Blackwood Creek: A History Report

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<<set $uniqueness to 0>> <<set $accuracy to 0>> <<set $environmentalImpact to 0>> <<set $privacyImpact to 0>> <<set $daysLeft to 4>> <<set $topic to "undecided">> <<set $procrastinated to false>> <<set $hasInterview to false>> <<set $foundBook to false>> <<set $aiIdeation to false>> <<set $aiHallucination to false>> <<set $aiWriting to false>> <<set $darkMode to true>>

<div class="intro-screen"> <h1>Blackwood Creek</h1> <h2>A History Report</h2> <p>[[Begin the Story|Introduction]]</p> </div> <<button "Toggle Light/Dark">> <<set $darkMode = !$darkMode>> <<run Engine.show()>> <</button>><<set $uniqueness to 0>><<set $accuracy to 0>><<set $environmentalImpact to 0>><<set $privacyImpact to 0>><<set $daysLeft to 4>><<set $topic to "undecided">><<set $hasInterview to false>><<set $foundBook to false>><<set $procrastinated to false>><<set $aiIdeation to false>><<set $aiHallucination to false>><<set $aiWriting to false>> <button onclick="window.open('https://trails.scot/', '_blank')">Back to TRAILS.scot</button>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> The bell shrieks, signalling the end of Monday's classes. You're stuffing books into your bag when Mr. Abernathy clears his throat, holding everyone back. "One last thing," he says, a grim smile on his face. "A one-week project. A history report on our dear town, Blackwood Creek. I want to see what you can dig up. Something interesting. Something... unique." He looks pointedly around the room. "Due this Friday. Don't leave it to the last minute." Your family moved to Blackwood Creek three years ago. It’s a small town nestled in a misty Scottish glen, full of old stone houses and even older secrets. They say a piper's ghost still wanders the woods on foggy nights, and that the creek sometimes whispers the names of the drowned. It’s... atmospheric. Surely there should be enough to write about... ...but you only have four days. What's the first step? * [[Ask an AI for ideas about Blackwood Creek|Ideation AI]] * [[Go for a walk to find inspiration|Ideation Walk]] * [[Ask old Elspeth MacGregor from down the road|Ideation Elspeth]] * [[Forget about it and play video games for the day|Ideation Procrastinate]]

<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> The siren call of your game console is too strong to resist. You spend the rest of the day battling digital dragons and exploring virtual worlds. It’s a lot more fun than thinking about history. But as you finally go to bed, a nagging feeling settles in. The report is still there, waiting. And now, you have one less day to do it. The next day, the pressure is on. You have <<print $daysLeft>> days left. * [[Best to work quickly - ask an AI for ideas|Ideation AI]] * [[Go for a walk to find inspiration|Ideation Walk]] * [[Visit old Elspeth MacGregor from down the road|Ideation Elspeth]]<<set $procrastinated to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You open up the latest AI chat model on your computer. "Give me some interesting historical topics about Blackwood Creek in Scotland," you type. The cursor blinks for a moment before a wall of text appears. It suggests topics like "The Blackwood Witch Trials of 1702," "The Ghost of the Piper," and "The Great Flood of 1888." It’s a bit generic, like it just mashed together "Scotland" and "history." Still, the flood sounds like it could be a decent topic. It's solid, if a little predictable. You have a topic: The Great Flood of 1888. Now it's time to research. [[Start your research|On to Research]]<<set $topic to "The Great Flood of 1888">><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>><<set $aiUsed to true>><<set $aiIdeation to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide to clear your head with a walk. The air in Blackwood Creek is always damp and smells of pine needles and wet earth. You wander past the old kirk, its stone walls covered in moss, and head towards the Whispering Bridge, a narrow stone arch over the fast-flowing creek. There's a small, weathered plaque on the side of the bridge, half-hidden by ivy. You pull the leaves away. "In memory of the five souls lost in the collapse of the original Whispering Bridge, 1923." You’ve crossed this bridge a hundred times and never noticed that. Who were they? Why did it collapse? Suddently, you have your topic: The Whispering Bridge Collapse of 1923. It's gotten late, but tomorrow, you can start your research. [[Go home|On to Research]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $topic to "The Whispering Bridge Collapse of 1923">><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> Old Elspeth MacGregor lives in a cottage surrounded by a garden of unruly herbs. She’s known you since you moved here and always gives you a mint from a tin she keeps in her pocket. She smiles when you tell her about your project. "Ah, history," she says, her eyes twinkling. "Everyone writes about