Any widely taught book comes with widely available summaries, sample essays, and now AI-generated responses. Tuesdays with Morrie is no exception. Teachers do not need to give up on assigning it, but they should rethink how the writing is set up.

Detection software has a mixed track record and can produce false accusations, so many schools are looking to assignment design instead. The idea is to make the task one that copied or generated text cannot easily satisfy. It also helps to make the process visible.

Start with the prompt. Ask for connection to a specific class discussion, a specific chapter, or a student's own experience. Generic prompts invite generic answers.

Then build in stages. When students submit an outline, a draft, and a revision, you see the essay develop. The final product becomes much easier to trust.

Assignment design that supports honest work

None of these strategies is foolproof, but together they raise the cost of shortcuts and make real effort easier. Choose the ones that fit your class. Explain to students why you are using them.

• Require students to cite specific moments and page numbers from their own copy of the book.
• Include a short in-class writing sample early in the unit to establish a baseline voice.
• Ask students to reference a class discussion or activity that only your section experienced.
• Collect planning notes and drafts, and grade the process as well as the product.
• Hold brief conferences where students explain a paragraph aloud in their own words.

What grading tools can and cannot do

AI grading tools are not detectors and should not be treated as such. They apply a rubric and draft feedback. Teachers who want to check authenticity should still rely on process evidence and professional judgment.

Where a tool like GraideMind can help is in making feedback on drafts quick enough that you can collect and respond to multiple stages. That supports the process-based approach, since you can afford to look at more student work along the way. Clear, timely feedback also reduces the pressure that pushes students toward shortcuts.

Talking with students about integrity

Students respond better to a clear policy explained in plain language than to a stern warning. Explain what is allowed, what is not, and why the assignment exists. Include how AI tools may or may not be used in your class.

Invite questions. Students who understand the reasoning behind a policy are more likely to follow it. It is better to hear about confusion early than to discover it in the final paper.

When something looks off

If an essay seems inconsistent with a student's earlier work, start with a conversation, not an accusation. Ask them to talk through their argument. Their ability to explain it often tells you what you need to know.

Follow your school's policy for next steps, and keep records of what you observed. A calm, evidence-based approach protects both the student and the teacher. It also keeps the focus on learning.