Strategy #5: Always, Always Double Check Any Examples
In many situations, people turn to a Large Language Model when they want to find an “example” of some kind. At best, this can save time. At worst, the model will not distinguish between real, verifiable examples and those it can generate based on scraping for information.
- If an example is factual, by all means include it after rewriting it, rather than using the exact wording generated by the Large Language Model.
- If there is any doubt that the example can be verified, rewrite it and present it as a hypothetical example, with wording to indicate this.
- If an example stated as fact cannot be verified, and it is incomplete or possibly even incorrect, it should not be included in the textbook.
You may wonder why we would worry so much about distinguishing verifiable from theoretical examples. The answer is simple. In 2018, research conducted by The Programme for International Student Assessment reported that only 13.5% of American 15-year-olds could consistently distinguish fact from fiction when reading. That same year, a study conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that when reading a list of ten statements, more than 50% of American adults struggled to distinguish fact from fiction.
Select Strategy #5 Example to explore this strategy in action.
Additional Strategies
Select one of the hyperlinks below to jump to a different strategy, or select the “back” button to go back.
Strategy #1: Revising to Avoid Repetition of Vocabulary and Transition Wording
Strategy #2: Combine Repeated Content Fragments to Create Robust, Intentional Content Features
Strategy #3: Write the Main Body in Paragraphs Rather than Numbered or Bullet Point Lists
Strategy #4: Turn Long Passages with Bare, Repetitive Structure into Clear, Concise Tables
Toolkit References
A.C. Burton, UCI Center for Excellence in Writing & Communication, “The Dos and Don’ts of Using Tables and Figures in Your Writing.”
Cite This For Me, a Chegg service, “Writing Style Tips: Word and Sentence Variety.”
Harvard College Writing Center, “Conclusions.”
Kashmir Hill, The New York Times, “The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About It.”
Stephen Johnson, Big Think, “86% of American 15-year-olds can’t distinguish fact from opinion. Can you?”
Amy Mitchell, Jeffrey Gottfried, Michael Barthel, and Nami Sumida, Pew Research Center, “Distinguishing Between Factual and Opinion Statements in the News.”
Kristina Tran, San Jose State University Writing Center, “Sentence Variety and Rhythm.”