the flood or the piper. Boring! You want a real story? Ask me about the Blackwood Star." She tells you a fragmented but fascinating tale about a meteorite that fell near the town in the 1950s. The government supposedly swooped in and took it, but local legend says a piece was hidden away and brought the town strange luck—both good and bad. It’s a story you’ve never heard, and it sounds amazing. You have a topic: The Blackwood Star Meteorite. It feels like you've struck gold. You've talked with Elspeth for so long the day is almost over, but tomorrow, you can research further. [[Go home|On to Research]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $topic to "The Blackwood Star Meteorite">><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 3>><<set $hasInterview to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> <<if $daysLeft is 4>>That was fast - you can start your research immediately!<<else>>The next day, you sit down to start your research.<</if>> You have your topic: <<print $topic>>. How do you want to start digging for information? * [[Ask an AI model for an overview of your topic|Research AI]] * [[Do a Google search|Research Google]] * [[Look it up on Wikipedia|Research Wikipedia]] * [[Head to the Blackwood Creek Library|Research Library]]

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide to use the AI chatbot<<if $aiIdeation is true>> again<</if>>. You type in your topic, "<<print $topic>>," and ask for a detailed summary with sources. It spits out a well-structured overview. It mentions specific dates, names, and even includes quotes. This seems almost too easy. At the bottom, it lists several sources, including a link to the "Blackwood Creek Historical Archives Online" and an article from the "Scottish Glen Herald." What do you do? * [[This is amazing! Just copy and paste this text for your report|Writing AI Copy]] * [[The AI provided sources - I should check them|Research AI Check Sources]]<<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 2>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You click the link to the "Blackwood Creek Historical Archives". It leads to a 404 error. You try searching for the "Scottish Glen Herald" and find that the newspaper does exist, but there's no record of the article the AI cited. You realize with a sinking feeling that the AI just... made it all up. The names, the dates, the quotes. It's a convincing lie, a phenomenon you've heard of called <em>hallucination</em>. Your "research" is useless... and you've wasted valuable time. <<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>>Tomorrow, you need to start your research over. You have <<print $daysLeft>> days to finish your report. * [[Do a Google search|Research Google]] * [[Look it up on Wikipedia|Research Wikipedia]] * [[Head to the Blackwood Creek local library|Research Library]]

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You type "<<print $topic>>" into Google. The first thing that appears is an AI-generated summary, a neat little box that promises a quick answer. Below it, the familiar list of blue links stretches down the page. <<if $topic is "The Great Flood of 1888">> For a well-known event like the Flood, there are newspaper archives and official reports. <<elseif $topic is "The Whispering Bridge Collapse of 1923">> For something a little obscure, like the Bridge Collapse, you see local blogs and historical society pages. <<else>> The results are pretty weird, however, a mix of conspiracy theories and dead ends. <</if>> The AI summary at the top seems like the easiest path... What's your next move? * [[The AI summary looks good enough. I'll use that|Research Google AI Summary]] * [[I'll ignore the summary and spend time digging through the search results|Research Google Digging]]<<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You read the AI summary and it seems plausible enough. It gives a concise overview of your topic. You copy the main points into your notes. It's fast and efficient. You feel like you have a good handle on the basics now, though you wonder where exactly Google's AI pulled this information from. There are no clear source links attached to the summary itself. You've got some notes, though. Now it's time to start putting the report together. [[Open your writing app|Move on to Writing]]<<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy - 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You skip the AI summary and start clicking links. The first few are dead ends, but then you find it: a blog run by a former resident of Blackwood Creek. They've posted a multi-part series on local legends, and one entire post is dedicated to <<print $topic>>. It's detailed, personal, and references old newspaper clippings. You find another link to an digitised old map of the town. It takes time, but you feel like a real detective, piecing together the story from scattered clues across the web. You've got some great, unique