly should be used for. Computer systems are trained to predict what comes next. And just like that YA author who was writing a fantasy novel and used AI, as we can predict, AI does not always have the best predictions itself of what should come next. The system should be used with a grain of salt, it may be helpful and it may inspire other ideas within yourself that was pushed.

I agree with HOLLYMAHOGANY, AI does loose that human touch. While it can be a great and helpful tool for writers and artists, it will still never be as creative as a human can be. In my opinion at least. While the tool can be there and used when needed, I don’t think it’s a system creators should primarily be fixated on using. It should be there as tool of recourse, not a tool for creativity.

student blogs

Blog#2 Intro To AI

I found both the reading and video great introductions to the AI world, how far technology has come, and how far can it go in advancements.

Starting I felt AI introduces a conversation that compares what exactly a creator is and what an artist is. I feel a lot of people in this era create content on the internet and are able to captivate their particular audience. When I think of artist I think of Da Vinci with the Mona Lisa and he actually created something others have been inspired by of many years. It was his original thought that sparked many creators to put a spin on his work. This idea may become blinded at some point when it comes to AI in the near future.

It was mentioned that China will soon have a lead against the U.S. when it comes to AI technology by the year 2025. The reason being is they have a leg up when it comes to data and information they are getting from their vast population. They have 10x more data being pressed through AI technology than the U.S., and this is simply because they have a wider population and are able to have the majority using it. They have started using AI as ways to rank what type of citizen you will, or can be.

“Black Mirror” on net flicks has an episode in season 3 that shows this exact method China is using, and exactly how it leads different in the society to the way they chose to live. This community used ratings for housing, travel, and other life necessities that could affect your economic status in America. The main characters whole goal was at first to buy the house of her dreams, and lived like some of her “friends” were. Her rating was lower than those who brought property in that area, so she tried her best to raise her score by getting likes from those around her, and trying to be more interactive with the social part of their society. It drove her crazy, and really showed me how very soon everything will be using this AI technology to take away the “Human Experience”.

The true voice of authors, writers, musicians, and artist are that they were able to make personal connections with an audience that they can keep engaging with. I feel with AI this enters the ideas of just creating content as opposed to actually making it. It loses the human touch that is always needed, because as humans we have something machines can never have, and that is Empathy. This is why movies like M3Gan end with the robot wanting to destroy humans and companions no matter how much information you download in them, or how close you get them to be with a human. Machines lack the human emotion of having empathy for the world around you, and that isn’t something they have mentioned in the AI development process.

student blogs

intent.

There was one particular line in this week’s article to read that intrigued me and that I would tend to agree with when it comes to the use of AI in writing. The quote was this:

A computer, while not explicitly bringing its own intention, can disrupt the writer’s intention.

AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing, Katy Ilonka Gero

That word intention has a lot of power behind it– it’s the why in anything you write, say, or do. I don’t think I mentioned it too much in my blog from last semester, but one of the first questions my abuelita ever asked my dad (through the translation of my mom) was “what are your intentions?” If you’re going into a relationship just to stay in a relationship, or if you’re going into a relationship based on feelings that can come and go from time to time, what kind of a relationship is that? If you’re going to build a house, are you going to build it on sand or soil that could wash away in a storm? Or would you rather build on a solid and intentionally built foundation?

In many ways it’s the same concept with writing. An author builds a relationship with the audience through the language of the piece– what is said, how it’s said, and why it’s said.

When it comes to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing, I don’t think it’s a great tool if it’s the main source of language in any case. However, it can, for some writers, be a great source of inspiration– I personally don’t like this for most of my own writing unless I’m using it for an idea I already had and just have trouble putting into words. For some this is an incredibly useful tool to chip away at the infamous wall of writers block. AI writing is not my cup of tea for the most part though because it does not bring the same intention that human writing so often does. The intention of AI writing is in its code– its intention is to formulate a sentence that makes sense about a topic provided for it. That said, AI does not feel, and has its limitations on how it can perceive patterns of how certain emotions are expressed. Intention then becomes distorted in formula. A destination is reached in writing, but what does the journey mean– or is there a journey at all– when it’s based on a formula rather than a purpose?

