This assignment, by Bryan Kopp, Christopher McCracken, Lindsay Steiner, and Louise Zamparutti, is from the TextGenEd January 2024 Continuing Experiments collection in the WAC Clearinghouse Repository.
The abstract from the site explains:
This assignment introduces students to generative text technology through a scaffolded set of tasks in which they intervene in a classic professional and technical writing case study: the risk communication surrounding the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster. Students used ChatGPT to understand the case, to analyze and revise one of the memos implicated in the meltdown, to document and reflect on their revision strategies, and to develop a set of best practices for working with generative AI in technical communication.
Key Features of This Assignment
- Rhetorical Analysis Skills
- Students develop their rhetorical analysis skills by examining and creating prompts, learning how to craft questions that elicit thoughtful and effective responses.
- Prompt Design and Testing
- This assignment involves students in the process of designing and testing their own prompts, providing hands-on experience in prompt engineering and iterative improvement.
- Reflective Practice
- Students engage in reflective practice by analyzing the outcomes of their prompts, considering how different phrasing and structures impact responses, and refining their techniques accordingly.
Find the full version of this resource at the WAC Clearinghouse.