Artificial Intelligence
Citing AI-generated Content in Assignments
Can I use generative AI in my assignment?
Always check with your instructor first! Before starting your assignment, confirm with your instructor that you are permitted to use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. Unauthorized use of generative software may constitute an academic integrity offence.
Do I need to cite content generated by artificial intelligence?
Remember to include a citation whenever you incorporate content generated by AI in your assignment. For example, if you paraphrased or quoted text generated by ChatGPT, cite the source in text and in your references list. Neglecting to cite this material may constitute an academic integrity offence. Since your reader can't access the exact AI-generated text, you may also consider including a copy of the text as an appendix, or as part of supplemental materials.
What if I use AI to come up with ideas or an outline for my assignment?
As part of using artificial intelligence responsibly and ethically, it is important to be transparent and acknowledge how you have used AI in your work. If you used AI to generate ideas or an outline for your assignment, include a statement in your work indicating which AI tools you used and how you used them. Neglecting to include this statement may constitute an academic integrity offence.
Are there risks to using AI content as a source?
Be aware that there is a possibility that the content AI generates is biased, outdated, or false. Always evaluate the information generated by AI tools. Students are responsible for the accuracy, factuality, and truthfulness of artificial intelligence content used to assist with, and in, assessments.
Text generated by an AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT)
Note: AI-generated content may not be considered as an acceptable source for your course work. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you are permitted to use it as a source. If you're using ChatGPT and other AI tools for coursework, include a description of how you used AI within your work. For example, you can describe in your introduction how you used ChatGPT to generate an outline for your presentation. When citing AI-generated text, remember to include both in-text and references list citations. For more information, see APA Style's How to cite ChatGPT.
| References List Citation |
Developer. (Version Year). Name of generative AI tool (Version number) [Type of AI Model]. URL of tool
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 23 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com |
|
In-Text Citation (Quote or Paraphrase) |
Remember to include the prompt you used whenever you quote or paraphrase text generated by an AI tool. Since your reader can't access the exact AI-generated text, you may also consider including a copy of the text as an appendix or as part of supplemental materials. If you are including a copy of the generated text, you may refer to it in the body of your text, or as part of the in-text citation such as in the example below.
Given the prompt "What are large language models?" the text generated by ChatGPT described them as "artificial intelligence systems that have been trained on vast amounts of text data, with the goal of understanding natural language and generating human-like responses to text-based inputs" (OpenAI, 2023). When provided with a follow up prompt of "What are examples of large language models?" ChatGPT identified OpenAI's GPT-3, NVIDIA's Megatron, and Google's LaMDA as some of the examples of large language models (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript). |
Image generated by an AI tool (e.g., DALL-E, Midjourney)
Note: AI-generated content may not be considered as an acceptable source for your course work. Be sure to evaluate the content carefully and check with your instructor if you are permitted to use it as a source. The following citation examples are recommendations.
| Reproducing the image in your work |
If you are inserting the AI-generated image in your coursework, start with a figure number followed by an image title. Beneath the image, include a note with details about the prompt and the source (see example below). Remember to include the full citation in your References List.
Figure 3 Example of an AI-generated image
Note. Image generated using the prompt "Two puppies playing by the sea in the style of Renoir," by OpenAI, DALL-E, 2023 (https://labs.openai.com). |
| References List Citation |
Developer's Name. (Version Year). Name of AI tool (Version number) [Type of AI model]. URL of tool
OpenAI. (2023). DALL-E (Version 2) [Large language model]. https://labs.openai.com |
Government and Crown Publications
Provincial Government Publications
Provincial print and online materials are protected by Crown Copyright which is held by the King’s Printer for Ontario. These materials can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes as long as the following conditions are met:
- Credit the Provincial Government Publication (a.k.a. the title)
- Acknowledge Crown Copyright
- Acknowledge that the reproduction is not the official version
Example: How to Cite a Provincial Publication © King's Printer for Ontario, January 2000. Official version available here: [LINK].
Federal Government Publications
Federal print and online materials are produced and compiled by the Government of Canada and are protected by Crown Copyright. They can be reproduced for education and training-related purposes as long as the following conditions are met:
- Identify the Government of Canada as the source (a.k.a. the title)
- Acknowledge Crown Copyright
- Acknowledge that the reproduction is not the official version
Example: How to Cite a Federal Publication © His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, January 2000. Official version available here: [LINK].
Citing Guidelines
- Acknowledge the source and content creator when using a short excerpt from a book.
- Acknowledge the source and content creator when using a short excerpt from a periodical (newspaper, magazine, journal, serial).
- Acknowledge the source and content creator when using text from an online source.
- Acknowledge the source and content creator when using an image from an online source in a handout whose text you wrote.
- Acknowledge the source and content creator when using an image from an online source or a printed source.
Copied with minor edits from the Fanshawe College Library Copyright Services Guide.
When to Quote and/or Cite Sources
If the ideas and expression of those ideas belong to you, they don’t have to be Quoted or Cited.
Common Knowledge doesn’t have to be Quoted or Cited.
If you’re summarizing someone else’s words – Cite.
Facts have to be Quoted and Cited.
Facts Proven by Research have to be Quoted and Cited.
General Rule: If it’s not in your words: Quote & Cite.
Use Quotations
Scenario 1
Quote material when you believe that the way the author has expressed an idea is the most effective way to communicate the point you want to make.
- Identify the Source (Name Author & Text), “Quote” from it and Cite it (Author’s Last Name, Page Number of Source).
In his feature article ‘The Continued Evolution of Social Media’, Martin Brens stated that “social media has not yet reached its peak, it will continue to evolve and impact our lives” (Brens, 37).
Scenario 2
Quote material when a quotation the author has included supports the point you’re trying to make.
- Identify the Source (Name of Author & Text), “Quote” the ‘Quotation’ and Cite it (Author’s Last Name, Page Number of Source).
In his feature article ‘The Continued Evolution of Social Media’, Martin Brens interviewed the chief programmer of a social media start-up who said that “‘the rapid speed at which technology is evolving will allow us to make instantaneous updates to our software platform‘” (Brens, 39).
Scenario 3
If you’re using more than a complete sentence or more than two lines of the author’s material…
- Separate your text from the author’s material,
- Reduce the Font Size and Indent the author’s material,
- Identify the Source (Name of Author & Text) but Don’t use “Quotations” of Cite.
In his feature article, ‘The Continued Evolution of Social Media’, Martin Brens writes that:
Social Media didn’t begin with today’s most popular networking sites, the concept of
social media has been around since the dawn of the internet. As each new social
media agent is introduced, they often try to add their own spin to the concept. In
many regards, parallels can be drawn between this and the biological evolution.
Brens makes a very interesting and important point. The significance of his research…
Citing Sources
In the text of your paper, end the sentence where you’ve placed a quote with a Citation. Mention the Author of the Material and the Page where the Quote came from. Put this information in (Brackets) and place the Period to finish the sentence after the citation.
(Brens, 24).
Include these lists at the end of your paper:
- Works Cited: a list of the sources you cited in your paper.
- Bibliography: a list of the sources you consulted while researching your paper.
‘Citation Guides’ are available within the Academic Support Centre and online via The Learning Portal.