There was another quote from Ilonka Gero’s article that also had me thinking about what it really means to be an honest writer, or even an honest person. (Not to say that writers using AI are inherently dishonest– the point is that AI might sugarcoat that honesty or in some ways limit the full truth the writer is attempting to convey).

Most writers are eager to get eyes on their work, and a computational eye may feel less frightening than your best friend; the computer might judge you, but not in a way that’ll impact your future relationship with it.

AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing, Katy Ilonka Gero

What sticks out to me here is that while making things “less frightening” is sometimes helpful, making it so readily available can take away part of the experience and development of the writer as a person. Fear is, to some extent, necessary for healthy human development. Growth is uncomfortable. This fact is well known and not some sort of major plot twist or revelation.

I mean even if you think about it from a Biblical standpoint like I do, even Jesus Himself said that there would be hardship in this world. There will be times when speaking up or standing up, however necessary, will be scary and difficult. Example: Jonah. Example 2: Moses. Example 3: Gideon. Example 4: Jesus in Gethsemane. There are numerous other examples, but my point is that what is the point in expressing thoughts that everyone is already having? Express the thoughts that might face some opposition and that start genuine conversations where people might learn a thing or two from one another.

And that brings me back to another part of what the article said:

…other writers simply take pride in sitting down and pumping out a thousand words. It’s like exercise. You need to keep it up, otherwise your skills atrophy.

AI Reveals the Most Human Parts of Writing, Katy Ilonka Gero

Pushing limits and boundaries is not comfortable, nor is protecting your own boundaries at times. But it takes practice. And to make it so readily available that AI can “protect us” from the sort of interaction that might help us to develop as people and as writers is something to be wary of.

This all said, the use of AI in writing isn’t entirely bad. Much like with what and how we actually write, how we use this technology is also important to take into consideration. Computers to not bring their own intention into creating, but might suggest a way of phrasing or displaying the intentions of the user that is actually behind creating the piece at hand. Something someone said in e-lit last semester that I think is really applicable here is this idea that creation submits to its creator. I would agree wholeheartedly that is how it’s designed, but as we human beings don’t always submit to the will of God, technology doesn’t always submit exactly to the will of man as we picture it to either. In the case of technology not always doing things exactly how we might picture it, sometimes that can turn into a beautiful, serendipitous moment of inspiration. So using AI as a tool alongside human writing is a beautiful thing of course, though I personally feel convicted to avoid that for the sake of challenging myself more. The question for me is more along the lines of how this might get out of hand.

student blogs

From undergrad to graduate: My Journey to Mastering the Written Word


Hello! My name is Jenise, but I usually go by my nickname, Jenny. I am in my first semester of graduate school at Kean University, pursuing a Masters’s degree in English Writing Studies. As a recent graduate from Kean University, I have developed a passion for the written word, its process, and the power to convey meaning and emotion.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I enjoyed taking various English courses such as Composition, Creative Writing, Children’s Literature, Intro to Journalism, Business & Professional Writing, Technical Writing, Feature Writing, and Writing Creative Podcasts. These courses allowed me to broaden my knowledge and learn different forms and styles of writing. I have always been fascinated by how language is used to convey complex ideas and tell compelling stories. As I progressed through my coursework, I discovered that I had a particular talent for crafting clear, engaging writing, and I found great fulfillment in honing my skills as a writer. 

I was also able to apply my writing skills in a practical setting through an internship with the School of English Studies at Kean University. I designed flyers for events, meetings, and new course offerings. I kept followers engaged by posting daily on Instagram and Twitter, and copy-edited weekly blog posts to prepare for publishing. I also apply my writing skills in my part-time job as an assistant in a personal injury Law Firm. I oversee the Workers’ Compensation Department along with a paralegal and the handling attorney. I assist in supporting case preparations for court by preparing claim petitions, case summaries, materials for mediation conferences, and proof/edit (e.g., pronunciation, grammar, spelling) routine law office correspondence and legal case matters.

