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Politics and International Studies: Turnitin

Welcome to the guide of Politics and International Studies

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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