24 ✨AI Enhanced Activity: Menu of Helpful Questions

This activity is designed for you to seek out assistance in areas where you might need a little help. The AI will serve as a helpful tutor to answer your questions. You will ask at least three questions from the menu of questions provided below. Use the feedback to refine your work.

Instructions:

1. Create Your MLA Template and Outline: Follow the instructions in the previous chapter to create your MLA template and develop a detailed outline for your chosen essay topic. This step should be completed without AI assistance. 

2. AI Targeted Questions: Ask the AI at least three questions from the menu below. Choose questions that address your specific concerns or areas where you are less confident. If you are confident in your formatting, you can choose more subjective questions about the outline itself. Your questions should be based on your own needs. They might all be formatting related or all outline related or a mixture of the two. You are welcome to ask more than three if this is helpful for you.

MLA Formatting Questions:

• “I’m using [Word/Google Docs/etc.]. I’m trying to insert page numbers in the header, with my last name before the number. Can you give me step-by-step instructions on how to do this correctly?”
• “I’m having trouble with the hanging indent on my Works Cited page. I want the first line at the margin and subsequent lines indented. How do I set this up correctly in [Word/Google Docs/etc.]?”
• “I’m not sure how to correctly format the date in my heading. Should it be numerical (e.g., 10/25/2024) or spelled out (e.g., 25 October 2024)?”
• I’m not sure if my in-text citations are in MLA format. What is the difference between MLA and APA in-text citations?
• [If you have another specific question for formatting, you may use it here.]

Outline Questions:

• “Here’s my working thesis statement: [paste thesis]. Does it seem clear, concise, and arguable for a college-level essay?”
• “Here are my subtopics: [list subtopics]. Do they seem relevant to the thesis and offer distinct points for discussion?”
• “Here’s how I’ve organized my subtopics: [explain the order]. Does this order seem logical and persuasive for my argument?”
• “For my conclusion, I’m thinking of connecting my subtopics by [explain your approach]. Does this strategy seem effective for synthesizing my argument?”
• [If you have another specific question about your essay outline, you may use it here.]

3. Analyze and Apply AI Feedback: Carefully review the AI’s responses. Don’t just accept everything it says. Think critically about the feedback. Do you agree with the AI’s assessment? Why or why not? Sometimes, the AI might make a mistake, or its suggestions might not be the best fit for your essay. Consult additional sources to ensure correctness.

4. Revise Your Work: Based on your analysis of the AI’s feedback, revise your MLA template and outline. Make sure you understand why you are making the changes! Consult other resources to confirm accuracy.

5. Self-Reflection: Write a short reflection on the process. How did using the AI in this way help you understand MLA format and outline construction? Did you find any discrepancies between your understanding and the AI’s feedback? How did you resolve those discrepancies? What did you learn about the importance of critical thinking when using AI as a tool?