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Helping Students Use Turnitin to Improve Writing and Understand Similarity Scores
Overview
Turnitin is a powerful resource for promoting academic integrity and improving student writing. This guide equips faculty with practical strategies to help students interpret Similarity reports and use Turnitin as a formative learning tool.
Purpose of Turnitin
While TurnItIn is often seen as a plagiarism detection system, its greatest value lies in helping students:
- Understand proper citation practices
- Reflect on source usage
- Strengthen paraphrasing and synthesis skills
- Build confidence in original writing
What Turnitin Can’t Do
- It does not detect plagiarism perfectly, it just shows similarities.
- It does not check for grammar, use Grammarly or spell check for that. (Link to Grammarly)
- It can flag properly cited quotes, this is normal.
Encouraging Turnitin as a Learning Tool
Enable multiple submissions allowing students to submit draft version of their work through Turnitin to:
- Self-assess Similarity
- Identify citation and paraphrasing issues
- Revise before final submission
Tip: Enable resubmissions in your assignment settings and clearly communicate your expectations.
Normalize Turnitin Use
Frame Turnitin in your syllabus or course as a writing aid, not a policing mechanism.
Emphasize that:
- High scores do not automatically mean plagiarism
- Low scores do not guarantee Similarity
- The report is a tool for discussion, not judgment
Interpreting Similarity Scores
Color | Score Range | What It Means | Teachable Actions |
Green | 0% | No matching content detected | Praise the Similarity and structure. Encourage the student to double-check that all sources are properly cited. Reinforce best practices for academic writing. |
Blue | 1–24% | Minor matching content (common phrases or properly cited sources) | Use as a teaching moment to review citation techniques. Offer guidance on paraphrasing strategies. Clarify that this score is generally acceptable but should still be reviewed. |
Yellow | 25–49% | Moderate overlap; reused content may be too high | Review the report with the student and identify overused or weakly paraphrased content. Discuss the importance of balancing original analysis with supporting evidence. Encourage rewriting sections with stronger original voice. |
Orange | 50-74% | High similarity; source overuse likely | Require revision with a focus on paraphrasing and synthesizing ideas. Provide resources or examples on how to integrate sources more effectively. Reinforce expectations regarding academic integrity. |
Red | 75-100% | Very high similarity; excessive matching | Investigate for potential plagiarism or misuse of templates. Meet with the student to understand their writing process and intent. If appropriate, allow a revision with close support or refer to academic support services.
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Reminder: Turnitin does not judge intent. It flags matches, but it’s up to you and your student to interpret them.
Visit Turnitin’s Guides for the latest guides for Accessing and leveraging the Similarity Report
Suggested Practices for Faculty
- Teach students how to read the report.
- Walk through a sample report in class or in a video.
- Discuss citation expectations.
- Clarify your stance on quoting, paraphrasing, and source integration.
- Incorporate writing support.
- Refer students to writing centers or provide paraphrasing tools and examples.
- Provide targeted feedback.
- Use Similarity scores to prompt questions, not accusations.
Common Misconceptions to Clarify with Students
Misconception | Clarification |
A high score means I plagiarized | Not necessarily. It depends on how the source material is used. |
A low score means I’m safe | Not always. Similarity scores don’t detect uncited paraphrasing without exact matches. |
I shouldn’t use any quotes | Quoting is acceptable when used sparingly and cited properly. |
When to Intervene
Intervene when:
- A student’s report shows improper citation or paraphrasing
- Multiple assignments show repeated concerns
- A high score includes large blocks of uncited or poorly integrated material
Use it as a teaching moment before escalating to an academic integrity process.
Reinforcing Proper Citation with APA Resources
Encourage students to reference the Capitol Technology University APA Style Guide when formatting papers, citing sources, and preparing reference lists. For more in-depth clarification or examples, direct them to the APA 7th Edition Manual. Reinforcing the use of these resources in your assignments helps promote academic integrity and consistent scholarly writing across courses.
Closing Reminder
Promoting responsible writing habits is a shared goal. When used transparently and constructively, Turnitin empowers students to take ownership of their work, refine their writing, and uphold academic integrity.
Troubleshooting
Student Can’t See the Similarity Report
- Check assignment settings: Make sure the Turnitin Similarity Report is enabled for student viewing.
- Draft submissions: If drafts are allowed, verify that resubmission settings permit generating a new report.
Wait time: Turnitin may take up to 10 minutes (or longer during peak times) to generate a report.
Student Unable to Submit
- File type and size: Confirm the file meets Turnitin’s requirements (e.g., .docx, .pdf, under 100MB).
- Missing submission button: Ensure the assignment is still open for submissions and the due date hasn’t passed.
- Internet/browser issues: Recommend using Google Chrome or Firefox and clearing the browser cache.
Report Flags Properly Cited Content
- Explain to students: Turnitin may still highlight correctly cited quotes or references—this is expected.
- Teach interpretation: Show students how to use the filters to exclude quotes and bibliography sections in the report settings.
Similarity Report is Not Generating
- Timing: If the assignment allows multiple submissions, Turnitin only regenerates reports once every 24 hours after the first submission.
- Technical issues: Have students try re-uploading or switching browsers; if the issue persists, contact IT support.
Still Need Help?
If you or your students need further support using Turnitin:
- Contact ask@captechu.edu for technical issues related to Turnitin access or Similarity Report generation in Canvas.
- Visit Turnitin’s Instructor Resources for up-to-date guides on settings, interpretation, and best practices.
- Encourage students to use the Capitol Technology University APA Style Guide and the APA Manual for consistent citation practices.
Turnitin is most effective when paired with meaningful instruction and feedback. Don’t hesitate to seek support—we’re here to help you make the most of this tool.