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Is it a doc where you can check history or draftback to see if someone originated it? I still call that person an accessory, but I often cut that grade in half (since they shared work, like sharing their food means they only eat half) and give the copier a zero. I had this happen with 2 pairs of kids last month. When they saw a good grade get slashed, they asked for a private zoom meeting. In both cases, the original writer sat quietly while the copier tried to justify. This first time I made a learning experience and only took 30% off the copier, reinstating the real author's grade.
On a sadly humorous note, I had several juniors all write that Gatsby went to Oxnard College. Their identical mistakes give them away, old sport.
My students aren't motivated enough to cheat. I'm jealous.
Often with digital cheating, at least for me, there’s a uniquely incorrect or odd word or phrase that makes it very obvious. If so, you could just give them a zero in the grade book with a notation saying it’s the same as another student, often guilty students won’t say anything, they know they are caught.
Otherwise , how many students are involved? Could you “give them a second chance” or “prove that it is their work” by giving them different stories or prompts? If you are using something like CommonLit or an online textbook that has a lot of extra readings you won’t use or choose some that are a grade level above or below, you would have a ton of choices & then individually assign the work.
OR have them explain EACH annotation, why they picked it, etc, if they didn’t cheat, it’s easy for them, if they did cheat now they have to do the work.
Cheating is a non issue with me at this point. I don’t have the time or the energy to care. I’m just glad they are actually engaged. So many students don’t even show up. If “cheating” entail collaboration and using available resources, it works for me.
If they are similar but not exact that means they had to at least put it into their own words. Even a little effort lets a dram of learning seep in. I would not fight that battle for an annotation skills practice. But I am also clear that they MUST properly use their annotations as citation in a supervised timed write. Cameras on, specific time frame, strict rubric, absolute deadline. I have been surprised at how well it is working even with the "shared" annotations!
I explain day one that cheating will result in a zero. Add parent contact to second offense, and disciplinary action as deemed necessary. When they complain, I tell them they may get the doctor who cheated for a degree.
You could pull them aside and explain what you see then have them do it over again or a similar assignment but that all depends on how much time you want to spend on this issue.