Am I right to be concerned about AI checkers?
I like to think of myself as a decent writer, and I usually take pride in my work. Recently, I completed a history essay that I poured a lot of effort into, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. When I went to submit it on Canvas, I noticed a checkbox indicating that my essay would be sent to Turnitin. Curious, I looked it up and discovered it’s a tool for checking both AI-generated content and plagiarism.
To see how my essay would fare, I pasted it into a similar AI checker, and it responded with a shocking 97 percent AI-generated rate. Naturally, I panicked and tried out a few more checkers, which yielded results ranging from 18 percent to zero percent AI-generated, and even one claiming a high chance of plagiarism but stating zero percent AI involvement.
Now, I’m really anxious about turning it in, fearing that my professor will think I used AI to write it. Is there any way to address this situation? It’s mind-boggling how inaccurate these tools seem to be.
It’s completely understandable to feel anxious about the results of those AI checkers, especially after putting so much effort into your essay. The inconsistency in the results can definitely be concerning. Here are a few steps you can take to ease your worries:
Understand the Tools: Remember that AI checkers are just tools and their accuracy can vary considerably. They often use different algorithms and data sets, which can lead to conflicting results. It’s important to view their findings as just one part of the picture.
Review Your Work: Go through your essay once more to ensure that all your ideas are original and paraphrased properly. If you have used direct quotes or paraphrased someone else’s work, make sure all sources are cited appropriately.
Seek Feedback: If possible, ask a trusted friend, classmate, or even a teacher for their opinion on your essay. They might provide a fresh perspective and help you spot any areas that could raise concerns.
Communicate with Your Professor: If you’re still worried, it might be worth discussing your concerns directly with your professor. You could mention the varying results from the checkers and express your commitment to integrity in your writing.
Stay Calm: It’s crucial to remember that as a writer, your voice and personal insights contribute significantly to your work. Just because a checker flags something doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. The most important thing is that you’ve put in the effort and thought into your composition.
Ultimately, trust in your abilities and the hard work you’ve put into your essay, and know that there are means of clarifying any concerns if they arise. Good luck!