Citing Generative AI
How you cite ChatGPT depends on how you use it. If you quote it like you would a text
written by a human author, you treat it the same.
Quoting. If you ask ChatGPT to respond to something like, “Explain why it’s
important to cite generative AI when writing an essay for school,” and you use the
answer like this:
It is essential to cite generative AI when writing a school essay because “citing
generative AI in a school essay ensures academic integrity, transparency, and proper
attribution of sources, demonstrating ethical and responsible use of technology”
(ChatGPT, “important to By doing so, students show respect for intellectual property
and maintain honesty in their academic work. Additionally, citing such tools allows
readers and teachers to understand the role AI played in the creation of the essay and
assess the student’s original contributions more effectively.
you can use parentheses with the author, ChatGPT in this case, and a very short version of what
you asked it. In the example, using (ChatGPT “important to cite”) would help the reader quickly
identify which reference in a Works Cited section you’re citing.
Paraphrasing. When you paraphrase it instead of quoting, you have two choices: to
credit ChatGPT in-text or use a footnote.
When asked about why citing AI is important for students in school, it
explained that it is important to acknowledge generative AI when writing
a school essay because it helps uphold academic honesty, ensures
In-Text transparency, and credits the source appropriately. This practice shows
ethical responsibility in using technology while allowing teachers and
readers to evaluate the student’s original work alongside the AI’s
contributions.
It is important to acknowledge generative AI when writing a school essay
because it helps uphold academic honesty, ensures transparency, and
credits the source appropriately. By doing so, students show respect for
Footnote intellectual property and maintain honesty in their academic work.
Additionally, citing such tools allows readers and teachers to understand
the role AI played in the creation of the essay and assess the student’s
original contributions more effectively.
Grammar, organization, and search. Using ChatGPT to correct grammar (not
rewrite), to help draft an organizational structure or outline for an essay, and as an
advanced search engine are the most ethical—and time-saving—uses of generative AI.
For example, asking it to search the internet to find all the scholarly sources it can find
about a topic is a great way to find concrete details (evidence) for any academic writing.
Using AI to draft an outline is a great starting point. So is using it to help you organize
the everything is also helpful if you have good material, but it’s not in a good order
(though, be sure that when you ask it to organize your writing, mention that it should not
rewrite your words; just fix the organization).
Use footnotes to cite your uses. You should place the footnote at the end of the title of
your essay. Footnote is blue in the example essay below:
Jimmy Jimmyson
August 12, 2074
English 8 Acc
Ms. Hollis
Why Reading is Important1
Reading is an essential skill that benefits people in many ways. It improves your imagination,
helps you learn new things, and makes you a better communicator. Without it, it would be hard to grow
intellectually and emotionally. For these reasons, reading is one of the most valuable habits to develop.
First, reading improves your imagination. When you read books, especially fiction, you picture
characters, settings, and events in your mind. For example, when I read Harry Potter, I could see
Hogwarts and the magic spells in my head. This helps you think creatively and imagine new possibilities
in real life. Imagination is an important skill for solving problems and thinking outside the box.
Next, reading helps you learn new things. Textbooks, articles, and novels teach you about history,
science, and different cultures. For instance, I recently read a book about World War II and learned about
how people survived tough times. This knowledge helps you understand the world better and grow
smarter every day.
1 To correct grammar and to come up with an initial outline, ChatGPT, https://