AI-Assisted Self-Assessment of Essay Type Descriptive Answers

 

[Video recording of the live session]

Transcript for the "Essay Type Answer Writing | Error Analysis & AI-assisted Self-assessment | Academic Writing Workshop" by Merlin and organised by Chat GPT

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to another installment of our academic writing workshop series. These workshops have become a tradition, occurring at the close of each semester following our internal tests. It's a time when teachers meticulously review your answer scripts, pinpointing common errors for discussion. But beyond this, it's a chance for you to engage in a crucial aspect of academic growth: self-assessment.

Self-assessment involves more than just glancing over your work; it requires a deep dive into your writing, identifying both obvious mistakes and subtler nuances that often escape notice. Consider creating PDFs of your answer books, allowing for ongoing reflection and improvement, whether you're at home or in the hostel. While AI tools can assist in this process, it's essential to remember that they're just that—tools. Our ultimate goal is to maintain and enhance our own writing abilities, not to become overly reliant on technology.

As we transition into discussing the role of AI in our workshops, it's important to strike a balance. While AI offers valuable insights and can even serve as a personalized tutor, it's not without its limitations. Over-reliance on AI runs the risk of diminishing our own linguistic capabilities. Our workshops aim to harness the benefits of AI while ensuring that human judgment and creativity remain at the forefront.

In analyzing sample answers, we aim to bridge the gap between proficiency and excellence. By leveraging both AI insights and human discernment, we can identify areas for improvement and chart a course towards advanced levels of writing proficiency. Practical exercises are integral to this process, allowing you to apply feedback and refine your approach iteratively.

As we conclude today's workshop, I encourage you to continue honing your writing skills beyond these sessions. The journey towards academic excellence is ongoing, and your commitment to self-assessment and improvement will undoubtedly pay dividends in the long run. Thank you for your participation, and don't forget to complete the assigned activities.

The highlights of the session:

Mastering Essay Writing: Error Analysis & AI-powered Self-Assessment

This blog post summarizes an academic writing workshop focused on improving essay writing through error analysis and AI-assisted self-assessment.

Introduction

The workshop addresses a common challenge: the gap between internal assessments (where improvement is possible) and final exams (where it's not). It emphasizes the importance of strong writing skills and explores how AI tools can enhance self-assessment without diminishing human writing ability.

Challenges of Traditional Error Analysis

Personalized feedback can be time-consuming for teachers.

Replicating student answers with high-quality variations is difficult for humans.

AI as a Solution

Generative AI offers one-on-one tutoring through feedback suggestions.

AI excels at analyzing student writing and suggesting improvements.

Cautions and Best Practices

Overreliance on AI can hinder independent writing development.

Critical thinking skills remain essential, and AI should not replace them.

University exams typically require writing without AI assistance.

Benefits of AI-assisted Self-Assessment

Identifies areas for improvement (e.g., grammar, mechanics, clarity).

Elevates writing quality from B1/B2 to C1/C2 levels (CEFR framework).

Provides suggestions for stronger introductions, conclusions, and stances.

Workshop Activity

1. Analyze Past Errors: Review feedback from teachers on past exams.
2. Select an Answer: Choose an answer you wrote for a previous internal assessment.
3. AI Feedback: Upload a photocopy/PDF of your answer to a designated AI tool.
4. Prompt Selection: Clearly state you are a postgraduate student seeking a high academic level response.
5. Self-Assessment: Analyze the AI's suggestions and compare them to your original writing.
6. Continuous Improvement: Practice writing and self-assessment throughout the semester, aiming for excellence without AI dependence.

Conclusion

This workshop equips students with the tools and strategies to become self-sufficient, confident essay writers. By combining traditional error analysis with AI-powered feedback, students can elevate their writing skills and achieve academic success.