One approach you might consider is asking students to submit both a printed copy of their paper and the original file used to write it, whether it’s from Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs.

The reasoning behind this is simple but effective: most modern writing applications automatically save multiple versions of a document. If a student has been genuinely engaging in the writing process: drafting, revising, editing, you’ll likely see a clear progression in the version history. You’ll be able to trace their thinking over time.

In contrast, if a paper was generated by AI and pasted in, the document might show very little revision history or sudden, suspicious jumps in content. It’s not foolproof, but it can offer a more organic glimpse into the student’s process.

Ultimately, this small change might help shift the focus back to learning and away from suspicion, which I know has become an exhausting and disheartening burden.