Writing Guides

⚠️ Ethical Concerns 

There are myriad ethical considerations relating to the use of GenAI, from intellectual property and copyright to data privacy, from academic integrity to environmental sustainability.  

Here are some best practices concerning academic integrity and the use of AI to support writing. 

• Always disclose your use of AI tools according to your instructor's guidelines. Different courses and disciplines may have different policies about AI use. At MacEwan, there are three possible scenarios for the ethical use of GenAI:
  1. permitted with acknowledgement;
  2. permitted with prior permission;
  3. not permitted. 
• Use GenAI as a thought partner and drafting tool, not as a replacement for your own writing process 
• Your own knowledge and judgment are crucial to evaluating the AI's output 

📚 Developing Your Own Expertise 

Pigg (2024) found that there are important differences between how experts and students use these tools.

1. Experts tend to use AI to speed up familiar processes they already understand
2. Students sometimes rely on AI when struggling with comprehension or getting started

This suggests that while GenAI can be a useful tool, it's most valuable when you already have some understanding of your topic. Being aware of your motivations for using GenAI can therefore help you to adjust your expectations and value your own intellectual contributions. 

When it comes to writing with GenAI, there are particular concerns for international and multilingual students . AI writing tools often standardize language and erase culturally diverse knowledge, making it difficult for students to preserve their authentic voices and points of view (Owusu-Ansah 2023; Ghimire 2025). Ghimire developed the 4P Praxis to empower writers to engage with GenAI critically and preserve their own voice. While this praxis was developed with multilingual students in mind, it is a useful rubric for anyone who wants to retain agency over the AI writing process.

1. Pausing: Taking time to read and reflect on the entire response generated by ChatGPT.

2. Pondering: Critically evaluating whether the responses align with their authentic voice and intentions.

3.Posing: Asking further questions or seeking clarifications to refine the AI-generated content. 

4.Prioritizing: Centering their own critical thinking and ideas over the AI's suggestions.

Ghimire, A. (2025). Utilizing ChatGPT to integrate world English and diverse knowledge: A transnational perspective in critical artificial intelligence (AI) literacy. Computers and Composition, 75, 102913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2024.102913

Ghimire, A. (2025). Utilizing ChatGPT to integrate world English and diverse knowledge: A transnational perspective in critical artificial intelligence (AI) literacy. Computers and Composition, 75, 102913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compcom.2024.102913  

Owusu-Ansah, A. L. (2023). Defining moments, definitive programs, and the continued erasure of missing people. Composition Studies, 51(1), 143-148.