I am excited about the opportunity to continue my studies at Kean. The program’s focus on writing and critical thinking align perfectly with my academic and personal goals. I am confident that the rigorous coursework and dedicated faculty at Kean will provide me with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in my future endeavors as a professional writer. After I earn my Masters in English Writing Studies, I intend to work in the field of higher education and copywriting. By utilizing the skills I learned during my undergraduate coursework and creating/promoting content for the School of English Studies’ social media, I am confident that pursuing graduate education at Kean University is the best path toward achieving my professional aspirations.

I am eager to be a part of this vibrant community of writers at Kean and contribute to the intellectual life of the University.

student blogs

About me

Hi, I’m Edna, I’m 23 years old and I have a very long name. I like classical music, Goya and writing things that are a bit existential. I like photography (black and white), going for a walk and sitting in parks. I am of few words, but I try. I like to dance to Greek music, salsa, merengue, or whatever.

student blogs

Howdy

my name is Erik not eric, I am an aspiring poet , writer and (potentially, possibly maybe, perhaps) an educator for higher Education. I love to read and write poetry and create fantasy worlds. [world building is fun and not stressful at all]. a few of my favorite things to do are Bouts-rimés, watch criterion movies, collect rare books, and hand write letters to my friends which I send through the USPS (basically archaic i know but who doesn’t like receiving physical mail)

I’m present myself as a very calm and collected person, but in my mind I am freaking out 66% of the time, 23% of the time I’m cracking jokes that only I would think are funny, and the rest of the stressing about deadlines. It’s a mess but its functional, i like to think of it as controlled chaos like this .

I’m extremely excited & terrified to be in Grad school after being out of school for 5 years. I got my undergrad from… Kean in English Literature. So I’m Doubling down on the Kean Degrees.

put on your tinfoil hats everyone

I am [internally] terrified of AI, and rightfully so. AI that’s programed to learn and grow seems so far off, but human innovation doesn’t rest, it keeps progressing whether you want it or not. Eventually, we’ll reach this, or this. I’m over exaggerating for dramatic effect, but we are in the early stages of AI and creatives Educators and academics have yet to figure out if it will hinder or help.

student blogs

The Beginning of The End!

Im starting this semester with so much excitement but also very anxious. This is my last semester as an undergraduate student. I have waited for this moment for what feels like forever, to finally say “this is my last semester”, it has been a long time coming.

Im anxious because I’m thinking about what’s to come next and how I will manage and navigate through that. I do want to keep going and not stop for any reason at all, but I also don’t want to become overwhelmed with everything I have going on already.

For those of you that do not know me, my name is Jasmine. I’m senior here at Kean University. My major is English-Writing with Psychology as a minor. I’m really looking forward to #NetNarr this semester and learning as much as possible. Looking forward to a great semester.

student blogs

hi!

hello, i’m giselle and this is my second semester at kean. so far, so good. when people ask about me, the first thing i tell them is that even if i have headphones on, i promise i can still hear most of the time. since my ‘”edgy” high school days, i’ve had the bad (or good?) habit of playing music 24/7. it’s a comfort for me, but i’m always told i should stop doing it because it comes off as rude. just tap me and we’ll spill our guts!

my love for music back in those days generated my interest in writing back then too. i have stacks of journals with embarrassing poems and entries i wish i could burn, but i’m too sentimental. i still carry a journal wherever i go and use it to unclog my brain when needed. i did my undergrad at Montclair State and read a lot. so for my graduate studies, it only made sense to shift my focus to writing.

i’m a very shy and quiet person, until i’m not. i love talking to people about their passion and interests because i have a lot that i can go on and on about. i love poetry, memoirs, vignettes, documentaries, crocheting, photography, drawing, painting, sculpting, fashion, and so much more. i’m only good at half of those, but it doesn’t stop me. singing or playing an instrument is where i draw the line.

like everyone else, i feel pretty confident in my knowledge of the world wide web because i was born into it. all of my interests listed above became my interests because of the internet and technology. i’m intrigued by our small discussion last class and i hope to learn even more from internet and technology… in a way that doesn’t make me fall into an existential spiral please. :^)