Definitions of Original Work
Original work means something you create on your own, using your own ideas, thoughts, and skills. It should show your unique thinking and not be copied from someone else. Original work can include information you learned from others, but it needs to be put in your own words, and you must give credit to those sources.
Levels of AI usage
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Human-Created Work: This is work you make primarily by yourself, using your own thoughts and creativity.
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AI-Assisted Work: You can use AI tools to help you develop ideas, check your grammar, or find information. However, you still need to add your thoughts and make them your own.
- AI-Generated Work: Work mostly created by AI is not considered your original work. You cannot pass this off as something you made without giving credit.
AI and Honesty: Using AI to do your work without permission or not giving credit is dishonest. You are responsible for ensuring your work is your own and follows your school's rules.
Utilizing and Citing AI
Working with AI is like working with a partner on your schoolwork. Sometimes, it is okay or expected to work with a partner; other times, it is expected that you work independently. When your teacher asks you to create original work, you must know if and how to use AI to support your thinking. Your teacher will help you decide which level applies to your assignment.
Tier | Description | My Work is… |
No AI |
Your teacher wants a clear picture of what you know and can do without outside help. You may not use AI on these assignments. |
My Thinking |
AI as Coach |
You can use AI to get feedback and refine your original thinking. On these assignments, you may ask AI to identify ways you can improve your work. The work that you create must be your own. |
My thinking, supported by AI |
AI as Collaborator |
You can work with AI like an in-class partner. On these assignments, you can ask it for feedback, use AI-generated content as a starting point for ideas, and use AI to help you refine and revise your work |
A combination of my thinking with AI-generated ideas |
AI as an Essential Tool |
You will need to use AI to complete your work. On these assignments, you’ll rely on the processing power of AI to help you analyze data, look for trends and patterns, or generate original ideas. |
Dependent on AI to produce the work |
Citing and Disclosing AI Use
Whenever you use AI to help you create a work product, you must cite it as a source or describe how you used it. Failing to cite or disclose your use of AI could result in an Academic Integrity violation.
How to Cite AI
If you use AI to find information you incorporate into your work, cite it like any other source. You can find more information about how to cite AI in MLA or APA style here:
How to Disclose the Use of AI
If you use AI to help you improve or create work products, you must disclose that use to your teacher. Your teacher will provide more information about how they want you to disclose your use of AI. They may ask that you add a statement at the top of your assignment or comment on a Canvas submission.
Here are some example statements you might use to share how you used AI:
- I used AI to get feedback to help improve my final product.
- I used AI as a partner to help develop ideas and create my product.
- I used AI as an essential tool to develop my product.
Sharing Your Chat and AI Responses
Your teacher might request that you share a copy of any prompts used or responses received from AI during your work.