information. Tomorrow, you can start writing. [[Go to bed|Move on to Writing]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You search for "<<print $topic>>" on Wikipedia. <<if $topic is "The Great Flood of 1888">> You find a short but well-structured page on the flood. It details the timeline of events, the estimated damage, and the town's recovery efforts. At the bottom, there's a reference section with links to historical archives and books. You've found some useful info. What do you do with it? * [[Copy the relevant paragraphs directly - this is all the writing you need for the report|Research Wikipedia Copy]] * [[Copy the text, but use an AI to rewrite it in different words|Research Wikipedia Rewrite]] * [[Use this as a starting point and investigate the sources linked at the bottom|Research Wikipedia Sources]] <<elseif $topic is "The Whispering Bridge Collapse of 1923">> There's no dedicated page for the bridge collapse itself, but the main "Blackwood Creek" page has a section about it. It mentions the official cause was shoddy materials, but a footnote hints at a local legend of a curse. The footnote links to a local historical society's website. You've found some useful info. What do you do with it? * [[Copy the relevant paragraphs directly - this is all the writing you need for the report|Research Wikipedia Copy]] * [[Copy the text, but use an AI to rewrite it in different words|Research Wikipedia Rewrite]] * [[Use this as a starting point and investigate the sources linked at the bottom|Research Wikipedia Sources]] <<else>> You find absolutely nothing on the meteorite. It's either too obscure or, as Elspeth hinted, a story someone didn't want to be told. This path is a dead end for online encyclopedias. You'll have to try another research method. [[Try another way|Different Research Method]] <</if>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You highlight the text, copy it, and paste it into a document. It's an efficient way to get the core information down. Mr. Abernathy probably won't notice, right? It's just a school project. Still, you feel a little uneasy about it. The words aren't yours, and you don't fully grasp the deeper context. You have your text. Maybe a round of editing can still make it a little more authentic? [[At least it was quick|Move on to Editing]]<<set $uniqueness to -3>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You copy the text from Wikipedia and paste it into an AI paraphrasing tool. You ask it to "rewrite this for a 14-year-old's history report". It shuffles the sentences, swaps out words for synonyms, and produces a version that sounds a bit like you, but also a bit... off. Some of the new words don't quite fit the context. Now it's no longer plagiarism, right? You have your rewritten text. Maybe it's good to at least do a round of editing? [[At least it was quick|Move on to Editing]]<<set $uniqueness to -2>><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You scroll past the main article to the references section. This is where the real treasure is. You click a link to a digitised newspaper article from the era, another to a geological survey report, and a third to a scanned diary of a town resident. It's like falling down a rabbit hole of history. It takes a lot longer than just reading the summary, but the details you find are incredible—first-hand accounts, scientific data, and voices from the past. You've gathered some amazing, primary-source information. Tomorrow, you can get started on writing the report. [[Go to bed|Move on to Writing]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 2>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide to go old-school and visit the Blackwood Creek Library. It’s a quiet, dusty place that smells of old paper and wood polish. The librarian, Mr. MacLeod, a kind man with a bushy moustache, looks up from his desk. "A history project?" he asks. "Ambitious. Let's see what we can find on <<print $topic>>." He leads you to the local history section. What do you do? * [[Browse the shelves on your own|Library Browse]] * [[Ask Mr. MacLeod if he has any specific recommendations|Library Ask Librarian]]

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You spend an hour pulling heavy, leather-bound books from the shelves. Most are broad histories of the region, with only a passing mention of Blackwood Creek. But then you find it: a slim volume titled "Blackwood Tales & Tragedies". It’s a collection of local stories published in the 1960s. It has a whole chapter on <<print $topic>>, filled with details you haven't seen anywhere else. You check it out, feeling a sense of accomplishment. You've got an excellent source. Now it's time to write. [[Move on to Writing]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 2>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>><<set $foundBook to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You tell Mr. MacLeod you're looking for something special. His eyes