Well, folks, it looks like Generative AI is becoming more widespread in Malaysia, particularly in education. A recent conversation with someone at an institute of higher education here in Malaysia revealed that many students are now turning in assignments written entirely by Generative AI. The problem is, after writing the prompt and copy-pasting the result, these students would often stop there and hand in these assignments as-is.
While this is unethical, anyone who has read whatever results from a generative AI prompt will notice one big flaw. The results often sound shallow. This means there's a lack of details written in a way that most humans would consider to be good writing. So, it doesn't matter if you've removed the first sentence where it says it can certainly write whatever you asked it to write; most examiners who grade such work will notice this shallow feeling.
Don't leave everything to the AI
As such, we've made this Practical Guide on How to Properly Use Generative AI for Writing based on our own guidelines for using Generative AI here at TechNave.
So, you've run the prompt. What's next?
Read it yourself at least once. A checklist of questions we like to ask ourselves every time we do this includes:
- Is it logical? Does it make sense?
- Is it ethical? Does it follow human standards both legally and morally?
- Is it shallow? Does the tone fit the overall theme? Does it flow naturally?
You obviously don't want to copy paste that "Certainly!..." first line
If you know what's wrong, how do you fix it? Add the Human Touch
A few times reading through should let you pinpoint which sentences don't exactly sound right. Once you know exactly what the problem is, add the Human Touch.
One method is to fine-tune your resulting article the way you would normally communicate. So, if you find that shallow sentence, just reword it to carry the same meaning but in a way that follows your style and fits the overall tone of the article.
Generative AI also tends to make things up or "hallucinate" when it doesn't know something or isn't clear about it (or you forget to mention it). This can be a real problem, as it sometimes means that generative AI will write complete trash or something unrelated to the overall article.
When you read through and check your article, the chances of catching these generative AI "hallucinations" are much higher. Also, if you don't check and edit your work in the first place, it's very likely you'll get failed or score rather low marks anyway (just saying).
Work together with the AI to make it better
Conclusion - Express yourself properly
Writing has always been about self-expression. The way we communicate is often expressed in how we write. While Generative AI has emerged as a powerful tool for writing, if you don't add on your personal touch it loses the part that makes it a unique and compelling reason for most people to continue reading.
It won't matter that the prompt you've been using does your work in seconds if the work lacks this personal touch. Additionally, since many people think otherwise, many examiners are finding rewritten work from generative AI to sound almost exactly the same. This not only raises the chances of being accused of plagiarism but also makes it very likely that you'll receive rather average or below-average marks for it.
We're not saying that you shouldn't use generative AI to make your work easier. But making it better and more personal is key to getting the high marks you need for your work/homework. By providing clear prompts, fact-checking, understanding context, iterating drafts, and maintaining human oversight, writers can enhance their work with AI while ensuring it remains logical, ethical, and engaging.
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