Turnitin

Turnitin is an online service to which the University subscribes (therefore it is free to use within the University). It enables the text-matching of submitted texts against an extensive library of visible internet pages, journals, periodicals etc. and student essays previously submitted. It is a tool for use in preventing plagiarism. Staff and students can access an Originality Report which indicates the percentage of text matched, i.e. the percentage that is thought to have been copied as well as the suspected sources.

Turnitin is a service that the University subscribes to, therefore it is free to use within the University. Turnitin is integrated into Moodle so it can currently be used from within Moodle. Turnitin assignments can be set up very easily and simply in any module.

Originality reports

Originality Reports are not an absolute indication of plagiarism as they must be interpreted in context. Turnitin can help academics identify plagiarism in students’ assignments and locate the sources of the plagiarised material. The analysis of a student’s work produced by Turnitin is not used by the University as proof that material is plagiarised but to indicate that there is a suspicion of plagiarism. Plagiarism is then identified through academic judgement, within a discipline specific context. 

Turnitin offers related services such as PeerMark peer review facility and a GradeMark tool to enable markup and commenting on submitted documents.

There is no obligation for Schools to use Turnitin and practice is varied across the University. However, Schools that use the software have a policy on its use which is made clear to students.  Students’ work is retained solely for the purpose of comparison with other work submitted.

Tips on using Turnitin - students

• Enable the forwarding address in WebCT mail, otherwise your Turnitin receipt will be delivered within WebCT and you will not receive it.
• A WebCT space (called Formative Writing Tool for Students - TurnitinUK Access) is available for all students to use to get an originality report at any time (one per 24 hours).  This can be used for your own peace of mind, for any text, even one that is to be handed in on paper. The TurnitinUK space is for checking your work only; it is never where you should finally hand an assignment in: that will always be either within your WebCT course or on paper according to your School procedures.
• Help materials are available in the Formative Writing Tool for Students - TurnitinUK Access space covering uploading your work and how to address what's raised in the originality report.

Tips on using Turnitin – staff

• The use of Turnitin should be part of a whole process of assignment submission in a School: administrative and academic staff should both be aware of the implications.
• Don't set deadlines at midnight, set the time for an appropriate point during the day as for paper assignments.
• You don't have to use PeerMark and GradeMark, it can be used quite simply.
• Late submissions should be allowed, according to University policy (though they may be penalised).
• Essays can be submitted on behalf of students if this is necessary for any reason.
• If the class list changes after the assignment is set up and you'd like to ensure that the class list for the assignment is completely up to date, then you should synchronise the class list in WebCT with that in Turnitin. When you look at the Turnitin assignment under the Teach tab you need to click on the "Roster Sync" link (at the right hand end of the screen.
• Avoid special characters in Turnitin assignment names.