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The Draft: Stories, Conversations, and Ideas in Progress

The Draft: Stories, Conversations, and Ideas in Progress

Keeping the Struggle: The English Sequence Meets AI

Oct 9, 2026 · 39 min · 11 segments

If AI can produce a decent paragraph in seconds, why should students still learn to write one? In this episode of *The Draft*, we look at how LAU’s English sequence and literature courses have…

If AI can produce a decent paragraph in seconds, why should students still learn to write one? In this episode of *The Draft*, we look at how LAU’s English sequence and literature courses have responded to generative AI. The changes go beyond individual assignments and reach into the courses themselves. We talk about what has changed so far and what had to be rethought. We also get into the challenge of keeping pace with the tools while giving instructors room to teach in their own way. Dr. Reine Azzi is joined by Ms. Mona Shahine, Ms. Evelyn Dabaghi, and Ms. Dana Hodeib-Eido. Together they talk about the changes they’re proudest of, why productive struggle still belongs in the writing classroom, and how to make the case for it without simply banning the tool. They also share the one message they’d leave first-year students about writing and AI. Listen now and join the conversation. And if you think you have a podcast idea or would like to just share your feedback, you can reach out to us at [wcc@lau.edu.lb](mailto:wcc@lau.edu.lb). We’d love to hear from you!

If AI can produce a decent paragraph in seconds, why should students still learn to write one? In this episode of *The Draft*, we look at how LAU’s English sequence and literature courses have…

Spotify Apple Podcasts

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈499 followers

Speakers: Dana Hodeib-EidoGuestReine AzziHostMona ShahineGuestEvelyn DabaghiGuest

Top entities: Artificial intelligence×11 English×25 ChatGPT×6 Reading Lebanese American University×2

The English Course Sequence5:50 – 7:48

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:50

Okay.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:50

We c- the three of us can talk about the sequence.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:53

The sequence went through, um, uh, uh, re- was revamped, I think, in 2015.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:59

Uh, starting then, uh, we used to teach general English, and we moved into academic style.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:06

And it took us a while to sort of, quote, unquote, maybe, I- if I may use the word, "perfect".

6:12

Mm.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:12

But I think we're on the way to saying we're all constantly modifying, uh, uh, curricula.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:18

We're constantly modifying syllabi.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:20

You can ask Evelyn.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:21

She does that every single semester.

6:23

[laughs]

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:23

She comes up with something new.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:25

And, and, and it goes throughout all the courses.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:28

So, um, we introduced academic style, and we started experimenting with what is it that we wanted our students to learn.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:37

And Eva can carry on from there.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:39

Yeah.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:39

So we start in 009.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:41

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:41

We start with the fundamentals of academic writing.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:44

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:44

So we start with academic formal style.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:46

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:47

Uh, basics of research.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:48

So how to read research.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:50

Mm.

Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
97%11 mentions
EnglishEntitySpoken language
92%25 mentions
ChatGPTSoftware ApplicationSoftware
86%6 mentions
ReadingEntityLanguage writing system
81%1 mention
Lebanese American UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in Beirut, Lebanon
75%2 mentions
The OdysseyBookBook by Emily Wilson
69%2 mentions
Blackboard LearnSoftware ApplicationSystem software
64%2 mentions
Bloom's taxonomyEntity
58%1 mention
CliffsNotesBrand
53%3 mentions
OneDriveSoftware ApplicationWeb site
47%2 mentions
Microsoft PowerPointSoftware ApplicationSoftware
42%2 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
36%3 mentions
Columbia UniversityCollege or UniversityUniversity in New York
31%4 mentions
PadletCompanyStartup company
25%1 mention
SocratesPersonPhilosopher
19%1 mention
New YorkCityCity in New York State
14%1 mention
iPadProduct ModelTablet computer
8%1 mention
Generation AlphaEntity
3%1 mention

Generative AI in EducationTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
AI-Assisted Academic WorkTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Generative AI in Education
University Writing InstructionEducation > Higher Education
Academic Writing ProcessesEducation > Higher Education > University Writing Instruction
Drafting and Revision for Independent ThinkingEducation > Higher Education > University Writing Instruction > Academic Writing Processes
Critical Evaluation of AI-Generated ContentTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Generative AI in Education > AI-Assisted Academic Work
Research-Based WritingWriting > Academic Writing
Evidence, Citation, and SynthesisWriting > Academic Writing > Research-Based Writing
APA-Supported Multi-Source SynthesisWriting > Academic Writing > Research-Based Writing > Evidence, Citation, and Synthesis
Close Reading and Literary AnalysisLiterature > Literary Education
Humanistic Interpretation of Character and ThemeLiterature > Literary Education > Close Reading and Literary Analysis
Cognition and MetacognitionPsychology > Learning Psychology
Self-Efficacy and Cognitive DependencePsychology > Learning Psychology > Cognition and Metacognition
Literary EducationLiterature
Academic WritingWriting
Learning PsychologyPsychology
Education
Technology
Psychology
Literature
Writing
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
Higher EducationEducation

The English Course Sequence5:50 – 7:48

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:50

Okay.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:50

We c- the three of us can talk about the sequence.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:53

The sequence went through, um, uh, uh, re- was revamped, I think, in 2015.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

5:59

Uh, starting then, uh, we used to teach general English, and we moved into academic style.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:06

And it took us a while to sort of, quote, unquote, maybe, I- if I may use the word, "perfect".

6:12

Mm.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:12

But I think we're on the way to saying we're all constantly modifying, uh, uh, curricula.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:18

We're constantly modifying syllabi.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:20

You can ask Evelyn.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:21

She does that every single semester.

6:23

[laughs]

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:23

She comes up with something new.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:25

And, and, and it goes throughout all the courses.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:28

So, um, we introduced academic style, and we started experimenting with what is it that we wanted our students to learn.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:37

And Eva can carry on from there.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:39

Yeah.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:39

So we start in 009.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:41

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:41

We start with the fundamentals of academic writing.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:44

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:44

So we start with academic formal style.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:46

Mm.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:47

Uh, basics of research.

E

Evelyn DabaghiGuest

6:48

So how to read research.

M

Mona ShahineGuest

6:50

Mm.

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