light up. "For <<print $topic>>, the books will only tell you the official story," he says, lowering his voice. "But if you want the real story, you need to talk to someone who lived it. Or the next best thing. You should go see Elspeth MacGregor. She's the keeper of our town's memory." He gives you her address, which you already know, but it feels more official coming from him. "Tell her I sent you." <<if $hasInterview is false>> This is a fantastic lead. [[Prepare to meet Elspeth MacGregor|Library Meet Elspeth]] <<else>> Except... you already spoke to Elspeth! This confirms you're on the right track. You thank Mr. MacLeod and feel confident you have the best possible source for your story. [[Finish the day with a sense of satisfaction|Move on to Writing]] <</if>><<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> The next day, you go to Elspeth MacGregor's cottage. When you mention Mr. MacLeod sent you, she invites you in for tea and biscuits. You ask her about <<print $topic>>. For the next hour, she tells you stories you'd never find in a book or online. She talks about the people involved, the rumours that spread through the town, and the lasting impact it had on the community. She remembers her grandmother talking about it. You furiously scribble notes, capturing every detail. This feels like the most authentic research you could possibly do. You have an incredible, unique story to tell. [[Move on to Writing]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 3>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 3>><<set $hasInterview to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> With your research complete, it's time to write. The blank page on your screen is intimidating. You have <<print $daysLeft>> <<if $daysLeft is 1>>day<<else>>days<</if>> left to turn this into a coherent report. You look at your notes, a mix of digital and handwritten scraps. How will you tackle this? * [[Give my notes to an AI and ask it to write the full report|Writing AI Full]] * [[Organize my notes into bullet points and ask an AI to expand them|Writing AI Bullets]] <<if $daysLeft < 1>>* <span class="disabled">No time to write myself...</span> <<elseif $daysLeft < 2>>* [[Spend your final night writing as fast as you can|Writing Manual]] * <span class="disabled">You no longer have the time for careful writing...</span> <<else>>* [[Spend a day writing up the report in your own words|Writing Manual]] * [[Take two days, putting as much care and effort in your writing as you can|Writing Manual Careful]] <</if>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You highlight the entire AI-generated overview from the chat window, from the confident-sounding introduction to the (possibly fake) sources at the end. With a click, you copy and paste it into a new document. The report is... written. In less than a minute. It feels wrong, like you're claiming credit for a robot's homework. You haven't really learned anything, and you have no idea if the information is even correct. But it's done, and it was incredibly easy. The text is on the page. Should you do any editing? [[Move on to Editing]]<<set $aiHallucination to true>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> Writing is too much work. You copy all your notes—jumbled as they are—and paste them into an AI chat window. "Write a 5-page history report based on these notes," you command. The AI obliges, producing a slick, well-structured essay. It's incredibly fast. However, as you read it over, you notice it's filled in some gaps with... questionable details. <<if $hasInterview>>It has turned Elspeth's heartfelt memories into dry, impersonal facts, and even misquotes her.<</if>> It feels polished but soulless. And slightly wrong. The report is written, though. But is it any good? [[Maybe a round of edits will improve it?|Move on to Editing]]<<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness - 2>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy - 2>><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 2>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide on a middle ground. You spend a bit of time organising your research into a clear outline with bullet points. You feed this structure to the AI. "Expand these bullet points into a history report," you instruct. The result is much better than just dumping the raw notes. The structure is yours, but the prose is AI-generated. It’s coherent and follows your logic, though the writing style is a bit bland and generic. You've saved time, but some of the personality of the story is lost. The report is written, though. Now to polish it up. [[Time to edit!|Move on to Editing]]<<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy - 1>><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You sit down and start typing. You wrestle with the opening sentence, organise your paragraphs, and try to weave the facts into a compelling story. It's slow and sometimes frustrating. You write a sentence, delete it, and write it again. But as you do, you find yourself understanding the topic more deeply. The act of writing forces you to connect the dots yourself. <<if $hasInterview>>You make sure to capture the spirit of Elspeth's story, quoting her accurately and respectfully.