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Information Studies: Turnitin

Welcome to Information Studies guide

What is Turnitin

Turnitin is web based software, which promotes academic integrity, streamlines grading and feedback, deters plagiarism, and improves students’ outcomes.

www.turnitin.com

Access & class enrolment

• Please, contact your lecturer

Training

• Please, contact your Faculty information librarians or Research support librarians for the training on Turnitin.

Colors in a Turnitin similarity report

  • Blue (0%): No matching text was found in the document. This means that Turnitin did not detect any similarity between the submitted text and its database.

  • Green (1-24%): Low level of matching text, indicating minimal overlap with other sources. This might be due to common phrases, references, or quotes. It typically suggests that the document contains a good level of original content.

  • Yellow (25-49%): Medium level of matching text. This means a significant portion of the document matches other sources. It could indicate the need for more original writing or better paraphrasing, depending on the nature of the matches.

  • Orange (50-74%): High level of matching text. This suggests a large amount of the content is not original, and the writer may need to review and revise their work to reduce reliance on external sources.

  • Red (75-100%): Very high level of matching text. Most of the document appears to be copied or not properly cited. This usually raises a red flag for plagiarism and requires immediate attention to avoid academic misconduct.

  • Low percentage (e.g., 0-10%): Typically indicates that the work is mostly original, with few or no matching sources.
  • Moderate percentage (e.g., 11-25%): May suggest some matched content, which could be common phrases, quotations, or references. Proper citation of sources could still make this acceptable.
  • High percentage (e.g., 26% or higher): Suggests a significant amount of similarity to existing work, which could indicate issues with originality or improper citation. It might need further review for potential plagiarism.
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How to use Turnitin

Accessing Turnitin

Step 1: Open Your Web Browser

  • Go to your preferred web browser (e.g., Google Chrome, Firefox).

Step 2: Go to Turnitin’s Website

Step 3: Log In to Your Account

  • For Students:
  • Click on the “Log In” button.
  • Enter your email address and password.
  • Click “Log In”.
  • For Instructors:
  • Click on the “Log In” button.
  • Enter your email address and password.
  • Click “Log In”.

 Navigating the Turnitin Dashboard

  • Dashboard Overview:
  • After logging in, you’ll see the dashboard which includes tabs for Assignments, Feedback Studio, Grading, and User Profile.​​​​​​
  • Students: You’ll see your enrolled classes and assignments.
  • For Instructors: You’ll see your classes, assignments, and submission status.

Submitting an Assignment (For Students)

Step 1: Select Your Class

  • Click on the appropriate class from the dashboard.
  • Step 2: Choose the Assignment

  • Click on the assignment you need to submit.
  • Step 3: Upload Your Paper

  • Click the “Submit” button.
  • Choose “File Upload”, then click “Choose File” to select your document from your computer.
  • Enter any required information such as title.
  • Click “Upload” and then “Submit”.
  • Step 4: Confirm Submission

  • Confirm your submission by checking the confirmation screen or email notification.

Reviewing Your Submission (For Students)

  • Step 1: Access Your Submission

  • Click on the assignment from your dashboard.
  • Step 2: View Originality Report

  • Click on the “Originality Report” to view your submission’s results.
  • Step 3: Interpreting the Report

  • Match Overview: Review the overall similarity percentage.
  • Highlighted Text: Look for sections highlighted in the report.
  • Source Links: Click on the source links to see where the text matches.

 Creating and Managing Assignments (For Instructors)

  • Step 1: Select a Class

  • Click on the class for which you want to create an assignment.
  • Step 2: Create a New Assignment

  • Click “Add Assignment” or “Create Assignment”.
  • Enter assignment details such as title, due date, and instructions.
  • Step 3: Set Submission Options

Choose settings like file types allowed, late submission policies, and feedback options.

  • Step 4: Save and Publish

  • Click “Save” or “Publish” to finalize the assignment setup.

 Reviewing and Grading Submissions (For Instructors)

  • Step 1: Access Submissions

  • Click on the assignment from your dashboard.
  • Step 2: Review Originality Reports

  • Click on individual submissions to view the originality reports.
  • Step 3: Provide Feedback

  • Use the Feedback Studio tools to add comments, highlight text, and provide overall feedback.
  • Attach a grading rubric if applicable.
  • Step 4: Grade the Assignment

  • Best Practices for Using Turnitin
  • For Students:

  • Understand Citation Rules: Ensure you know how to properly cite sources.
  • Review Feedback: Use Turnitin’s feedback to improve your writing.
  • For Instructors:

  • Educate Students: Inform students about plagiarism and proper citation practices.
  • Use Feedback Tools: Utilize Turnitin’s feedback tools to provide constructive comments.

 Common Issues and Troubleshooting

  • False Positives:

  • Issue: Common phrases or properly cited content may appear as matches.
  • Solution: Review the context of matches and ensure citations are accurate.

 

Useful links

Account basics (for students)

https://help.turnitin.com/feedback-studio/turnitin-website/student/student-category.htm

Student quick start guide

https://help.turnitin.com/feedback-studio/turnitin-website/student/quickstart.htm

Student Resources Hub

The Student Resources Hub gathers some of the most useful content available to students using Turnitin.

 https://help.turnitin.com/feedback-studio/student-resources.htm

 

Colors in a Turnitin similarity report

 

  • Blue (0%): No matching text was found in the document. This means that Turnitin did not detect any similarity between the submitted text and its database.

  • Green (1-24%): Low level of matching text, indicating minimal overlap with other sources. This might be due to common phrases, references, or quotes. It typically suggests that the document contains a good level of original content.

  • Yellow (25-49%): Medium level of matching text. This means a significant portion of the document matches other sources. It could indicate the need for more original writing or better paraphrasing, depending on the nature of the matches.

  • Orange (50-74%): High level of matching text. This suggests a large amount of the content is not original, and the writer may need to review and revise their work to reduce reliance on external sources.

  • Red (75-100%): Very high level of matching text. Most of the document appears to be copied or not properly cited. This usually raises a red flag for plagiarism and requires immediate attention to avoid academic misconduct.

  • Low percentage (e.g., 0-10%): Typically indicates that the work is mostly original, with few or no matching sources.
  • Moderate percentage (e.g., 11-25%): May suggest some matched content, which could be common phrases, quotations, or references. Proper citation of sources could still make this acceptable.
  • High percentage (e.g., 26% or higher): Suggests a significant amount of similarity to existing work, which could indicate issues with originality or improper citation. It might need further review for potential plagiarism.
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