Maintaining
originality and citing sources correctly is paramount in academia and
professional writing. Plagiarism can have serious consequences, tarnishing your
reputation and compromising your work's integrity. To ensure your content is
authentic and correctly attributed, Turnitin provides a reliable plagiarism
detection service. This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of
checking plagiarism on Turnitin.
Step 1: Access
Turnitin
Open your web browser
and navigate to the Turnitin website (www.turnitin.com).
Step 2: Create an
Account
1.
If you don't already
have a Turnitin account, click the "Create Account" button.
2.
Fill in the required
information, including your name, email address, and password.
3.
Follow the prompts to
verify your email and complete the registration process.
1.
Return to the Turnitin
homepage.
2.
Click on the "Log
In" button and enter your credentials (email and password) to
access your account.
Step 4: Enroll in a Class or Create a Class
1. If you're a student, you'll likely need to
enroll in a class your instructor has set up. If you're an instructor, you can
create a class yourself.
2. Depending on your role, follow the on-screen
instructions to enroll in a class or create one.
Step 5: Upload Your Document
1. Once you're in the class interface, you'll see
an option to "Submit" or "Upload" a document.
2. Click on this option and select the file you
want to check for plagiarism from your computer.
Step 6: Configure Settings
1. Before submitting your document, you can
configure settings according to your preferences. These settings may include
excluding quotes, bibliography, or small matches.
2. You can also receive an Originality Report
immediately or after the assignment's due date.
Step 7: Review the Originality Report
1. After submitting your document, Turnitin will
process it and generate an Originality Report.
2. The Originality Report will highlight any areas
where similarities are found between your content and existing sources,
indicating the potential for plagiarism.
Step 8: Interpret the Originality Report
1. The Originality Report will provide a similarity
percentage, indicating the proportion of your content that matches existing
sources.
2. Review the report carefully to identify whether
the matches are appropriately cited or require revision.
Step 9: Address Plagiarism Issues
1. If the Originality Report indicates plagiarism,
review the matched content and assess if proper citations are missing.
2. Edit your document to add appropriate sources or
rephrase sentences to make the content original.
3. Resubmit the updated document to Turnitin for a
new Originality Report.
Step 10: Repeat the Process
1. If you've changed your document, you can repeat
the process by submitting the updated version to Turnitin.
2. Keep refining your record until the Originality
Report shows an acceptable level of originality.
Conclusion: Upholding Academic Integrity
Checking plagiarism on Turnitin is a straightforward process that helps writers, students, and instructors maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Following this step-by-step guide, you can ensure your work is original, well-cited, and free from unintentional similarities with existing content. Remember, using Turnitin responsibly fosters a culture of honesty and respect in writing and research.
