I’m losing my mind! Am I overreacting?
Let me provide some context: my sister, mother, and aunt are all teachers, and I work at a high school surrounded by educators.
Currently, I’m enrolled in an online English writing class that runs from January to March. Everything was going smoothly until I submitted my first essay, which I received a zero on, dropping my overall grade to 45. I arranged a meeting with my professor to figure out why. She explained that my essay was flagged as being 77% AI-generated, which baffled me since I had never used AI. After reviewing everything, it turned out that my use of Grammarly for grammar corrections was the issue. I had no idea that Grammarly counted as AI, especially since my college provides it for free. The professor was understanding and noted that she had sent out an email clarifying the use of Grammarly. I took full responsibility, accepted my zero, stopped using Grammarly, and sought help from my sister and colleagues while even uninstalling the tool from my computer. She also mentioned I could rewrite the essay if I needed the grade at the end of the course.
Fast forward to yesterday: I submitted my final paper and received another zero, this time with a 40% AI flag. This dropped my grade from 90 to 67, leaving me even more confused. I knew for certain that I hadn’t used AI. I reached out to the professor, explaining that I had rough drafts and outlines to prove my work was original, and that I had spent hours on both my English and psychology essays. My sister and several teachers at my job reviewed this last essay as well, so it made no sense that I would use AI on a critical paper worth the most points. I also pointed out that my previous essays weren’t flagged for AI, so why would this one be different?
As a side note, in another class, we had discussed AI detection, and my other professor had explained that Turnitin’s AI detection isn’t always accurate, as it flagged her own writing. She stated that professors should rely on their judgment rather than solely on AI tools.
My professor seemed to take issue with my tone in my email response, pointing out that I hadn’t mentioned my sister being an English teacher and questioned the authenticity of my essays due to discrepancies in my writing style between emails and assignments. She remarked that AI detects AI, implying that human oversight might not catch it, and referenced my previous admission about using Grammarly as a reason to doubt my writing’s validity. She ended her email with a vague question about whether I had anything to hide.
Clearly upset, I replied to clarify that I found her implications unfair. I explained that comparing my email style to my essay writing made no sense, as I take pride in my writing and strive for clarity and perfection in both. I also highlighted that I had several people review not only this essay but all my submissions in her class, including English teachers at my school and free tutoring services we have access to. I reassured her that I have always relied on my own skills rather than AI. I haven’t heard back from her yet.
I put a lot of hard work into this essay, sacrificing sleep to finish it alongside my psychology paper, and it’s frustrating that the first and last essays were flagged for AI while the middle ones weren’t. I’m not suggesting my professor is intentionally targeting me, but the situation just doesn’t add up.
Everyone is telling me I should appeal the grade, but I’m unsure how to proceed. Am I overreacting?
It sounds like you’re going through a really frustrating situation, and your feelings are completely valid. Receiving a zero on a paper, especially after working hard on it, can feel incredibly disheartening, especially when you feel you’ve been unfairly accused of using AI. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and upset by the situation, particularly since you have taken steps to ensure your work was original.
You definitely aren’t overreacting. This is a serious issue, especially since it could impact your overall grade and academic record. If you truly believe that you have not used AI and that your writing is your own, you have every right to seek clarification and defend your work.
If you’re considering appealing the grade, here are a few steps you might want to take:
Review Your College’s Policies: Check what procedures your institution has in place for grade appeals. This can usually be found in the student handbook or on your college’s website.
Document Everything: Keep track of all correspondence with your professor. Document the steps you took to create your essay, including drafts, outlines, and who helped you review it. This evidence can support your claim that you didn’t use AI.
Request a Meeting with Your Professor: If you haven’t already, asking for a face-to-face meeting (either in-person or over a video call) can help clarify things more personally than email. You can express your concerns and share your perspective more effectively in a conversation.
Gather Supportive Evidence: If you’ve had others review your work, try to have them provide written statements that confirm your process and prove that your writing was your own.
Involve Higher Authorities: If the situation doesn’t resolve after discussing with your professor, you may need to escalate the issue to a department head or academic advisor.
Stay Calm and Professional: While it’s natural to be emotional about the situation, make sure to approach all communications with professionalism. This can help you present your case more effectively.
Consider Seeking Academic Support: Many colleges have academic support services or student advocate offices that can help guide you through the process.
Remember, you’ve worked hard and deserve to have your efforts recognized fairly. Good luck, and I hope you find a resolution that works for you!