Turnitin
Turnitin is a suite of tools that include AI authoring detection, online grading and feedback and text matching software that compares electronically submitted papers to billions of pages of content, created/modified text located online and in proprietary databases as well as the work of other students whose papers have also been submitted into the system.
Quick links
- Turnitin in Canvas staff guide
- Accessing and interpreting the AI Writing Report
- Turnitin student guide
- Submit a support request
What is Turnitin?
Turnitin is an integration available in Canvas which provides staff with the ability to generate Similarity Reports and check for AI generated content. Staff may use a limited version of Turnitin through Canvas Speedgrader, or utilise the full Turnitin Feedback studio suite via Turnitin LTI 1.3
Turnitin may only be used in accordance with Turnitin’s end-user license agreement. Please familiarise yourself with these terms before agreeing and using the service.
What is a Similarity Report?
One of the key benefits of using Turnitin lies in its ability to determine whether work submitted by a student is original, or whether it contains matches to Turnitin’s repository of a wide range of web based materials and other student submissions.
Once a student has submitted a file to an assignment with Turnitin enabled, a Similarity Report will be generated according to the settings chosen when the assignment was set up. The file is matched against the information available in the Turnitin repository to produce a Similarity Score.
It is very important to understand that the Similarity Score does NOT indicate whether plagiarism has taken place. Turnitin provides a useful guide to interpreting the Similarity Report with further detail about matches vs. sources, scoring ranges, and different marking scenarios.
The Similarity Report can be viewed by students if allowed by the instructor, and can be downloaded and used as part of the information gathered in any potential investigation process.
What is an AI Writing report?
Turnitin uses proprietary algorithms to flag contributed content likely to be generated by a Large Language Model (LLM). This extends to text that has been created by an LLM and then AI-Paraphrased via a Humaniser to assist with concealing the original AI generated text.
The Report colour codes likely AI text in cyan, and likely AI-Paraphrased content in purple. The data contained within the report is not definitive and is designed to support other evidence. The AI Writing report is only available to instructors.
Access and licensing
Turnitin is a tool integrated with, and can only be accessed through, the LMS. Staff currently have three options for accessing Turnitin for an Assignment.
- Canvas assignment and enable Turnitin by selecting the Plagiarism Review option in the assignment settings. Staff can then access reports through the SpeedGrader
- Canvas assignment and enable Document Processor, selecting Turnitin as the processor. Staff can then access reports through SpeedGrader
- Selecting Turnitin LTI 1.3 type assignment from the Canvas Assignment menu. Staff can then access reports through Turnitin Feedback Studio.
Support and resources
- Turnitin assignments and Similarity Reports (staff guide)
- Turnitin AI Writing Report Guide for staff
- Turnitin AI Writing Detection tool advice for staff
Turnitin is supported by Teaching and Learning Innovation. For assistance or support using this tool, please submit a support request.