This activity will deepen your understanding of plagiarism by having you explain its various forms in your own words and receive detailed feedback from an AI.

Instructions:

1. Initial Explanation of Plagiarism:

   • Use an AI writing tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, etc.).

   • Begin by explaining the general concept of plagiarism in your own words.

   • Ask the AI for feedback on your explanation.

     Example Prompt:

     “In my own words, plagiarism is [your explanation]. Please provide feedback on the accuracy and clarity of my explanation.”

2. Detailed Explanation of Plagiarism Principles:

   • Now, you will explain each of the five specific principles of plagiarism in detail.

   • For each principle, provide your own explanation and ask the AI for feedback.

   • Principle 1: Submitting another person’s work as your own.

     Example Prompt:

     “Here’s my explanation of submitting another person’s work as your own: [your explanation]. Please tell me if my explanation is accurate and if I’ve missed anything important.”

   • Principle 2: Copying and pasting without proper attribution.

     Example Prompt:

     “Here’s my explanation of copying and pasting without proper attribution: [your explanation]. Please give me feedback on the accuracy and completeness of my explanation.”

   • Principle 3: Failing to provide in-text citations.

     Example Prompt:

     “Here’s my explanation of failing to provide in-text citations: [your explanation]. Please let me know if my explanation is clear and accurate.”

   • Principle 4: “Patchwriting” or using synonyms.

     Example Prompt:

     “Here’s my explanation of ‘patchwriting’ or using synonyms: [your explanation]. Please provide feedback on the accuracy and clarity of my explanation, and tell me why this is considered plagiarism.”

   • Principle 5: Self-plagiarism.

     Example Prompt:

     “Here’s my explanation of self-plagiarism: [your explanation]. Please give me feedback on the accuracy and completeness of my explanation, and explain why this is considered a form of plagiarism.”

3. Iterative Feedback and Refinement:

   • For each principle, carefully analyze the feedback provided by the AI.

   • If the AI identifies any inaccuracies or areas for improvement, revise your explanation.

   • Ask the AI follow-up questions to clarify any points of confusion.

   • Continue this back-and-forth process until you are confident that your explanations are accurate and comprehensive.

     Example Follow Up Prompt:

     “The AI told me that I needed to clarify [X part of my explanation]. Here is my revised explanation of that part. [Revised explanation]. Is this now accurate?”

4. Synthesis and Application:

   • After explaining all five principles, ask the AI to summarize the key takeaways about plagiarism.

     Example Prompt:

     “Based on our conversation, please summarize the key takeaways about plagiarism.”

   • Reflect on how you will apply this knowledge to your own writing.

     Example Prompt:

     “Based on all that we have discussed, how can I ensure I avoid all forms of plagiarism in my academic work?”

5. Reflection:

   • Write a short reflection on your experience.
   • How did the AI feedback help you deepen your understanding of plagiarism?
   • What were the most challenging aspects of explaining these principles in your own words?
   • How will you use this knowledge to ensure academic integrity in your future work?