Why Student Effort Matters More Than AI-Generated Writing

I Want My Students’ Effort, Not AI’s Shortcut to Perfect Writing

In a ninth grade English class, students were wrapping up a unit on A Raisin in the Sun. The assignment was an essay about the American Dream and the obstacles marginalized people face while chasing it. The focus was on themes like institutional oppression related to housing in Chicago and interpersonal oppression seen in Walter’s treatment of Ruth and Beneatha.

This essay required students to select evidence and connect it to real-world issues—a process that challenges them to engage deeply with the text. But because the play’s format, with stage and actor directions, can be tricky, many students looked for shortcuts once they had to find textual proof to back their ideas.

The AI Shortcut

One student excitedly shared his essay introduction. At first glance, it looked flawless—perfect grammar, smooth sentence structure, and vocabulary that I hadn’t seen him use before. Yet, when I asked him to explain the words or summarize his writing, he couldn’t. That’s when I asked the difficult question: “Did you use AI?”

He looked embarrassed but didn’t deny it. I wasn’t angry. Instead, I felt worried and sad. I told him I’d prefer his most awkward, incomplete writing over something he didn’t understand or own. What I want is his voice and effort, no matter how imperfect.

Why Effort Matters More Than Perfection

This student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) focused on improving memory and comprehension. Pushing through the discomfort of rereading and engaging with the text is crucial for building resilience—an essential skill for learning.

Academic resilience means seeing challenges as chances to grow, replacing frustration and doubt with determination and confidence. It’s about viewing tasks as opportunities to develop skills, especially with teacher support.

But this student lacked that resilience. Instead of returning to the book, asking a classmate, or seeking help, he chose the AI shortcut. Each of those actions involves important skills: patience, bravery, listening. AI bypasses these, robbing students of growth opportunities.

The Real-World Impact of Frustration Tolerance

Reading and writing build more than just literacy. They develop motor skills—like turning pages or underlining text—and mental skills, like summarizing and connecting ideas. These tasks can be frustrating, but frustration tolerance is critical in life.

Low frustration tolerance lets people avoid difficult tasks, which AI encourages by offering quick fixes. This especially hurts young people from underserved backgrounds. Without practice in critical thinking, they miss out on analyzing and understanding the world around them.

High frustration tolerance is vital beyond school. It helps people read leases, understand contracts, ask questions about legislation, and make informed community decisions. Without it, we give away our power to think and act independently.

Physical Books and Traditional Tools Are Still Technology

Technology isn’t just digital. The printing press, which made books widely available in the 1800s, was a major technological advancement. Holding a book, writing notes by hand—these aren’t old-fashioned habits but important tools that support learning and skill-building.

Teaching Discernment Over Denial

AI has its place, but teachers should focus on teaching students when AI can support learning and when it hinders brain development. Our minds stay sharp only if we challenge ourselves and build discipline. Instead of banning AI outright, we should help students understand their own abilities and why they matter.

Artificial intelligence is here to stay. Our job is to guide students to use it wisely, preserving their growth and resilience through effort and active engagement with their work.