Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 2024

Surveillance Work in (and) Teaching Technical Writing with AI

Ehren Helmut Pflugfelder Oregon State University ; Joshua Reeves Oregon State University

Abstract

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) large language models has increased in both professional and classroom technical writing settings. One common response to student use of GAI is to increase surveillance, incorporating plagiarism detection services or banning certain composing activities from the classroom. This paper argues such measures are harmful and instead proposes a “CARE” framework: critical, authorial, rhetorical, and educational—a nuanced approach emphasizing ethical and contextual AI use in technical writing classrooms. This framework aligns with plagiarism best practices, initially devised from when rhetoric and composition scholars considered the pedagogical implications of the Internet.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2024-10-01
DOI
10.1177/00472816241260028
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality artificial intelligence technical communication multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Young (2026)
    Review Essay: Writing Surveillance and Its Rhetorics
    College Composition and Communication
  2. Morris (2026)
    Introduction to Special Issue: Technical Communication In/Against Security Logics
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Hope et al. (2025)
    Investigating Cookie Banners and Mitigating Complacent Clicking With Informed-C…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

Cites in this index (17)

  1. Johnson-Eilola et al. (2024)
    Can Artificial Intelligence Robots Write Effective Instructions?
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. St.Amant (2021)
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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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    A Pedagogy of Resistance Toward Plagiarism Detection Technologies
    Computers and Composition
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    Computers and Composition
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Show all 17 →
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    College Composition and Communication
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Also cites 14 works outside this index ↓
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CrossRef global citation count: 11 View in citation network →

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