critical thinking

Research Literacy with AI: Verifying Sources with Perplexity and the CRAAP Framework to Improve Intrinsic Motivation

Activities, collaboration and group work, critical thought and analysis, digital literacy, genAI, information literacy, Integrating sources, primary source research, Process, research, secondary source research, writing technologies /

Tingyu Zhang Assignments & Activities Archive Activity Description This activity teaches undergraduates to critically locate and verify sources by triangulating results from Perplexity AI (free version), Google Scholar, or Academic Search Complete, using the CRAAP framework (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) to evaluate sources (Blakeslee 6). Rather than treating AI as a shortcut, it frames […]

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Antagonizing & Tailoring LLM Writing in a Mock Public Relations Crisis Management Campaign for Business Communication Classes

Activities, critical thought and analysis, digital literacy, genAI, observation, Process, professional writing, rhetorical situation, writing myths and anxiety, writing technologies /

Amanda Rioux Assignments & Activities Archive Activity Description This Business Communication in-class activity uses a sample case study in which an imaginary company had a public fallout, with the purpose of students developing and refining the skills needed to regain trust and goodwill amongst the company’s various stakeholders—both internally within the company itself, and externally

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Critical AI Literacy as a Tool for Building Writing Skills

Activities, critical thought and analysis, demystifying writing assignments, genAI, genre and discourse community, metacognition, rhetorical appeals and argument, writing across the curriculum, writing technologies /

Kerri Rinaldi Assignments & Activities Archive Activity Description This structured classroom activity offers an agency-centered approach to teaching critical AI literacy in the writing classroom through a feminist methodology lens. Rather than approaching AI literacy as training students how to use generative AI tools, the activity positions students as rhetorical judges and critical witnesses, aligning

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From Connection to Critique: Evaluating an AI-Generated Essay

Assignments, critical thought and analysis, digital literacy, genAI, information literacy, Integrating sources, Process, research, rhetorical appeals and argument, secondary source research /

Abigail Michelini Assignments & Activities Archive Assignment Description This assignment brings generative AI into the writing classroom with the goals of learning about what it can and cannot do well, enhancing students’ ability to critique it, and engaging it responsibly without compromising critical thinking. The best place for this assignment is in the second half

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Teaching Critical AI Literacy through Popular Natural Science Articles

Assignments, critical thought and analysis, digital literacy, genAI, information literacy, Integrating sources, Process, research, rhetorical appeals and argument, rhetorical situation, writing across the curriculum, writing technologies /

Chad Lewis and Jackson W. Martin Assignments & Activities Archive Assignment Description The writing classroom is an opportune space to teach students how to critically think about generative AI (GenAI) outputs and their limitations. This assignment asks students to compare the rhetorical situations of scholarly research articles in the natural sciences with their popular science

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Getting Burned or Becoming Toast?: Problem-Exploring the Game “I Am Bread” as a Tool for Teaching Growth Mindset in First Year Writing

Activities, collaboration and group work, critical thought and analysis, prewriting and invention, Process, reading, reading to write, visual/multimodal rhetorics /

Laura E. Decker Assignments & Activities Archive Activity Description First-year writers often struggle to take risks on projects, especially as they move from their composition courses to projects within new disciplines and contexts (Robertson et al.). However, taking risks by diving into new discourse communities, as Bartholomae argued, is required to participate effectively in the

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The Complexity of Simplicity: Invention Potentials for Writing Students

prewriting and invention, Volume 2 /

Colin Charlton Volume 2 Chapter Description Students struggle with getting started on writing projects. In this chapter, you will find innovative invention strategies explained and modeled, based on student experiences.  By including questions to prompt thinking as well as writing, and student examples, this chapter can help you show students how to transform their uncertainty

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Looking for Trouble: Finding Your Way into a Writing Assignment

critical thought and analysis, demystifying writing assignments, Volume 2 /

Catherine Savini Volume 2 Chapter Description How can we help students become invested in their writing? How can we help students write interesting papers that we look forward to reading? Students can learn to write interesting papers that develop complex ideas if they begin by “looking for trouble.” This chapter provides students with a step-by-step

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Critical Thinking in College Writing: From the Personal to the Academic

critical thought and analysis, demystifying writing assignments, Volume 2 /

Gitanjali Dasbender Volume 2 Chapter Description This chapter works to define critical thinking for first year writers, explaining a process that helps them think, read, and write critically. With a focus on Annie Dillard’s essay, “Living like Weasels,” you can show students how they can learn to read carefully for ideas, to identify and analyze

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