Lesson by Gail Hapke

Explanation (for Instructors)

In this collaborative classroom activity, students work in small groups to revise a short paragraph about the Blind Pig. After submitting their group revisions, the instructor compiles the drafts and presents them anonymously for the class to read and evaluate. Students then vote for the version they find most compelling.

The instructor narrows the field to the top two student submissions—plus a surprise third entry: a “mystery contestant” written by ChatGPT. Students are not told that the “mystery contestant” is AI-generated until after voting.

When this activity was tested in Gail Hapke’s classes, both classes independently ranked the mystery version as second best. The top spot went to a student-written paragraph. Students noted that the winning version stood out for its creativity, energy, varied sentence structure, and vivid word choice. When the AI-authored paragraph was revealed, students described it as “correct but mechanical and uninteresting.”

This activity not only sharpens revision skills but also prompts discussion about what makes writing truly engaging and the affordances and constraints of AI-generated writing.

Instructions (for Students)

Work in groups to edit the “Blind Pig” paragraph. Submit once for the group, and be sure to include all your names on the submission.

When analyzing your competitor, The Blind Pig, there are many internal strengths that exist. One of these strengths is in relation to its product. The blind pig has many different Unique offerings. These offerings range from up to 15 different types of beer. Another strength is its quality. Blind Pig Brewery is known for having good-tasting beers and has received a lot of positive reviews for them. Those beers are both priced well and can also be purchased on tap, and or in can packs. Strong Brand Recognition and Loyalty in the local area is another strength. The blind pig has a very strong local awareness among consumers in the Champaign area. These consumers often go to their bars or the brewery and have a strong loyalty to the brand. Experience and knowledge other key strengths. The brewery has a long history in the champaign area. Due to that, it knows the market well.