AP Capstone Policy on Plagiarism and AI Use - Fall 2023 PDF

## AP Capstone Program Handout - effective Fall 2023 ### AP Capstone™ Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information - A student who fails to acknowledge the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else through citation, attribut...

## AP Capstone Program Handout - effective Fall 2023 ### AP Capstone™ Policy on Plagiarism and Falsification or Fabrication of Information - A student who fails to acknowledge the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else through citation, attribution or reference in the body of the work, or through a bibliographic entry, will receive a score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Task. - In AP Seminar, a team of students that fails to properly acknowledge sources or authors on the Team Multimedia Presentation will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation. - A student who incorporates falsified or fabricated information (e.g. evidence, data, sources, and/or authors) will receive a score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Task. - In AP Seminar, a team of students that incorporates falsified or fabricated information in the Team Multimedia Presentation will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation. ### AP Capstone Policy on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) #### Definition of Generative AI in AP Capstone Courses - Generative AI tools use predictive technology to produce new text, charts, images, audio, video, etc. This includes not only ChatGPT and similar Large Language Models (LLMs), but also many writing assistants or plug-ins that are built on this or similar AI technologies. - Generative AI tools can be contrasted with other AI-based tools that do specific tasks-for example, that help students with grammar, but don't generate new writing. #### Policy on Acceptable Generative AI Use in AP Capstone Courses - Generative AI tools must be used ethically, responsibly, and intentionally to support student learning, not to bypass it. - Accordingly, all performance tasks submitted in AP Seminar and AP Research must be the student's own work. - While students are permitted to use Generative AI tools consistent with this policy, their use is optional and not mandatory. - Students can use generative AI tools as optional aids for exploration of potential topics of inquiry, initial searches for sources of information, confirming their understanding of a complex text, or checking their writing for grammar and tone. - However, students must read primary and secondary sources directly, perform their own analysis and synthesis of evidence, and make their own choices on how to communicate effectively both in their writing and presentations. - It remains the student's responsibility to engage deeply with credible, valid sources and integrate diverse perspectives when working on the performance tasks. - Students must complete interim "checkpoints" with their teacher to demonstrate genuine engagement with the tasks. | Phase of Work | Acceptable Use | Not Acceptable Use | |:---|:---|:---| | Exploring ideas to develop and refine an area of inquiry | Using generative AI tools to get a sense of existing debates on an issue, potential sub-topics, or what is generally already widely known about a topic | Taking the output of generative AI tools uncritically, such as using AI to generate a research question or thesis, without engaging with the actual research or relying solely on generative AI as a source of information about a topic | | Finding sources | > Using generative AI to find authors, organizations, publications, or sources that may be pertinent to the area of inquiry, so that the student can then locate and read those perspectives directly. >Asking for recommendations on related sources to further explore the topic or address gaps in research. **NOTE:** Not all AI tools are the same in terms of the likelihood they will provide output with credible sources. For example, AI-powered search engines for research databases draw from vetted sources, whereas ChatGPT does not necessarily differentiate. Students must review output with a skeptical, critical eye to be sure any suggested sources are real, credible, and relevant to their inquiry. | Using a list of sources generated by AI without going to the original sources and reviewing the content.| | Summarizing and/or interpreting sources | Using generative AI to help develop understanding of complex texts by: > Requesting help with understanding complex vocabulary or sentence structures in a source > Asking for clarification on a confusing concept or passage in a source. **NOTE:** Students should always read the original text of the sources they intend to use to ensure they are accurately understanding and utilizing the evidence from those sources in their work | > Generating a summary or paraphrasing of the source instead of reading it. > Requesting direct quotes or citations from a source to use as evidence without independently identifying them. > Copying and pasting AI generated source summaries into the final draft.