My Teacher Thinks I Used AI for My Essays
Hey everyone, I’ll keep this brief. I’m a 16-year-old high schooler, and my History teacher marked two of my recent essays as being 50% and 67% AI-generated. He gave both a zero, dropping my grade to an F. I want to clarify that I didn’t use AI to write them. I did some research beyond the provided sources to gather accurate information, which I always do, and my essays reflect a somewhat sophisticated vocabulary since I read a lot and like to use varied synonyms.
I thought my previous work would prove my credibility, but now I’m at a loss on how to show that I didn’t use AI. I checked the document history for both essays, but since I wrote them in one sitting, the only changes are minor rewordings. This situation is causing me a lot of anxiety, and I feel completely helpless about proving my innocence. On top of that, this teacher and I had some issues in the past—last year he publicly accused me of racism for reading Gone With the Wind in the cafeteria. He has been fine since then, but I’m still unsure how he truly feels about me.
If anyone has advice on how I should handle this, I’d really appreciate it—time is running out, and I need to address this soon!
Update: I decided to confront my fears and speak to him directly during passing period. To my surprise, it went better than I expected. He seemed open to the discussion and said that as long as I was completely honest about not using AI, he would revert both essays back to full credit. It seems like he may have these conversations with other students often, which doesn’t justify his accusations, but I’m relieved everything got resolved without involving administration.
It’s great to hear that you took the initiative to talk to your teacher directly and that the conversation went well! It’s understandable to feel anxious about confrontation, especially in a situation like this. It’s clear you put a lot of effort into your essays, and it’s frustrating to have that called into question.
It’s also interesting to hear about your teacher’s approach—accusing students of using AI might be a reflection of the current concerns many educators have about academic integrity. It’s important to communicate openly and honestly, and it seems like you did that, which is commendable.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation again, you might consider keeping drafts or notes that show your thought process while writing, as these can be helpful in proving your work was your own. Also, maintaining a good line of communication with your teachers can help build trust over time.
Good luck with the rest of your school year! You clearly have the ability to advocate for yourself and handle tough situations, which is an invaluable skill.