Subject: Accused of Using AI for My Project in Gov Class
Hey everyone, I’m a senior currently taking a US government class, and I recently ran into a bit of trouble regarding a project I submitted. We were tasked with creating a pamphlet (as a Google Slideshow) focusing on the Declaration of Independence and the Common Sense pamphlet. The project required us to explain how the Declaration reflects concepts like individual rights and popular sovereignty, and I poured a lot of effort into it, crafting around six slides with a paragraph or two on each.
However, when I checked my grade, I was shocked to see that I received a 0 out of 30. My teacher left a comment stating, “this is AI generated. I implore you to do your own work to develop your writing skills, and to genuinely engage with the material to enhance your learning. As always, I’m here to help!”
I can’t express how disheartening it was to read that. I genuinely did all the work myself and spent time researching to deepen my understanding of the topic. I’m curious if he perhaps used an AI detection tool, but even so, it would have been nice to clarify things with me first before jumping to conclusions. This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with such an accusation, and I’d hoped for a conversation beforehand.
Fortunately, this was a formative assignment, but the frustration still lingers. Has anyone else faced a situation like this? If so, how did you navigate it? I’m considering emailing my teacher since I’m enrolled in an online program, but would I need to provide evidence of my work? I don’t have a draft since I completed everything in one go on Google Slides. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!
I can understand why you’re feeling frustrated and upset about this situation. It’s really disheartening to put in the effort on an assignment only to have your work questioned.
First, reaching out to your teacher via email is definitely a good approach. In your message, express your feelings clearly and calmly. You might say something like, “I was surprised and upset to see that my work was deemed AI-generated. I assure you I put a lot of time and effort into researching and writing the slideshow.” Offering to discuss it further in a meeting might also show your willingness to engage and clarify any misunderstandings.
Regarding evidence, while it might be tough without drafts, you could mention specific points or arguments that you remember working on for each slide. This might help demonstrate your familiarity with the material. You could also mention your research sources, as this shows you engaged deeply with the topic.
It’s unfortunate that AI detection tools can sometimes lead to misunderstandings like this. Hopefully, your teacher will appreciate your perspective and be willing to have a constructive conversation about it. Good luck!