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Using Similarity Report in D2L

​​Submission folders in to D2L can be set with Similarity Report® from Turnitin. When enabled, Turnitin will check all submitted files for matches in a database of Internet sources, academic journals and publications, and student papers. Turnitin works for the following document types: MS Word, WordPerfect, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, and plain text.

Turnitin allows instructors to view an overall similarity score, which counts all matched text in a document, even if it is properly cited. The report will highlight matching text and provide a link to the original source. Instructors can also view a score for AI detection.

Always look at the full similarity report to verify plagiarism or use of AI. For more information on using AI detection, see the guide on AI in Higher Education.

Instructors can use Turnitin outside of a Submission folder by requesting an external account. To request an external account, use the External Turnitin Account request form.

Enable Similarity Report for a Submission Folder

  1. Select the dropdown arrow next to the Submission folder. 
  2. Select Edit Folder. 
  3. The "Edit Folder" page will open. Select the Evaluation & Feedback tab. 
  4. Under "Turnitin Integration" select Manage Turnitin.
  5. A popup window will open. Select the box next to "Enable Similarity Report® for this folder." [A]
  6. (Optional) Select the box next to "Allow learners to see Turnitin® similarity scores in their submission folder" to enable student view of the Turnitin score on a submission [B].

    Note: This setting will not allow students to see the AI review results. For best practices on using AI detection, view the guide on AI in Higher Education. 

  7. (Optional) Select an option under "Submissions checked" to enable Turnitin only for select students [C].
    menu of turnitin settings
  8. Once finished choosing settings, select Save.
  9. The window will close. Select Save and Close.

Add a Template to Similarity Report

If an assignment requires students to use a template with text, instructors can upload the template document so Turnitin will not include this text in the Similarity Report.

  1. From the Submission folder, select the "Evaluation and Feedback" tab.
  2. Under "Turnitin Integration" select Manage Turnitin.
  3. A popup window will open. If not already enabled, select the box next to "Enable Similarity Report® for this folder.
  4. Select More Options.
  5. A popup window will open. Go to the "Exclude Assignment Template" heading.
  6. Choose to either upload a document or input text [A].
  7. When finished, select Submit [B].
    template settings on turnitin menu
  8. Save the Turnitin settings.
  9. When finished editing the Submission folder, select Save and Close.

View Similarity Reports

Similarity Reports can take time to generate after a file has been submitted to Turnitin. Usually it only takes a few minutes, but sometimes it can take up to 24 hours.

If a report indicates that a submitted file matches another submitted file in Turnitin's database, contact the CTL to obtain a copy of the file.

  1. Select the name of a Submission folder to view the files submitted to it.
  2. In the list of submissions, the indicators under "Turnitin Similarity" show the percentage of the paper that Turnitin matched in its database. If plagiarism detection is enabled after files have been submitted, select the Submit File to Turnitin icon, in the Turnitin Similarity column, to submit the file to Turnitin manually. The icon will be replaced with "In Progress" until this process is complete.
  3. In the "Turnitin Similarity" column, select the colored box to see the full originality report.

    Note: AI detection scores are not factored in to the Similarity Report. Open the full report to view flags for use of AI.

  4. Once opened, select the Similarity Report number [A] to view any flags for similarity.
  5. Select the AI detection number [B] to review any flags for use of AI.

    Note: False positives are possible with Turnitin's AI detection. It is recommended to use this score to open a conversation with a student in case a submission has been falsely flagged. For more information, see the guide on AI Detectors.

    screenshot of turnitin originality report interface with labels on scores

NEXT STEPS

To begin providing feedback to and evaluating student submissions within D2L, see Annotating Submissions and Evaluating All Files Submitted to a Submission Folder.

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