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Oregon State University Turnitin Guide

Turnitin is a plagiarism-prevention and writing-support tool widely used at Oregon State University (OSU).

Whether you’re submitting a paper through Canvas or checking similarity reports as an instructor, understanding how Turnitin works will help you avoid accidental plagiarism and improve the quality of your writing.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from submitting assignments to interpreting similarity scores.

1. What Is Turnitin?

Turnitin is an online service that checks your writing against:

  • Academic journals and publications
  • Past student papers
  • Billions of webpages
  • Internal databases

It generates a Similarity Report, highlighting matched text and providing a Similarity Score (a percentage showing how much of your work resembles other sources).

At OSU, Turnitin is integrated directly into Canvas, so you do not need a separate Turnitin account.

2. Submitting a Turnitin Assignment on Canvas (Student Guide)

Step 1: Open the Assignment

  1. Log into Canvas through the OSU portal.
  2. Select your course.
  3. Click on the Turnitin-enabled assignment (instructors usually label these clearly).

Step 2: Review the Instructions

Look for:

  • File format requirements (usually .docx, .pdf, .txt)
  • Due date and time
  • Whether resubmissions are allowed
  • Whether you’ll be able to see your Turnitin report

Step 3: Upload Your File

Depending on how your instructor configured the assignment, you will either:

A. Submit through Canvas’s built-in Turnitin LTI tool

  • Click Upload Submission
  • Choose your file
  • Confirm your submission

Or,

B. Submit through Turnitin’s “external tool” interface

  • Click the Turnitin submission button
  • Drag and drop your document into the upload area
  • Wait for the preview to load
  • Click Confirm Submission

Step 4: Check for Confirmation

You should see:

  • A submission timestamp
  • A digital receipt
  • (Optional) An initial Similarity Score, depending on instructor settings

3. Understanding Your Similarity Score

The Similarity Score is not a plagiarism verdict — it simply shows matching text.

Score Ranges

  • 0–10%: Very low matching; typically acceptable
  • 11–25%: Some similarity; often normal for academic assignments
  • 26–49%: High similarity; may indicate improper citation or over-reliance on sources
  • 50%+: Very high; likely serious issues

Common Reasons for High Scores

  • Long quotations
  • Improper paraphrasing
  • Reusing your own past assignments (self-plagiarism)
  • Templates or common phrases from lab reports
  • Lack of citations

Best Practice

Always review the highlighted sections in the Similarity Report to understand whether the matches are appropriate and properly cited.

4. Reading the Turnitin Similarity Report

When your instructor allows access, you can open your report by clicking your Similarity Score. Inside, you will see:

1. Color-coded matching

Turnitin highlights text that matches external sources.

2. Side panel with source list

These might include:

  • Websites
  • Student papers submitted at OSU or other institutions
  • Published research

3. Filters and settings

You may be able to toggle:

  • Exclude quoted material
  • Exclude bibliography
  • Exclude small matches

(Your instructor controls which filters you can use.)

5. Turnitin for Instructors: Configuring Assignments in Canvas

Step 1: Create a New Assignment

  1. Go to Assignments in Canvas
  2. Click + Assignment

Step 2: Set Submission Type

Select one of the following:

  • Online > File Uploads, then enable the Turnitin plagiarism review feature
  • External Tool, then choose Turnitin LTI

Step 3: Choose Options

Instructors can configure:

  • Whether students see Similarity Reports
  • Whether students can resubmit
  • Repository settings (store student papers or not)
  • Exclusions (quotes, bibliography, small matches)

Step 4: Set due dates

Assign:

  • Due date
  • Available from
  • Until (controls late submissions)

Step 5: Save and Publish

Once published, students can begin submitting.

6. Tips for Using Turnitin Effectively

For Students

  • Submit early so you can revise based on similarity feedback
  • Paraphrase instead of copying
  • Use quotation marks for exact phrases
  • Cite every idea that comes from another source
  • Keep drafts — OSU instructors may ask to see revision history

For Instructors

  • Use Turnitin as a teaching tool, not just a detection tool
  • Allow at least one resubmission for formative assignments
  • Explain what similarity percentages mean in your course
  • Consider allowing students to see their reports before the due date

7. OSU Policies to Keep in Mind

  • Oregon State’s Code of Academic Integrity requires original work and prohibits plagiarism, fabrication, and unauthorized reuse of previous assignments.
  • Turnitin collects submitted files to check for originality; however, instructors can choose NOT to store student papers in the repository.

8. Getting Help with Turnitin at OSU

You can contact:

  • OSU Canvas Support (24/7 through Canvas Help menu)
  • OSU Academic Success Center for writing help
  • Your course instructor for assignment-specific guidance
  • Turnitin Help Center for technical troubleshooting

Conclusion

Turnitin is a valuable resource for improving academic integrity and writing quality at Oregon State University.

By understanding how to submit files, interpret Similarity Reports, and use the tool responsibly, you’ll be better equipped to produce original, high-quality academic work.