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Free AI lesson plan, lesson 5 of 10

Plagiarism and Copyright

Essential question

What is plagiarism, and does using AI-written work qualify as plagiarism?

  • About 35 minutes
  • Short video included
  • No AI background needed
  • Free

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Lesson objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

  • Understand what qualifies as plagiarism
  • Explain the difference between plagiarism and copyright infringement
  • Learn what legal and ethical protections are given to AI-created written work
  • Analyze the legal and ethical importance of citations
  • Understand how to take advantage of AI-provided work via citations

Key vocabulary

  • Plagiarism
  • Trademarks
  • Intellectual Property
  • Citations
  • Copyright
  • Thaler v. Perlmutter (2025)
  • Patents

Lesson flow

  1. Lecture8-10 minutes

Exit ticket questions

What students answer at the end of the lesson. Answer choices are on the worksheet, answers in the teacher guide.

  1. Why is showcasing AI as your own work considered plagiarism? Explain in 1-2 sentences.
  2. Do you believe people should be held responsible for plagiarizing with AI? Explain in 2-3 sentences.

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