<<elseif $foundBook>>Your borrowed copy of "Blackwood Tales & Tragedies" never leaves your side and its detailed chapter becomes the backbone of your report.<</if>> It takes a whole evening, but at the end, you have a report that is completely, one hundred percent yours. The draft is done. It's your work, through and through. Now for the final touches. [[Time to edit!|Move on to Editing]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 2>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 1>>

<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 2>><h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide to take your time. This isn't just about getting words on a page; it's about telling a story. For two full evenings, you meticulously craft your report. You write, rewrite, and then rewrite again. You focus on creating a narrative flow, building suspense where appropriate, and paying respect to the people involved in the story. <<if $hasInterview>>You make sure Elspeth's voice comes through clearly and powerfully.<<elseif $foundBook>>Your borrowed copy of "Blackwood Tales & Tragedies" never leaves your side and its detailed chapter becomes the backbone of your report, referencing the unique details you found within.<</if>> It's a huge time investment, but the final product is something you're incredibly proud of. It's not just a report; it's a piece of storytelling. The draft is done. It's a real piece of craftsmanship. Now, to make sure it's perfect. [[Time to edit!|Move on to Editing]]<<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 3>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> <<if $daysLeft > 2>>Plenty of time!<<else>>The deadline is looming.<</if>> You have <<print $daysLeft>> <<if $daysLeft is 1>>day<<else>>days<</if>> left. Your report is written, but it's still a draft. A final pass can make all the difference. How do you want to handle the editing process? * [[It's good enough... I'll just submit it as is|Editing None]] * [[I'll quickly read it over myself, checking for errors and clarity|Editing Self]] * [[I'll use an online grammar checker to catch any mistakes|Editing Grammarly]] * [[I'll ask an AI to proofread and improve the entire report|Editing AI]] <<if $daysLeft > 0>>* [[I’ll use text-to-speech AI to read the report back to me and help me find errors|Editing TTS]] * [[I'll ask my friend Callum to read it and give me feedback|Editing Peer]] <<else>>* <span class="disabled">You’re out of time to use a text-to-speech service to find errors...</span> * <span class="disabled">You're out of time to ask a friend...</span> <</if>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You decide you've spent enough time on this project. You give it one last glance, shrug, and decide it's fine. You save the file and close your laptop. What you don't notice are the few typos, the one awkwardly phrased sentence, and a repeated word in the third paragraph. It's not a disaster, but it certainly lacks some final polish. You're done with it, though. Now, you just have to wait for the verdict. [[Submit report]]

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You upload your report to a grammar-checking website. Red and blue lines appear all over your text. It points out spelling mistakes, missed commas, and suggests better word choices. You click "accept" on most of the suggestions. It's quick and effective, cleaning up your prose and catching errors you would have missed. The site also collects data on your writing, but for the convenience, it seems like a fair trade. The report is clean and polished. You're ready to submit. [[Submit report]]<<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 1>><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You paste your entire report into an AI chatbot. "Proofread this and improve the flow," you ask. The AI does more than just fix typos. It rewrites sentences to be more "eloquent", rephrases your arguments, and in some places, changes the meaning slightly to something you didn't intend. The report sounds impressive... but is this what someone your age would have produced? Anyway, you're done. Time to submit. [[Submit report]]<<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy - 1>><<set $privacyImpact to $privacyImpact + 1>><<set $environmentalImpact to $environmentalImpact + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You print out your report—it's easier to catch mistakes on paper. With a red pen in hand, you slowly read through every word. You catch a few typos, rephrase a clunky sentence, and realize you forgot to define a key term in your introduction. It's a slow, methodical process, but it forces you to engage with your own writing on a critical level. You feel more confident in the final product because you've personally checked every detail. Your report is polished and you're proud of the work. It's ready. [[Submit report]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 1>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You find your friend Callum online and send him your draft. "Can you give this a once-over?" you ask. An hour later, he sends it back with comments. <<if $foundBook is true>>"The part about this old book you found is really cool!"