This is a 2 part posting. Part 1 will discuss tips on how to use ChatGPT ethically, as a student. Part 2 (coming soon) will show you how ChatGPT can help you, ethically, while writing an essay.
OK, so it’s no secret that students are, and will be, using ChatGPT (and other generative A.I. services). Professors everywhere are worried about that — though many of us also see promise in the possibility of having students use ChatGPT in constructive ways.
So, as a student how can you use ChatGPT ethically? And — a related but not identical question — is it possible to use ChatGPT without running afoul of your school’s rules?
These questions aren’t straightforward, because for example the answer to the second question depends in part on a couple of key variables — namely a) your school’s specific policies, and b) your professor’s attitude.
As a starting point, here’s a conversation I had recently with ChatGPT itself, about that very question. Note that the conversation below isn’t about how not to get caught using ChatGPT. It’s about how to use ChatGPT in a responsible way — that is, in a way that maintains the integrity of your learning experience.
(I’ll provide ChatGPT’s answers, and also add my own comments [in parentheses.]
Prompt: “How can a university student use ChatGPT without engaging in plagiarism?”
ChatGPT replies:
Using ChatGPT as a university student without engaging in plagiarism requires understanding the ethical boundaries and using the tool responsibly. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Treat ChatGPT as a tool, not a source: ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for brainstorming ideas, getting suggestions, or clarifying concepts. However, it should never be used as a source of information to directly include in your academic work. Instead, rely on reputable sources and use ChatGPT to enhance your understanding or explore different perspectives.
- Do your own research: Use ChatGPT as a starting point and then conduct thorough research on the topic independently. Consult reliable sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and reputable websites to gather information and develop your own understanding. [I think of ChatGPT a bit like Wikipedia: it’s a decent starting place to get an overview of a topic, but you shouldn’t rely on it.]
- Use ChatGPT for guidance and clarification: If you’re struggling to understand a concept or need clarification on a topic, you can ask ChatGPT for explanations or examples. However, make sure to critically evaluate the responses and verify the information with reliable sources to ensure accuracy. [Be cautious here. ChatGPT can give you decent, plain-English explanations of lots of concepts, but if the explanation or definition is different in different ways from the one your professor is expecting in an essay or exam, you’re out of luck.]
- Avoid copying and pasting answers: Plagiarism involves presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own. Avoid copying and pasting responses from ChatGPT into your assignments. Instead, paraphrase and rephrase the information in your own words, giving proper credit to the original sources. [This is THE best advice for students, generally: never copy and paste anything into your essay. Copy-paste can get you into trouble, even if you’re trying honestly to do your own work. Simply forgetting to put a suitable citation can still land you in trouble.]
- Use proper citation and referencing: When you use external sources in your academic work, whether it’s from ChatGPT or other references, make sure to properly cite and reference them according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). This acknowledges the original authors and prevents plagiarism. [Note that ChatGPT is terrible at finding academic references. It will literally invent authors and books that don’t exist. However, it’s pretty good at citation styles — so you can feed it your citations and say “Put these into MLA style,” and it will.]
- Seek feedback and review: Before submitting your work, have someone, such as a professor, TA, or classmate, review your assignment. This can help identify any unintentional similarities or instances where ChatGPT may have influenced your writing too much. [This is ChatGPT’s weakest advice. Having someone look for unintentional similarities seems to assume that you’ve already used some copy-paste, which (as per #4 above) you should avoid entirely.]
Remember, the responsibility for academic integrity lies with you as a student. Using ChatGPT responsibly means using it as a supplementary tool for learning and understanding, while still upholding the principles of academic honesty.
Overall, the above (from ChatGPT) is really good advice. Got other tips? Please feel free to comment.
Update: Make sure to check out Part 2 on this topic, here:
Students: Using ChatGPT Without Plagiarism, Part 2
Ethics of Academic Integrity 