Introduction
"AI Anxiety" is real. You finished your essay. You wrote every word yourself. But you are still nervous to hit the "Submit" button because you are afraid the teacher might think it looks fake.
You shouldn't have to live in fear.
The best way to handle this is to leave a trail of evidence while you work. If you follow this simple checklist, you will have proof of your hard work ready to go, just in case anyone asks.
1. Turn on "Track Changes" or Use Google Docs
This is the most important step. You need a digital paper trail.
If you use Google Docs, this happens automatically. It saves a history of every time you typed a sentence or deleted a paragraph.
If you use Microsoft Word on your desktop, you must turn this on manually. Go to the "Review" tab and click Track Changes. This records your edits. A cheater's document appears instantly. A real student's document grows and changes over time.
2. Remove the "Bot Words"
AI models tend to use the same words over and over again. If your essay is full of them, it might trigger a detector even if you wrote it.
Scan your paper for these common "AI words":
"Delve"
"Tapestry"
"Paramount"
"Landscape"
"In conclusion" (used repeatedly)
If you see these, rewrite them. Use simple, human language. Instead of "Let us delve into the tapestry of history," just say, "Let's look at the history."
3. Keep Your "Messy" Notes
When you are done writing, your instinct is to delete your messy outline and close all your browser tabs.
Stop. Do not delete them.
Take a screenshot of your browser history showing the library websites or articles you read. Keep the notebook page where you scribbled your bad ideas. Save your rough draft as a separate file (e.g., Essay_Draft_V1.doc).
This "trash" is your treasure. It proves you went through the messy process of learning.
4. Run the "Hemingway" Test
AI sentences are often long, complicated, and perfect. Human sentences are a mix of short and long.
Paste your text into the Hemingway Editor. It is a free tool that highlights complex sentences.
If the app sees a lot of "purple" (very hard sentences), try to break them up. Writing clearly and simply is the best way to sound like a human, because AI tries too hard to sound smart.
5. Screen Record the Final Polish
If you are really worried (or if your teacher is very strict), use the "nuclear option."
Open a free screen recorder like Loom. Record yourself for the last 10 minutes of your work while you fix typos, move sentences, and add your bibliography.
You don't need to send this to your teacher. Just save the link. If they accuse you, sending a video of you actively editing the document is the ultimate mic-drop defense.
Conclusion
It is annoying that honest students have to go to these lengths. But right now, it is better to be safe than sorry.
By saving your history, keeping your notes, and writing like a human, you protect your reputation. You can hand in your paper and sleep easy, knowing you have the proof to back it up.
