Don't Let the Robots Take Your Voice
Writing Style in the Age of AI
What's the point of learning to write in the age of AI? After all, large language model tools are able to take our messiest ideas and turn them into polished, clear prose in a matter of seconds.
This workshop series argues that developing your own writing style is about more than just producing a polished final product.
It's about the audience awareness that informs your choices. It's about the way your own values and personality shine through in your work.
It's about finding your voice.
Over the course of four sessions, we'll learn about specific aspects of writing "style" (vocabulary choices, sentence structure, punctuation preferences, and when to break the rules).
Along the way, we'll read articles about AI and writing and reflect on developing strategies and approaches that make sense in a changing world.
The class will end with a final project that allows writers to showcase their developing voice with intention and creativity.
Course Details
Ages
13-18
(Younger middle school learners may participate if they have previous writing experience and a genuine interest in the topic.)
Schedule
October 26-November 22, 2026 with live meetings on Wednesdays from 11-11:45am Eastern.
Supplies
- Microphone and camera for in-class participation
- PDF Reader
- Zoom (free account)
- Learners will submit work through Google Drive (a Google (Gmail) account can be acquired for free)
Time Commitment
Class meets for 45 minutes each week for 4 weeks.
There will be readings (optional and required) available each week for an additional 1-3 hours of available work.
The final project has multiple options and will take most learners 2-5 hours to complete in the final week of class.
Is this the right fit?
This class is designed to be accessible to a range of students, and the final project is adaptable to meet a variety of needs in terms of difficulty. To be successful in this class, students should be able to:
- Write about 500 words (about 2 pages double spaced) on a single topic
- Confidently read texts at or above 1000L on the Lexile rating
- Participate in group discussions respectfully
This class is a good fit for high school learners and experienced middle school writers who want to practice sentence-level writing practice with a focus on language usage and structural choices.
This class is not designed for learners who are at the very beginning of their formal writing experience. Writing style is something that's best developed in writers who already have practice with a writing process and have gained confidence in producing meaning in written texts. Those who are still working on these skills may benefit from a Middle School Writing Foundations course instead.
Skills Gained
Students will practice developing their own writing voice with an emphasis on elements of writing style.
The class will culminate in a final project that allows personal exploration of that theme.
Individual Support
My teaching philosophy very much focuses on starting with students’ strengths to build confidence and using them to work on improvements over time.
Feedback is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. I also encourage a lot of self-reflection and provide opportunities for students to directly communicate their challenges so that facing them with strategies becomes a normal part of the writing process.
Meet Your Teacher!
