This document provides instructions on how to use Turnitin and interpret Turnitin reports. It explains that Turnitin is software that checks submissions against online sources to detect plagiarism. It gives step-by-step directions on submitting assignments to Turnitin and understanding the originality report. The report shows text matches as a percentage and highlights sources. A high percentage may indicate poor writing or plagiarism, while a low percentage does not guarantee original work. Context is important in evaluating reports.

1. How to use Turnitin
&
How to Interpret Turnitin Report
Phone: 01707 281237 / 1248
Email: academic-skills@herts.ac.uk
The CASE website provides guides to help you: www.studynet.herts.ac.uk/go/CASE

2. 1. What is Turnitin?
2. How to use Turnitin?
3. How to Interpret a Turnitin report?
Introduction

3. What is Turnitin?
• It is an online ‘text matching’ software checks text
matches online and compares it with previously
published materials.
• It is an aid to detect and deter plagiarism, but not a
‘plagiarism detector’ on its own.
• It is a learning and teaching tool in the context of
academic integrity.
• It is used as a developmental tool for students to
improve their academic writing, by being enabled to
submit draft assignments to Turnitin.

4. What is Plagiarism?
… is representation of other people’s work as
your own without acknowledgement ().
– Direct quotation without appropriate referencing
– Poor paraphrasing
– Inaccurate citation
– Failure to acknowledge assistance
– Auto-plagiarism
• Submitting work for assessment that has already
submitted (partially or in full) before

5. Turnitin at HBS
Turnitin is part of each StudyNet Module site, but can only
be set up by a Module Leader
When available,
•Students will be able to run their draft assignment through Turnitin,
ONCE, to check the Turnitin originality report and make improvement
accordingly
•The Turnitin originality report on the draft assignment cannot be seen
by the academic staff
However,
•The final submission is subject to Turnitin check by tutors who have
their own Turnitin facility which is separate to Turnitin for students

6. How to use Turnitin? – Step 1/6
1. Log on the Module site on StudyNet, and click
‘Assignment’
 If you can submit to Turnitin against an assignment then an
“Open Turnitin Submission Page” link will appear.

7. How to use Turnitin? – Step 2/6
2. Upon clicking “Open Turnitin Submission Page”,
you will be presented with a screen as below.
2. Tick the box to certify that the piece of assessment is your own work.
You will have to confirm that the work is your own before you will be

8. How to use Turnitin? – Step 3/6
3. The Turnitin “Assignment Dashboard” will Open;
Select the file, provide a title and upload it.
Click here to upload their file

9. How to use Turnitin? – Step 4/6
4. Accept submission

10. How to use Turnitin? – Step 5/6
5. Check the Turnitin originality report via the
“Assignment Dashboard”
This is the percentage of the text in your paper
that matched sources in the Turnitin database.
Click to view the Originality Report
There is no ideal % to look for.
The % will vary depending on the length, type & requirement of the assignment.

11. What does the similarity index % mean?
Percentage
(%)
Indication Exceptions
A low % Low incidence of
matching text
But may mask academic misconduct, if…
•The copied text is a key sentence from a
longer work
•Paraphrased/summarised text without
acknowledgement
A high % Poor academic
writing / Plagiarism
But could be acceptable, if it is because of…
•Overused quotations?
•References/Bibliography
•Common words/phrases
•Matching formats
•Appendices, e.g. annual report
A 100% match No original work • Accidental resubmission
• Collusion
• Copying from others

12. 6. View the Turnitin report Online or Download the
PDF
How to use Turnitin? – Step 6/6

14. What a Turnitin Similarity Report Look
like?

15. An overall
similarity index %
= the total amount
of matched text
The colour-coded
& number-coded
individual
matches appears
in the text against
the original
sources
It identifies
matches from
various
sources online

16. A large match
to a single
source
A series of
small
matches from
different
sources
Not well
paraphrased
or referenced

17. BUT…
evaluate the
credibility of the
source,
especially for
direct
quotations

18. It may identify
common words
& phrases, e.g.
‘On the other
hand’; ‘in the
public sector’
It may identify
references
It may identify
same format

19. Chick the
to
View Match
Breakdown

20. There are 78
instances out of
the individual
9% match
Click to view
each individual
instance
The original
source and text
(in red) appears
on top of the
highlighted text
… it shows that
the student has
NOT well
paraphrased or
acknowledged
the source of
the work –
could be a case
of plagiarism.

21. The original
source is given
but not the
original text
… HOWEVER,
based on the
highlighted text,
students should
be able to judge
whether to re-
write the work
or not.

22. It may identify
common words
& phrases, e.g.
‘On the other
hand’; ‘in the
public sector’
It may identify
references
It may identify
same format
NO NEED TO
WORRY ABOUT

23. NO NEED TO
WORRY ABOUT
‘Acceptable’
matched text:
•Quotations
•Common
phrases
•Subject
terminologies
•References
•Matching
formats

24. There is no ideal % to look for.
The % will vary depending on the length, type and
requirement of the assignment.
Percentage
(%)
Indication Exceptions
A low % Low incidence of
matching text
But may mask academic misconduct, if…
•The copied text is a key sentence from a
longer work
•Paraphrased/summarised text without
acknowledgement
A high % Poor academic
writing / Plagiarism
But could be acceptable, if it is because of…
•Overused quotations?
•References/Bibliography
•Common words/phrases
•Matching formats
•Appendices, e.g. annual report
A 100% match No original work • Accidental resubmission
• Collusion
• Copying from others

25. Further Reading
UH (2016a) Academic Integrity Learning and Teaching Innovation Centre [Online]
Available at:
http://www.studynet2.herts.ac.uk/ltic.nsf/Teaching+Documents?OpenView&count=9999&re
[Accessed on 06/12/2016]
UH (2016b) Turnitin - online text matching software [Online] Available at:
http://www.studynet1.herts.ac.uk/ptl/common/LIS.nsf/lis/Turnitin [Accessed on
01/12/2016]
Turnitin (2016a) The Similarity Report [Online] Available at: https
://guides.turnitin.com/01_Manuals_and_Guides/Student_Guides/Turnitin_Classic_for
_Students/17_The_Similarity_Report [Accessed on 12/12/2016]
Turnitin (2016b) Turnitin Instructor QuickStart Guide [Online] Available at:
https://guides.turnitin.com/01_Manuals_and_Guides/Instructor/01_Instructor_Quick
Start_Guide#quickstart3 [Accessed on 12/12/2016]