Chatterbox Sources

This worksheet helps students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 strengthen research judgment, academic writing, reading comprehension, and research ethics by analyzing a fictional conversation between a student and an AI tool. Learners determine which parts of the dialogue may be quoted, paraphrased, or cited, and which require citation of original human sources, building a clear understanding of how AI fits into responsible research writing.

Learning Goals

• Source Judgment (Grades 6-8) – Differentiating between citeable AI explanations and information that must be traced to human sources
• Academic Writing Skills – Creating accurate APA and MLA citations for AI-generated paraphrase or explanation
• Reading Comprehension – Analyzing dialogue to identify the origin and reliability of information
• Research Ethics – Evaluating appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI in academic work

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed with real research-writing expectations in mind
• Scenario-Based Learning – Uses a realistic AI conversation to prompt discussion and analysis
• Applied Citation Practice – Students write both APA and MLA citations in context
• Flexible Classroom Use – Works well for lessons, small groups, assessments, or ethics units
• Print-and-Go Format – Easy to use in classrooms or homeschool settings with minimal preparation

This printable worksheet supports students in developing strong habits in source evaluation, ethical research practices, citation formatting, and critical reading. By examining when AI can be quoted, paraphrased, or cited-and when human sources are required-learners gain practical skills they can apply to real research tasks. It is a valuable resource for both classroom instruction and homeschool learning focused on responsible AI use.

This worksheet is part of our How to Cite AI as a Source Worksheets collection.