Teaching Writing in the Age of AI:
Five Strategies for Developing Student Skills
Adapted from Oxford University's "Use of generative AI tools to support learning" for secondary writing instruction
The introduction of AI writing tools has fundamentally changed the landscape of writing instruction. Students now have access to systems that can generate essays, provide instant feedback, and offer sophisticated suggestions for improvement. As writing teachers, we face a critical choice: we can view these tools as threats to authentic learning, or we can reimagine how we teach writing in ways that harness AI's potential while preserving the deep thinking that makes writing education valuable.
The key insight from Oxford's research is that AI can be a powerful ally in developing writing skills—but only when used strategically to enhance rather than replace the cognitive work of learning to write. Students still need to develop their own voice, learn to organize complex ideas, and practice the recursive process of drafting and revision that builds strong writers. AI can support this development, but it cannot substitute for it.
Strategy 1: Using AI to Explore Writing Styles and Genres
One of AI's most valuable contributions to writing instruction is its ability to provide instant examples of different writing styles and genres. This capability can transform how we teach students to recognize and adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences.
Rather than spending class time reading through multiple examples of lab reports, persuasive essays, or literary analyses, you can have students use AI to generate examples and then analyze what makes each genre distinct. Ask students to prompt AI to write the same basic content in different styles—a scientific explanation written as a news article versus an academic paper, for instance—and then identify the key differences in tone, structure, and language.
This approach allows students to see patterns across genres more quickly than traditional instruction typically permits. They can explore how sentence length changes between informal and formal writing, how evidence is presented differently in different disciplines, or how transitions work in various types of arguments. The key is ensuring that students are doing the analytical work of identifying these patterns rather than simply accepting AI examples uncritically.
Consider having students critique AI-generated examples, identifying strengths and weaknesses in the writing. This develops their editorial eye while helping them understand that AI outputs aren't inherently superior to human writing—they're just another form of text to be evaluated and improved upon.
Strategy 2: Structured Feedback Without Replacing Teacher Expertise
AI can provide rapid, consistent feedback on certain aspects of student writing, but it's crucial to understand both its capabilities and limitations. AI excels at identifying grammatical errors, suggesting structural improvements, and catching inconsistencies in style or tone. It struggles with evaluating the sophistication of arguments, the appropriateness of evidence for specific disciplines, or the development of a unique voice.
Design feedback protocols that leverage AI's strengths while preserving your expertise as a writing instructor. You might have students use AI to check their drafts for grammatical errors and clarity issues before submitting them for your review. This allows you to focus your feedback on higher-order concerns like argument development, evidence use, and critical thinking rather than spending time on mechanical errors.
However, be explicit with students about AI's limitations in providing writing feedback. AI cannot assess whether a thesis is appropriately complex for a particular grade level, whether evidence meets the standards of a specific discipline, or whether a student's voice is developing authentically. Help students understand that AI feedback is a starting point, not a substitute for the nuanced, contextual feedback that experienced writing teachers provide.
Consider creating feedback protocols where students must respond to both AI feedback and your comments, requiring them to evaluate which suggestions are most helpful and why. This develops their ability to critically assess feedback from multiple sources—a skill they'll need throughout their academic and professional lives.
Strategy 3: Overcoming Writer's Block Thoughtfully
Writer's block is a genuine obstacle for many students, and AI can be a valuable tool for helping them get started. However, there's a crucial difference between using AI to spark ideas and using it to avoid the thinking that writing is meant to develop.
Teach students to use AI as a brainstorming partner rather than a content generator. They might ask AI to suggest different angles on a topic, provide background information to consider, or offer counterarguments to their initial ideas. The goal is to get their own thinking moving, not to have AI do their thinking for them.
Create structured approaches to using AI for brainstorming. Students might start with their own ideas, then use AI to expand or challenge them, then return to their own analysis of which directions seem most promising. This ensures that AI serves as a catalyst for student thinking rather than a replacement for it.
Be particularly careful about students using AI to generate thesis statements or topic sentences. These elements of writing reflect a student's analysis and argument—having AI create them defeats much of the purpose of the assignment. Instead, students might use AI to help them understand what makes a strong thesis statement or to practice identifying thesis statements in sample texts.
