Dr. Monica Linden, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Neuroscience, and Provost’s Faculty Teaching Fellow, shared her syllabus statements about the use of ChatGPT and similar software in the class:

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASS:

This is written specifically about ChatGPT, but applies to using any artificial intelligence technology in this class.  I actually had ChatGPT write this statement, with a couple of editing prompts, to help you think about both what it can and cannot do.  I copied this verbatim from ChatGPT, so the statement is not my own.

As a student in a writing class, you may be wondering how to use ChatGPT ethically and effectively.

First, it is important to remember that ChatGPT should be used as a tool for idea generation and grammar and syntax assistance. For example, you can input a topic or a writing prompt into ChatGPT and use the output to generate ideas and to understand different perspectives on the topic. You can also use ChatGPT to proofread and check your grammar, punctuation and syntax. However, it is important to note that the output should not be presented as your own work and should always be used as a tool to supplement and support your own ideas and writing.

Another way to use ChatGPT ethically is to properly cite any information or ideas generated by ChatGPT in your work. This means identifying the source of the information and giving credit to the author. This way you can use ChatGPT as a reference and not as an origin of the ideas.

It's also important for you to understand that ChatGPT should be used as a tool to assist your writing, not as a replacement for your own ideas and critical thinking. So, always try to think critically and come up with original ideas and concepts, and avoid relying too heavily on the tool.

As a student, it's important to know how to use the tool effectively. Your teacher will provide guidance on how to use the tool in a way that helps you generate ideas and improve your writing, rather than just using the tool to complete your work.

By using ChatGPT ethically and effectively, you can improve your writing skills and enhance your ability to generate ideas and communicate effectively.

Now that you see what ChatGPT wrote, you see both strengths and weaknesses in how it writes.  For example, I find it to be a little repetitive and sometimes more broad than I would like.  You can also probably tell that it’s not in the same voice as the rest of the syllabus.  WORK IN THIS COURSE SHOULD BE IN YOUR VOICE!