Writing with generative AI — UC Davis course review

Taught by Carolyn Gubala at UC Davis, this course takes a more academic approach to AI-assisted writing than most platform-specific tutorials. It spans six hours across four modules and focuses on understanding what AI can and cannot do for writers.

Who it’s for

Writers, students, and professionals at any level who want to build a principled understanding of how to incorporate AI into their writing process. Particularly useful for those who want to use AI tools but are concerned about originality, ethics, and quality.

What it covers

Module 1 introduces generative AI and LLMs, exploring common tools and their strengths and limitations for writing tasks. Module 2 focuses on context in writing: purpose, audience, issue, and situational factors that shape effective communication. Module 3 addresses prompt crafting with specific writing applications. Module 4 teaches how to evaluate and analyze AI outputs, including identifying when AI has produced inaccurate or inappropriate content.

The course covers skills in writing and editing, data ethics, large language modeling, and responsible AI practices.

Limitations

The pace is deliberately slow for beginners, which may frustrate experienced AI users. The course is tool-agnostic, which means no deep dives into specific platforms but also means the principles transfer across tools.