| | Synthesizing ideas and information from sources into a literature review, report, or argument | No acceptable use. **NOTE:** Students will be asked questions in either their PREP-based in-progress meetings (AP Research) or in the checkpoints (AP Seminar) to ensure they have done this work themselves. | > Asking generative AI to: > Compare or contrast sources and/or generate a review of literature. > Synthesize common or contrasting elements from within a source or across multiple sources. > Develop statements or paragraphs that put sources in conversation.| | Developing an aligned method for their Research (AP Research only)| Summarizing commonly used methods in discipline-specific fields or reviewing benefits and drawbacks of different generic methods or methodologies. **NOTE:** Students will be asked questions in their PREP-based in-progress meetings (AP Research) to ensure that they have done this work themselves. | Using generative AI to determine the appropriate method for an individual student's research and/or providing rationales for a specific method. See exception noted above. | | Producing, summarizing and/or interpreting data (AP Research only)| No acceptable use. **NOTE:** Students will be asked questions in their PREP-based in-progress meetings (AP Research) to ensure that they have done this work themselves.| > Using generative AI to generate data (this would count as falsified and/or fabricated data). The only exception would be if use of generative AI tools is the subject of the inquiry. In this case, using generative AI to generate data would be part of the method. > Using AI to summarize or discuss their results or data.| | Developing displays of data (AP Research only) | Using generative AI to create charts/graphs or other representations of data collected and assembled by the student. | Using generative Al to produce or generate the data itself. See exception noted above.| | Drafting or outlining a paper | Seeking guidance on general best practices in how to structure a research paper, essay, or report. **NOTE:** Students will be asked questions (on the reasoning underpinning their choices for structure and content) in either their PREP-based in-progress meetings (AP Research) or the checkpoints (AP Seminar) to ensure that they have done this work themselves. | > Asking generative AI to produce an outline or draft of a specific paper. > Requesting generative AI to write all or part of the paper. > Using writing generated by AI in the final draft. | | Revising a paper | > Using spell or grammar checkers. > Asking for feedback on style and tone (students must make deliberate choices on what feedback to incorporate). | > Accepting AI-generated suggestions for revisions of written work without critically evaluating such contributions. > Incorporating into student submissions new sections of text suggested by generative AI.| | Creating Citations / Bibliography | > Seeking guidance on how to cite or check citations. > Generating a draft of the bibliographic listing of citations or checking the format of a student-generated draft of the bibliographic listing of citations. | > Using AI to generate citations without having directly studied the original sources. > Relying on generative AI create the bibliographic listing of citations without then checking the accuracy of the format. | | Developing Presentations | > Seeking general guidance on effective presentations. > Generating initial ideas for key points, sequence, or visuals for presentations. | > Uncritically using AI to produce the key points, visuals, or structure for presentations. > Using AI to generate a script that is memorized or read for the presentation. | | Preparing for Oral Defense | No acceptable use. | Using AI to generate possible answers to potential oral defense questions (and memorizing or reading them). | ### Required Checkpoints and Attestations - To ensure students are not using generative AI to bypass work, students must complete interim "checkpoints" with their teacher to demonstrate genuine engagement with the tasks. - AP Seminar and AP Research students will need to complete the relevant checkpoints successfully to receive a score for their performance tasks. - Teachers must attest, to the best of their knowledge, that students completed the checkpoints authentically in the AP Digital Portfolio. - Failure to complete the checkpoints will result in a score of zero on the associated task. - In AP Seminar, teachers assess the authenticity of student work based on checkpoints that take the form of short conversations with students during which students make their thinking and decision-making visible (similar to an oral defense). - These checkpoints should occur during the sources and research phase (IRR and IWA), and argument outline phase (IWA only). - A final validation checkpoint (IRR and IWA) requires teachers to confirm the student's final submission is, to the best of their knowledge, authentic student work. - In AP Research, students must complete "checkpoints" in the form of in-progress meetings and work in the Process and Reflection Portfolio (PREP). No further checkpoints will be required. - College Board reserves the right to investigate submissions where there is evidence of the inappropriate use of generative AI as an academic integrity violation and request from students copies of their interim work for review.