<<elseif $hasInterview is true>>"This part about Elspeth is really cool!"<<else>>"You forgot an 'and' here,"<</if>> one says. "I got a bit confused here," says another. "Maybe explain where you got this from?" His feedback is invaluable. He sees the report from a fresh perspective, pointing out things you were too close to notice. You spend another hour incorporating his suggestions. Thanks to Callum, your report is now much stronger and clearer. It's ready for submission. [[Submit report]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You take a deep breath, attach the file to an email, and send it to Mr. Abernathy. It's done. <<if $daysLeft > 2>>It's still early in the week and you can't help but shake the feeling that you could have spent a little more time on it. Ah well, it's too late now.<<else>>The week was a whirlwind of research, writing, and stress.<</if>> All that's left is to face the music. [[Find out your grade...|Consequences]]

<h2>Monday, once again</h2> On Monday, you're back in history class. The reports are all sitting on Mr. Abernathy's desk in a neat pile. He stands at the front of the room, looking over his glasses. "Class," he begins. "I've read your reports. And I have... some thoughts." He starts handing them out, walking from desk to desk, before finally arriving at yours. <<if $aiHallucination>> Mr. Abernathy looks at you with deep disappointment. "Your report contains several significant factual errors. You claim that the 'Scottish Glen Herald' reported on this, but a quick search shows that's not true. It seems you relied on an AI that gave you false information. Research is about finding the truth, not trusting the first thing a computer tells you. This is a failing grade." <<set $grade to "F">> <<set $feedback to "Your report was filled with inaccuracies and 'hallucinated' facts from an AI. You failed to verify your sources, which is the most critical part of research. This resulted in a misleading and factually incorrect report.">> <<elseif $uniqueness <= -3>> "This report," he begins, his voice flat and cold, "reads like it was copied directly from the internet. There is no original thought here whatsoever." He taps the page. "This is plagiarism, pure and simple. See me after class. We need to discuss academic integrity." <<set $grade to "F">> <<set $feedback to "Your work was flagged for plagiarism. You relied entirely on copying and pasting, showing no original effort or understanding. This is a serious academic issue.">> <<elseif $uniqueness < 1>> "Your report on <<print $topic>>," he says, a slight frown on his face. "It's... competent. The facts are mostly there, but the language feels... artificial. It reads like it was written by a machine." He squints at you. "Did you write this yourself, or did you have some... 'help'?" You feel a flush of embarrassment. He knows. He can't prove it, but he knows. <<set $grade to "C">> <<set $feedback to "Your report lacked originality and personal insight. It read like an AI-generated summary, ticking the boxes without providing any deep analysis. You need to find your own voice and engage more deeply with the material.">> <<elseif $uniqueness > 3 && $accuracy > 3>> Mr. Abernathy holds up your report. A rare, genuine smile spreads across his face. "And then there's this one," he says to the class. "This report on <<print $topic>> is exceptional. It's not just a list of facts; it's a story. The research is deep, using primary sources"—he nods at you—"and it's written with real passion and a unique voice. This is what I was looking for. This is A+ work. Fantastic job." <<set $grade to "A+">> <<set $feedback to "Exceptional work. Your dedication to original research, including interviews and deep dives into sources, was evident. Your writing was compelling and insightful. This is the standard for excellent historical inquiry.">> <<elseif $uniqueness > 2 && $accuracy > 2>> "This is a very strong report," Mr. Abernathy says, nodding in approval. "You found a unique angle on <<print $topic>> and supported it with solid research. It’s well-written, clear, and persuasive. You clearly put a lot of effort into this, and it paid off. Excellent work." <<set $grade to "A">> <<set $feedback to "Excellent work. You demonstrated strong research skills and a clear, engaging writing style. Your effort to go beyond the obvious sources resulted in a high-quality, original report.">> <<else>> Mr. Abernathy gives you a small, encouraging smile. "A solid effort," he says. "You covered the topic of <<print $topic>> well. The research is sound, and it's put together clearly. There was room for a bit more analysis, to dig a little deeper, but overall, this is a good, reliable report. A strong B. Well done." <<set $grade to "B">> <<set $feedback to "Good work. You completed the assignment with solid research and clear writing. To improve in the future, try to dig deeper for more unique sources or provide more of your own analysis.">> <</if>> You take your report, the grade staring back at you from the top of the page. But the grade is only part of the story. [[See the full impact of your choices|Final Summary]]

