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Georgia State University Turnitin Guide

Turnitin is one of Georgia State University’s primary tools for promoting academic integrity and helping students improve their writing.

Integrated directly into iCollege (GSU’s learning management system), Turnitin automatically checks submitted work for originality, compares it with a huge database of academic content, and provides detailed Similarity Reports.

This guide explains how to use Turnitin at GSU—whether you’re submitting a paper as a student or configuring an assignment as an instructor.

1. What Is Turnitin and How Does GSU Use It?

At Georgia State, Turnitin is used to:

  • Detect unoriginal or improperly cited content
  • Provide Similarity Reports and similarity percentages
  • Help develop academic writing and research skills
  • Support the university’s academic honesty policies

Turnitin checks submissions against:

  • Digital academic publications
  • Previously submitted student papers
  • Billions of webpages
  • Internal Turnitin databases

Students do not need a separate account. All Turnitin activity happens inside iCollege.

2. Submitting a Turnitin Assignment in iCollege (Student Guide)

Step 1: Go to Your Course

  1. Log in to iCollege.
  2. Open your course from the dashboard.

Step 2: Locate the Turnitin Assignment

Turnitin-enabled assignments appear in Assignments and usually say something like “Turnitin Enabled” or “Submit to Turnitin.”

Step 3: Upload Your File

Your instructor may use one of two submission methods:

A. Integrated Turnitin in the iCollege Assignment Tool

  • Click the assignment name
  • Choose Add a File
  • Upload your document (.docx, .pdf, or allowed file formats)
  • Click Submit

B. Turnitin External Tool (rare but still used in some courses)

  • Click the Turnitin link
  • Drag and drop your document
  • Preview and confirm submission

Step 4: Confirm Your Submission

You should see:

  • A digital receipt
  • A confirmation message
  • (When enabled) A processing icon for the Similarity Report

3. Understanding Turnitin Similarity Scores at GSU

A Similarity Score is not a plagiarism accusation—it simply shows how much of your text matches existing sources.

Typical Score Interpretation

  • 0–10%: Very low; usually indicates good originality
  • 11–25%: Acceptable for many research-based assignments
  • 26–49%: Requires review—possible improper citations or heavy quoting
  • 50%+: Highly concerning—may signal plagiarism or excessive copying

Why Your Score Might Be Higher Than Expected

  • Reused material from previous classes (self-plagiarism)
  • Long direct quotations
  • Not paraphrasing effectively
  • Missing or incomplete citations
  • Common phrases or assignment templates

Best Tip:

Always open the Similarity Report to view highlighted matches and confirm whether they are appropriately cited.

4. How to Read a Turnitin Similarity Report

When permitted by your instructor, you can open your report by clicking the colored similarity percentage.

Inside the report you will see:

1. Highlighted Matching Text

Turnitin color-codes matching phrases and passages.

2. Source Panel

Shows:

  • Websites
  • Books and publications
  • Other students’ papers
  • Databases

3. Filters

You may be able to exclude:

  • Bibliographies
  • Direct quotations
  • Small matches

(Your instructor controls these options.)

4. Feedback Tools

If your instructor uses Turnitin Feedback Studio, you may see:

  • Comments
  • In-text annotations
  • Rubrics
  • Audio feedback

5. Instructor Guide: Setting Up Turnitin Assignments in iCollege

Step 1: Create a New Assignment

  1. Go to Assessments → Assignments.
  2. Click New Assignment.

Step 2: Enable Turnitin

Under Evaluation & Feedback, select:

  • Manage Turnitin (for the integrated version)

OR

  • External Learning Tool → Turnitin (less commonly used)

Step 3: Configure Turnitin Options

You can choose whether students can:

  • See Similarity Reports
  • Resubmit until due date
  • Exclude quoted or bibliographic material
  • Submit to the paper repository
  • Generate reports immediately or on due date

Step 4: Attach a Rubric (Optional)

Add a Turnitin or iCollege rubric for faster, consistent grading.

Step 5: Save and Publish

Students will be able to see the assignment immediately once published.

6. Tips for Using Turnitin Effectively at GSU

For Students

  • Submit early to allow time for revisions
  • Paraphrase instead of copying blocks of text
  • Cite every summarized, paraphrased, or quoted idea
  • Use the GSU Library’s citation guides
  • Review the Similarity Report before final submission (if allowed)

For Instructors

  • Clarify your expectations for similarity scores
  • Encourage students to use reports as learning tools
  • Allow draft submissions when possible
  • Explain differences between acceptable matching (citations) and problematic matching

7. GSU Academic Honesty and Turnitin

Georgia State University’s Student Code of Conduct prohibits:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Unauthorized collaboration
  • Fabrication of sources

Turnitin supports enforcement of these policies, but its main goal is education, not punishment.

8. Where to Get Help with Turnitin at Georgia State

Technical & Account Support

  • GSU iCollege Help Desk (24/7 support through the iCollege Help menu)

Writing Support

  • GSU Writing Studio
  • GSU Library research and citation help

Instructor Support

  • GSU Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)
  • Turnitin Instructor Resources

Conclusion

Turnitin is a powerful academic integrity and writing-improvement tool at Georgia State University.

Whether you are a student aiming to produce original work or an instructor ensuring fair evaluation, understanding how Turnitin functions within iCollege will help you get the most out of the platform.