When to use this
- You're tempted to have AI do the whole assignment.
- You're not sure what's OK to type into a chatbot.
- You feel like you can't even start studying without AI.
Try asking
Paste one into any AI chatbot as it is — or, better, change it to fit your own subject.
I'm not asking you to do this assignment for me. I'm stuck on the conclusion — just give me a checklist of what a good conclusion should include.
Why it works · Asking about the stuck spot instead of the whole thing means both the work and the skill stay yours.
I want to polish a short "about me" for our class newsletter. I've replaced my name with [Name] and my school with [School] — just look at how the sentences flow.
Why it works · Leaving out what identifies you doesn't change the help you get, so make deleting it a habit before you paste.
Don't tell me the answer yet. Give me one hint so I can think it through, and I'll ask for the next hint if I'm still stuck.
Why it works · Taking hints one at a time keeps you doing the thinking, so you don't end up unable to start without AI.
Avoid
- Having AI do a whole assignment or project and handing it in — you end up with a finished product you can't explain.
- Typing in your name, address, phone number or passwords, or a friend's photo or contact details — once it's typed in, it's out of your hands.
- Handing in AI-written sentences or someone else's work as your own — say what AI helped with, and cite other people's work.
How to check the answer
- Before you hand it in, close the screen and explain it in your own words. If you can't, it isn't your homework yet.
- Before you paste anything, look once more: if it could identify you or a friend, delete it first.
- Check the assignment instructions for whether AI is allowed and how to say you used it — if they don't say, ask your teacher.
In one line
Hand AI the stuck spot, not the whole homework.