AI & the End of College Writing as We've Known it.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: AI & the End of College Writing as We've Known it.
Authors: Shanley, Brett Jacinto1 (AUTHOR) bshanley@ucsc.edu
Source: Changing English: Studies in Culture & Education. Jun2026, Vol. 33 Issue 2, p183-204. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Generative artificial intelligence, *Intellectual development, *Academic discourse, *Educational technology, *Artificial intelligence, Essays
Abstract: As of 2025, there is no reason that the presently ubiquitous and required 'College Writing' course should even exist – at least as long imagined. The very status of the student essay, a longstanding staple of most disciplines, has been radically transformed in less than three years. Generative AI chatbots have effectively rendered classroom and workplace textual-generative skill development obsolete. From this sobering reflection, this article seeks to elucidate the capabilities of new technology as concerns academic writing and, importantly, the social dimensions of its use. Ultimately, the author proposes a post-utility vision of writing studies that neither condemns nor embraces AI but rather circumvents its relevance by abandoning the hyper-expedient 'service discipline' model for one more centred around holistic personal and intellectual development. AI needn't be a deathblow to writing studies, but the catalyst for its reinvention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Changing English: Studies in Culture & Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 193857513
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: AI & the End of College Writing as We've Known it.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shanley%2C+Brett+Jacinto%22">Shanley, Brett Jacinto</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> bshanley@ucsc.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Changing+English%3A+Studies+in+Culture+%26+Education%22">Changing English: Studies in Culture & Education</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 33 Issue 2, p183-204. 22p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generative+artificial+intelligence%22">Generative artificial intelligence</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+development%22">Intellectual development</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+discourse%22">Academic discourse</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+technology%22">Educational technology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence%22">Artificial intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Essays%22">Essays</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: As of 2025, there is no reason that the presently ubiquitous and required 'College Writing' course should even exist – at least as long imagined. The very status of the student essay, a longstanding staple of most disciplines, has been radically transformed in less than three years. Generative AI chatbots have effectively rendered classroom and workplace textual-generative skill development obsolete. From this sobering reflection, this article seeks to elucidate the capabilities of new technology as concerns academic writing and, importantly, the social dimensions of its use. Ultimately, the author proposes a post-utility vision of writing studies that neither condemns nor embraces AI but rather circumvents its relevance by abandoning the hyper-expedient 'service discipline' model for one more centred around holistic personal and intellectual development. AI needn't be a deathblow to writing studies, but the catalyst for its reinvention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Changing English: Studies in Culture & Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=193857513
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/1358684X.2025.2598220
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 183
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Generative artificial intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intellectual development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic discourse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Essays
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: AI & the End of College Writing as We've Known it.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Shanley, Brett Jacinto
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1358684X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 33
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Changing English: Studies in Culture & Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1