Plagiarism: Turnitin User Guides

Introduction

Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of university education. In this context, plagiarism and related academic violations are treated with strictness by every academic institution. Frederick University utilizes specialized plagiarism detection software, Turnitin, which is used to assess the originality of students' work and to prevent any academic misconduct.

Plagiarism is defined as the intentional or unintentional appropriation of material, ideas, or intellectual property of a third party without proper acknowledgment.
Students, regardless of their mode of study (in-person or distance learning), are subject to disciplinary action in cases of academic dishonesty. The university places great emphasis on upholding the code of ethics and enforces strict penalties for violations such as plagiarism and copyright infringement.

Avoidance of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is considered a serious academic offense, and avoiding it is a fundamental principle of the University's academic ethics. Proper documentation and attribution of sources ensure the scientific integrity of a paper, promoting transparency and the reliability of research. For this purpose, the following practices must be followed:

  • Proper use of citations: Whenever there is reference to ideas, data or excerpts from other sources, it is mandatory to use the appropriate citations within the text or in footnotes, according to the prescribed citation system (e.g., APA, Harvard).
  • Creation of a complete bibliography: The recording of all sources used in the research must be done accurately and consistently, following the established academic citation standard.
  • Use of plagiarism detection software: The use of specialized tools, such as Turnitin, facilitates the detection of potential cases of unintentional plagiarism, allowing the researcher to make the necessary corrections before submitting the paper.
  • Proper management of notes: During the process of collecting and analyzing bibliographic data, it is crucial to accurately record the source of each piece of information to ensure its proper attribution in the final text.
  • Clear distinction between original ideas and borrowed information: The author must make it clear which ideas are their own contribution and which come from other sources, in order to avoid any confusion regarding the intellectual property of the content.

Consistent application of the above principles not only ensures compliance with academic rules but also enhances the validity and reliability of the research work.

Turnitin is a specialized plagiarism detection software that compares submitted papers with an extensive database that includes:

  • Published material available online.
  • Data repositories maintained by various academic institutions.
  • Previous student papers.

Students have access to the similarity report, which allows them to improve the originality of their papers before the final submission. The use of this software is mandatory for all instructors and students.

Registration and Login

Academic Staff or universities create Turnitin accounts and provide access to students.

Paper Submission

Students upload their papers through the following platforms:

System accepts multiple file formats (e.g., Word, PDF, etc.) there may be a limit on the number of submissions allowed per course.

Analysis and Similarity report

Turnitin generates a Similarity Report that shows the percentage of text matching the database. Students, if allowed by the instructor, can view the report and make corrections.

Evaluation

Instructor reviews the report and grades the paper, considering the similarity percentage and the recognized sources.

  • 0-20%: Acceptable, permissible level of common phrases.
  • 20-40%: Moderate, may require editing.
  • 40%+: High percentage, potential plagiarism requiring full investigation.

Turnitin is not a tool for punishing students, but a crucial academic infrastructure that promotes originality and academic ethics. Proper use of Turnitin helps students understand the principles of academic writing and develop critical thinking and argumentation documentation skills.