Features for Instructors

• Plagiarism detection: Turnitin compares submitted assignments against its extensive database of internet sources, academic papers, and journals to identify potential plagiarism. Instructors receive a similarity report for each submission, which highlights matched text and provides a similarity score.

• Originality report settings: Instructors can customize the settings of the originality report to exclude quotes, bibliography, and small matches (by word count or percentage), which helps in focusing on significant matches and reducing false positives.

• Multiple submission attempts: Instructors can allow multiple submission attempts, enabling students to submit drafts and use the originality report to improve their work before the final submission.

Features for Students

• Originality check: Students can submit their assignments to Turnitin via Canvas and receive an originality report (if this feature is enabled by the instructor). This report helps them understand how much of their work matches external sources and can guide them in properly citing and referencing material.

• Draft submissions: When allowed by instructors, students can submit drafts to Turnitin and receive feedback on their originality score. This helps students learn from their mistakes and improve their writing skills before submitting their final work.

• Accessibility: Turnitin within Canvas is designed to be accessible, allowing students to easily submit assignments and access reports and feedback.

Not Optimal For

• Not ideal to use for evaluating creative writing.

• If not properly set up, Turnitin might not be ideal for draft submissions where students are expected to make multiple submissions for formative feedback. Students could be discouraged by preliminary similarity scores or technical issues with resubmissions.

Dealbreakers

• Focusing too heavily on similarity scores can overlook the pedagogical aspects of teaching academic integrity and writing skills. It may also stress students over technicalities rather than learning from their mistakes.

Ways to Incorporate

• Enable Turnitin for written assignments: Set up Turnitin submissions for papers, essays, reports, etc. Students can submit work directly to Turnitin through Canvas.

• Use Turnitin to check for plagiarism and originality: Turnitin compares student submissions against its database and internet sources.

• Set up Turnitin’s filters and settings: Adjust filters for quoted, bibliographic, and small matches. Exclude specific sources or set a maximum percentage allowed.

• Require students to view originality reports before final submission: Students can revise their work before turning it in for a grade.

Accessibility

This tool is undergoing an accessibility review. 

General Information

• You can only access Turnitin Plagiarism Framework if your instructor creates a Turnitin Plagiarism Framework assignment and lets you access the Similarity Report.

• You submit assignments using Plagiarism Framework the same way as any other Canvas assignment.

Resources

• Canvas Plagiarism Framework (for Students)

• Accessing the Similarity Report