This assignment, by Zach Whalen, is from the TextGenEd collection in the WAC Clearinghouse Repository.
The abstract from the site explains:
Computational text generation is having a moment right now, with large-language models at the forefront of what many people may have in mind when thinking about computer-generated text. A major shortcoming of these approaches—including ChatGPT, Bard, and similar systems—is their opacity. It is difficult, and probably impossible, to explain the origins of any specific textual prediction generated by these systems, so writers working with these systems have to think carefully about the ethical implications of any text produced. The assignment or exercise below is, in contrast to the AI language models currently in vogue, minimalist and fully transparent in its operations. Students working with this beginner-level programming exercise in repetition can, in spite of the nominal simplicity of the prompt, nevertheless, produce computational literary works that surprise and delight. This can be an opportunity for students to learn how other poets have used repetition in their work, and by asking students to explain or defend their choices, the activity can open a discussion about the ethical decision-making involved in the data curated for LLM training.
Key Features of This Assignment
- Introduction to Iteration with For Loops
- This assignment serves as a beginner-level programming exercise that introduces students to the concept of iteration using for loops. By writing code that repeats a word or phrase 50,000 times, students gain a fundamental understanding of how loops work in programming.
- Exploration of Poetics and Repetition
- Students explore the use of repetition in literature and computational writing. They read and discuss examples of poetic works that utilize repetition, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells” and Aram Saroyan’s “Crickets,” to understand how repetition can drive meaning and artistic expression.
- Ethical and Aesthetic Considerations
- The assignment encourages students to think critically about the ethical implications of their word choices and the aesthetic goals of their generated texts. This reflection helps students understand the balance between creative freedom and responsible language use, especially in the context of automated text generation.
Find the full version of this assignment at the WAC Clearinghouse.