Strategy 4: Enhancing Visual Communication Skills
Modern academic and professional writing increasingly requires the ability to present information visually—through charts, graphs, infographics, and other multimedia elements. AI can be particularly helpful in teaching students to think beyond text-based communication and consider how visual elements can support their arguments.
Have students use AI to brainstorm ways to present their data or arguments visually. AI might suggest creating timelines, comparison charts, or process diagrams that help readers understand complex information. Students can then evaluate these suggestions, deciding which visual elements would genuinely enhance their writing and which might be unnecessary or distracting.
This application of AI helps students develop multimodal communication skills that are increasingly important in academic and professional contexts. It also encourages them to think about their audience and purpose in new ways—considering not just what information to include, but how to present it most effectively.
Teach students to critically evaluate AI suggestions for visual elements, just as they would with textual feedback. Not every suggestion will be appropriate for their specific context, audience, or purpose. Learning to make these judgments develops their overall communication skills while teaching them to use AI strategically rather than automatically.
Strategy 5: Developing Critical Evaluation Skills
Perhaps the most important lesson you can teach about AI and writing is how to critically evaluate AI outputs. This skill extends far beyond writing instruction—it's essential preparation for living and working in an AI-enabled world.
Make verification and critical analysis explicit parts of your writing instruction when AI is involved. If students use AI to research background information, require them to fact-check key claims against reliable sources. If AI suggests citations or references, have students verify that these sources exist and are accurately represented. If AI provides definitions or explanations, ask students to compare them with authoritative sources.
This verification process itself becomes valuable writing instruction. Students learn to identify reliable sources, evaluate the credibility of information, and synthesize material from multiple sources—all crucial components of strong academic writing. They also develop healthy skepticism about information quality, regardless of its source.
Create assignments that explicitly require students to critique AI outputs. They might compare AI-generated writing with professional examples, identify errors or weaknesses in AI suggestions, or evaluate the appropriateness of AI feedback for specific writing contexts. This develops their editorial judgment while reinforcing that AI is a tool to be used thoughtfully, not a source of truth to be accepted uncritically.
Implementation Considerations
Start with Clear Boundaries
Begin by establishing clear guidelines about when and how AI can be used in your writing assignments. Students need to understand not just your rules, but the reasoning behind them. Explain how different assignments serve different learning objectives, and how AI use might support or undermine those goals.
Consider requiring students to document their AI use, describing how they used AI tools and what value they provided. This documentation helps students be more intentional about their AI use while giving you insight into how these tools are affecting their writing process.
Address Equity and Access
Not all students have equal access to AI tools or equal comfort using them. Some may have subscriptions to advanced AI systems while others rely on free versions with limited capabilities. Some may have extensive experience with AI while others are encountering these tools for the first time.
Consider providing in-class time for students to experiment with AI tools together, ensuring that all students understand how to use them effectively. You might also need to offer alternative approaches for students who prefer not to use AI or who lack access to these tools.
Adapt Assessment Strategies
Traditional writing assessments may need modification in an AI-enabled environment. Consider emphasizing process over product by requiring students to submit drafts, revision histories, or reflections on their writing process along with final papers. You might also incorporate more in-class writing components or oral presentations where students must demonstrate their understanding of their written work.
Focus assessment on elements that are difficult for AI to replicate: original analysis, synthesis of course materials, personal voice and perspective, or complex arguments that require deep understanding of course content.
Moving Forward Thoughtfully
The goal of writing instruction in an AI-enabled world isn't to eliminate AI from the writing process—it's to help students become more skilled writers who can use all available tools thoughtfully and effectively. This requires teaching them to understand when AI enhances their writing and when it might hinder their learning.
By approaching AI as an opportunity to enhance rather than replace traditional writing instruction, we can help students develop stronger communication skills while preparing them for a world where human-AI collaboration in writing will be the norm. The key is maintaining focus on the fundamental goals of writing education: helping students think clearly, communicate effectively, and develop their own authentic voice.
This guidance is adapted from Oxford University's "Use of generative AI tools to support learning." Individual schools and districts may have additional or different policies that take precedence over these general recommendations.