I do not allow the use of ChatGPT and related AI (including Grammarly) in my courses. Though I am aware that other professors allow or even teach you how to use it “responsibly,” I do not have evidence to suggest that critical thinking and writing improves with it.
In most cases, the generated writing presents as not meeting the prompt that I have written and something more generalized, which results in worse grades.
ChatGPT can also put you in severe plagiarism issues. One major issue in AI-generated writing is called “hallucinating,” where sources that do not exist are generated. Even if you edited out that source, a citation would still be needed for that thought. My classes require engaging with research to the degree that you show critical thinking. Analysis is engaging with writing and research, and you will need analysis as a transferable skill in other coursework and in your field.
If you are worried about your grammar, know that you can satisfactorily pass my courses while learning grammar and making errors. If English is not your first language, I am sensitive and attuned to grading with that consideration. My rubrics are not punitive on grammar errors. I do not count per error and will teach the class a particular style or grammar lesson when appropriate. Applying those lessons works best when you manually edit and revise your work. One of the major learning outcomes is learning how to revise your work. Editing out contextual errors and generalizations in ChatGPT takes a master editor. Most of the corrections in AI-“checked” work is obvious and makes little sense when applied to a specific assignment. Sometimes, it is not even grammatically correct. The writer’s work will make more sense if you try to write what you intended to write, not what you think sounds proper or official. That’s what you are being graded on, more than anything—that you show that you have thought and are developing.
Besides my own human perception and having looked at thousands of essays, I have several ways of checking and reporting.