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What is Turnitin?
Turnitin is a plagiarism detection tool widely used in academic institutions. It helps educators and students ensure the originality of written work by comparing submissions against a vast database of publications, internet content, and previously submitted papers. The platform not only identifies potential plagiarism but also provides valuable insights into writing quality and areas for improvement.
Creating a Turnitin Account
To access the Turnitin plagiarism checker report, users must first create a Turnitin account. Here’s how: 1. Visit the Turnitin website and click on the 'Create Account' button. 2. Select 'Student' or 'Instructor' based on your role. 3. Enter the required information: your email address, an account password, and the class or institution ID provided by your instructor. 4. Confirm your registration via the email link sent to your registered email address. Following these steps will allow you to log in to your Turnitin account.
Submitting Your Document for Review
Once your account is set up, you can submit documents for plagiarism checking. Follow these steps: 1. Log in to your Turnitin account. 2. Navigate to the course in which you want to submit your work. 3. Click on the 'Submit' button for the assignment designated by your instructor. 4. Upload your document in an accepted format, such as .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .txt. 5. Give your submission a title and click 'Upload'. Turnitin will process the document, usually taking a few minutes to generate the report.
Accessing the Plagiarism Report
After your document has been processed, you can access the plagiarism report: 1. In your course dashboard, locate the submitted assignment. 2. Click on the title of your submission. This will take you to the Feedback Studio. 3. Look for the similarity score which indicates the percentage of text in your paper that matches other sources. 4. Click on the score to view detailed matching sources, highlighted sections of the document, and feedback from your instructor (if available). This step allows you to identify sections that may need paraphrasing or citation adjustments to improve originality.
Interpreting the Similarity Score
One of the critical aspects of using Turnitin is understanding the similarity score: 1. A high similarity score doesn’t always mean plagiarism. It may reflect common phrasing or citations. 2. Review highlighted passages to assess if they are properly cited or need adjustments. 3. Aim for a lower similarity score with a focus on ensuring that your ideas and arguments are well-articulated. 4. Use the report as a learning tool to enhance your writing skills over time.
Receiving Feedback from Instructors
Turnitin allows instructors to provide feedback on assignments directly within the platform: 1. After submissions are graded, check the assignment for instructor comments. 2. Feedback can typically be found alongside the similarity report. 3. Utilize this feedback to improve future submissions and to understand any areas of concern. 4. Engaging with feedback is essential to develop academic writing skills.
Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism
In addition to using Turnitin, here are best practices to maintain academic integrity: 1. Always properly cite sources using the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). 2. Paraphrase effectively to convey the original ideas in your own words. 3. Keep track of your sources while researching to ensure easy referencing. 4. Use Turnitin’s resources and guides to enhance your understanding of plagiarism. 5. Regularly review your work to ensure originality and coherency.