Problems on the Path: Generative A.I. and Writing Assessment

In this episode of The English 101 Experiment, Monica and Mason talk with colleague Ari Zeiger about the problems arising in the writing classroom in the age of generative A.I. The conversation doesn’t rush toward solutions; instead, it explores the long-held assumptions that AI now unsettles—the belief that students must write independently, that a polished final product reliably measures learning, that familiar essay formats are inherently meaningful, and that originality and authorship are straightforward. As language automation reveals the limits of product-based, formulaic assignments, questions around labor, integrity, and what we’re actually assessing become increasingly urgent. While Monica shares glimpses of her emerging AI-integrated assessments, this episode remains rooted in inquiry, pausing to consider what writing assessment exposes about itself as AI reshapes the landscape beneath us.