Turnitin is a key tool used at The Pennsylvania State University to help students submit written assignments and maintain academic integrity.
If you’re new to it, don’t worry—this guide walks you through what Turnitin does, how to use it, and what your similarity score really means, all in easy, conversational language.
What Is Turnitin?
Turnitin is an online system that checks your writing against a huge database of websites, books, articles, and past student papers.
It highlights matching or paraphrased text and helps ensure that your work is original and properly referenced.
Think of it as a support tool that helps you avoid mistakes, not something designed to trap you.
Why Penn State Uses Turnitin
Penn State uses Turnitin for a few important reasons:
- To support academic honesty – It helps you understand how to use and cite sources correctly.
- To prevent accidental plagiarism – Sometimes matches happen without you realizing it.
- To make grading easier – Your instructor can give feedback directly inside your submitted document.
How to Submit Your Assignment
At Penn State, you usually upload your assignments through Canvas, the university’s learning platform. Most instructors add a Turnitin-enabled assignment link right in your course.
Submitting is simple:
- Open the assignment in Canvas.
- Upload your file (usually a Word document or PDF).
- Submit it and wait for the confirmation message.
Turnitin automatically checks your work—there’s nothing extra you need to click.
Viewing Your Similarity Report
Depending on your course and instructor, you may be able to see your similarity report. If it’s enabled, you’ll see:
- Your similarity score (a percentage)
- Matched text highlighted in different colors
- A list of sources where matches were found
This can help you understand how to improve your writing and referencing skills for future assignments.
Understanding the Similarity Score
Your score is just a percentage showing how much of your text matches other documents. But the number alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Here are a few things to remember:
- Quotes and references often match — this is normal and expected.
- Common phrases can show up as matches — especially in technical or scientific writing.
- A high score doesn’t automatically mean you plagiarized — your instructor will look at the context.
- A low score doesn’t guarantee perfect work — you still need accurate citations.
At Penn State, instructors are trained to review the report carefully before making any decisions.
Tips for Using Turnitin Successfully
To make things smoother, try these simple habits:
- Keep track of your sources as you go to avoid missing citations.
- Use Penn State’s citation style guides (like APA) to format references correctly.
- Don’t rely on paraphrasing tools — they often create awkward or unclear writing.
- Ask your instructor if you’re unsure — they’d rather help early than fix issues later.
If Your Score Seems High
Don’t panic! A high score doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Try:
- Checking which parts are highlighted.
- Making sure your quotes and citations are correct.
- Looking for long paragraphs that may be too close to your sources.
- Revising and resubmitting if your instructor allows it.
If you’re still unsure, reach out to your instructor—they can explain what the score means for your specific assignment.
Summary
Turnitin is simply a tool to help you do your best academic work. At Penn State, it helps protect academic integrity, but it’s also there to support you as you learn to write and research effectively.
Once you’ve used it a few times, it becomes a normal part of submitting assignments. And if you ever get confused or concerned, your instructor or academic adviser is always there to help.