Course Title:
AI, Language, and Literature Honors
UC Subject Category: Interdisciplinary (G)
Delivery Mode: Online & Classroom-Based
Grade Levels: 10–12
Credits: 5 UC-Approved High School Credits
Prerequisites: Completion of English I and II (or equivalent)
Course Description:
AI, Language, and Literature Honors explores the transformative relationship between artificial intelligence and human language—both in how we read and how we write. This interdisciplinary course examines how AI reshapes literary expression, narrative structure, authorship, translation, and linguistic analysis. Students study both canonical and contemporary texts through the lens of technology while engaging with AI tools that simulate, analyze, and generate human language.
The course fosters deep literary analysis, digital literacy, and critical thinking as students explore works of fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction in dialogue with AI-powered platforms. From AI-written poetry to machine translation, students engage in hands-on experiences that bridge classic literature with the evolving world of language technologies.
By the end of the course, students will have produced analytical essays, creative writing enhanced by AI tools, and a capstone research or creative project. The course prepares students to navigate the ethical, artistic, and intellectual implications of language in the age of artificial intelligence.
Syllabus Overview: AI, Language, and Literature Honors
| Unit | Topics Covered | Key Activities & Assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Language, Literature, and Machines | What is language? How do machines process it? | Short essay: Is AI capable of literary expression? |
| Unit 2: Machine-Generated Texts | AI-authored poems and stories, authorship and creativity | Creative writing using GPT tools; comparison analysis |
| Unit 3: Literature in the Age of AI | Contemporary fiction about AI (e.g., Exhalation, Klara and the Sun) | Literary analysis paper; Socratic seminar |
| Unit 4: Natural Language Processing (NLP) | Tokenization, sentiment analysis, AI language models | Hands-on NLP lab: text classification or chatbot logic |
| Unit 5: Translation and Multilingual AI | Machine translation, idioms, meaning across languages | Side-by-side AI vs. human translation comparison & reflection |
| Unit 6: Narrative Structure and Prediction | How AI analyzes plot, structure, and reader behavior | Data analysis of literary patterns; visualization project |
| Unit 7: Ethics and Language Technologies | Bias, misinformation, censorship, authorship rights | Research-based argument essay or podcast episode |
| Unit 8: Capstone Project | A creative, critical, or research-based project integrating course themes | Presentation, annotated bibliography, and reflection |
Tools & Readings
- AI Tools: GPT-based platforms, Google Translate, DeepL, Voyant Tools, Grammarly AI
- Readings may include excerpts from:
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
- Exhalation by Ted Chiang
- Selections of AI-generated poetry and fiction
- Articles from The Atlantic, Wired, and MIT Technology Review
Grading Breakdown
- Literary analysis and essays – 25%
- Creative writing and AI integration projects – 20%
- Class discussions and participation – 15%
- Labs and technical tasks – 15%
- Capstone project – 25%
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze literature in both traditional and computational contexts
- Use AI tools to explore language creation, translation, and analysis
- Engage in discourse on the ethical implications of language technologies
- Produce original literary and academic work enhanced by AI
- Understand how AI is transforming the relationship between reader, writer, and text