<div class="summary-screen"> <h1>Project Debrief</h1> <div class="summary-box"> <h2>Final Grade: <<print $grade>></h2> <p><strong>Teacher's Feedback:</strong> <em><<print $feedback>></em></p> </div> <div class="summary-box"> <h2>Environmental Impact</h2> <<if $environmentalImpact is 0>> <p><strong>Environmental Impact: Minimal</strong></p> <p>Your research process was entirely offline. By using the library and talking to people directly, your carbon footprint for this project was negligible. Traditional research is the greenest option.</p> <<elseif $environmentalImpact <= 2>> <p><strong>Environmental Impact: Low</strong></p> <p>You used some online services. While each search on Google and every query to an AI model uses energy in a massive data center, your usage of online services was limited. Your impact was small, but not zero.</p> <<elseif $environmentalImpact <= 5>> <p><strong>Environmental Impact: Moderate</strong></p> <p>You relied significantly on AI and online tools. Training and running large AI models is energy-intensive, contributing to a larger carbon footprint. Your choices made the project less environmentally friendly.</p> <<else>> <p><strong>Environmental Impact: High</strong></p> <p>Your heavy reliance on multiple AI tools for every stage of the project consumed a significant amount of server energy. While convenient, this method has a measurable environmental cost due to the high computational power required.</p> <</if>> </div> <div class="summary-box"> <h2>Digital Privacy Report</h2> <<if $privacyImpact is 0>> <p><strong>Privacy Impact Assessment: Secure</strong></p> <p>You disclosed little to no personal data to online corporations. By keeping your research offline, your interests, location, and writing style remain your own private information.</p> <<elseif $privacyImpact <= 2>> <p><strong>Privacy Impact Assessment: Low Risk</strong></p> <p>You used some online services. These companies now have a record of your IP address, your research topic (the history of Blackwood Creek), and the nature of your queries. This data could be used to build a profile about you for targeted advertising and even to train future AI models. Is that something you're comfortable with?</p> <<else>> <p><strong>Privacy Impact Assessment: High Risk</strong></p> <p>You extensively used AI and online tools. These services have collected significant data: your location (Blackwood Creek), your specific historical interests, your writing style (from editing and generation), and potentially your age and education level. This detailed profile can be used for more than just ads; it can be sold to data brokers or used to train future AI models. You've traded a lot of personal information for convenience... is that a trade-off you're willing to make?</p> <</if>> </div> <div class="summary-box"> <p>[[Play Again?|Start]]</p> </div> </div>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> You launch the text-to-speech function built into your writing app and wait for the interface to appear. Once it loads, you switch to the “Voice” settings and choose a clear, neutral voice at 1× speed and 0 pitch adjustment. You skim the quick preview snippet to confirm the pronunciation is smooth, then you hit the big “Play” button and lean back as the machine begins to read your words aloud. “In the small Scottish town of Blackwood Creek...” Listening reveals things you’d never spot on screen: run-on sentences that tumble past your comprehension, awkward emphasis, and the occasional missing word. <<if $hasInterview>>When it suddenly pronounces Elspeth's name differently you find you'd even accidentally misspelled her name once.<</if>> It took the entire evening, but at least you're a lot more confident about the quality of your text. Now to see what your teacher thinks... [[Submit report]]<<set $daysLeft to $daysLeft - 1>><<set $accuracy to $accuracy + 2>><<set $uniqueness to $uniqueness + 1>>

<h2><<if $daysLeft is 4>>Monday<<elseif $daysLeft is 3>>Tuesday<<elseif $daysLeft is 2>>Wednesday<<else>>Thursday<</if>></h2> Which of the other methods should you try out? * [[Ask an AI model for an overview of your topic|Research AI]] * [[Do a Google search|Research Google]] * [[Head to the Blackwood Creek Library|Research Library]]