An Analysis and Assessment of AI and Digital Writing Feedback Tools for Student Writing

Robot is sitting in front of a laptop with a notebook and writing things down with a pen.  The background is filled with little text bubbles that have jumbled up letters that are not words.

About this research opportunity

As AI tools for providing feedback on student writing become increasingly available, we invite a cohort of student researchers use and review different writing feedback tools in order to assess their alignment with evidence-based research on writing assessment. Our project co-researchers will be given access to four different digital feedback tools—Grammarly, TimelyGrader, EMI, and Topoi. Within each tool, the student researchers will submit a common set of writings for feedback from the AI tool. The researchers will gather the feedback provided then assess it in light of writing assessment scholarship from the fields of composition, writing program administration, and writing and rhetoric studies. In particular, the students will screen the tools to assess whether they adhere to well-established assessment practices and feedback guidance supported by writing assessment literature.

Eligibility

Any ASU Online student enrolled in a degree program offered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who has completed first year writing/composition courses.

Mentor(s)

Prof. Roger Thompson and Prof. Denise Hill

Course credit?
No
How to apply

Please submit a letter of interest to Prof. Thompson and Prof. Hill that describes why you find this project worth pursuing.

Contact information

Prof. Roger Thompson ([email protected]) and Prof. Denise Hill ([email protected])

Additional program details

Number of students being recruited
4
Modality
Remote
Duration
15 Weeks
Hours per week
3
Semester(s)
spring
Year(s)
2026