Resurrecting the Essay

Will the essay become an antiquated genre in the age of AI? Marie Compton and Claire Gordon make a strong case for the genre's vitality and relevance and propose a manifesto to preserve and revive it.

Created by a cohort of academics from the London School of Economics and King's College London, this manifesto seeks "to stimulate debate, foster reflection and provide educators and students alike with an analytical framework for reimagining the essay as a dynamic tool for learning and assessment in the AI era."

This student-led project out of the London School of Economics reaffirms the value of the essay, offering suggestions for expanding the definition of the genre and preserving its integrity in the age of AI.

Luke Zaphir argues that GenAI "revealed all the flaws of essays as assessment" and offers pragmatic solutions to restore the genre's integrity, from focusing on process to exploring alternative assessments.

Michael Blancato and Natalie Copp encourage faculty to "harness" students' interest in video essays to reinvigorate the writing process.

We can encourage slow thinking by reimagining the essay as a scaffolded, in-class—and AI-free—assignment, Lily Abadal writes.