Overview
This lecture discusses the correct and ethical use of AI for paraphrasing in academic writing, highlighting common mistakes and emphasizing the importance of proper citation and genuine understanding.
Dangers of Misusing AI for Paraphrasing
- Using AI to rewrite large sections or whole essays risks plagiarism detection and academic penalties.
- Attempting to “humanize” AI output to fool detectors creates long-term professional liability.
- Copying blocks of AI-generated text without critical review is not true paraphrasing.
What Paraphrasing Really Means
- Paraphrasing is expressing someone else’s idea in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the meaning intact.
- Always retain the original citation when paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism.
Proper Workflow for Academic Writing and Paraphrasing
- Start by outlining your work and collecting relevant citations and references before writing.
- Slot citations into the correct sections to support your arguments and ensure you cite every extracted idea.
- Option 1: Paraphrase yourself for clarity, then use AI for further refinement if needed, checking for scientific accuracy.
- Option 2: Use AI to suggest a paraphrase, then verify and edit to keep the meaning true and the science correct.
- Always double-check AI outputs for factual accuracy and citation integrity.
What Not to Do with AI Paraphrasing Tools
- Do not rely on AI or tools like Quillbot to repeatedly rephrase text to evade plagiarism detectors.
- Avoid following influencer advice to add “human quirks” or errors to AI writing to fool detection systems.
- Using AI to generate full essays or paragraphs without oversight is unethical and easily detected.
Best Practices and Ethical Considerations
- Use AI with a “light touch” for grammar or clarity, not content creation.
- Keep detailed records of original and revised drafts to demonstrate your process if questioned.
- Academic policies permit AI for language improvements, provided there is human review and transparency.
- Declare use of generative AI tools in your methodology, when required by journals or institutions.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Paraphrasing — Rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words and structure while retaining the original meaning and citation.
- Citation — A formal acknowledgement of the source of an idea, data, or quotation.
- Plagiarism — Presenting others’ work or ideas as your own without proper acknowledgment.
- AI Detection — Software tools used by institutions to identify machine-generated or plagiarized content.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Always collect and insert proper citations before paraphrasing.
- Use AI for minor language edits, not for content creation or evasion of plagiarism checks.
- Review and verify every AI-suggested paraphrase for accuracy and meaning.
- Consider logging your drafting process to protect yourself from future accusations.