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Assess Similarity in Student Work

Turnitin checks for similarity by comparing submitted content to a database of previously submitted work at MSU-Bozeman and publicly available online sources.

Turnitin also includes Online Grading, allowing instructors to annotate student submissions directly within Canvas.

Turnitin is available to all instructors across the MSU system (Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Northern) through Canvas integration. Instructors can enable Turnitin within the Assignments tool.

Instructors and students can view Similarity Reports directly within Canvas assignments. For full Turnitin grading features—including QuickMarks, rubrics, and advanced annotations—instructors and students can access Turnitin’s Feedback Studio within Canvas.

Enable Turnitin in Assignments

Turnitin is not enabled by default in Canvas assignments. Instructors have two ways to use Turnitin, depending on the level of feedback and grading features needed. Review the comparison chart to know which one you want to use. 

Feature / Option Canvas Turnitin Integration
(Similarity Reports)		 Turnitin Feedback Studio
(Full Tool)
Where it runs Directly within the Canvas assignment Separate tool that functions within Canvas
Similarity Reports ✔ Shows matches and flags ✔ Shows matches and flags
AI Detection ✔ Shows  ✔ Shows
Online Grading / Annotations ✔ Available in SpeedGrader with annotation tools available. ✔ Includes ability to use QuickMarks and rubrics made in Turnitin
Best For Instructors needing basic similarity checking and wanting to provide inline comments Instructors wanting Turnitin grading with rubrics and QuickMark capabilities that were in Brightspace
Setup Requirements Quick setup in Canvas assignment Separate Turnitin assignment setup

 

Once you've decided which format fits your needs, follow the tutorial How to Enable Turnitin  to find the steps for enabling either option. 

Instructor View of Similarity Reports

Turnitin's Similarity Reports highlight potential matches between a submitted assignment and other sources, helping instructors assess originality. Students can review the report to ensure proper citation and avoid plagiarism. For more details on how instructors can view these reports, check out our Instructor View tutorial.

Turnitin Status

  • Turnitin System Status Page  
  • All Turnitin services (Turnitin, Similarity Reports, Online Grading) may be unavailable during scheduled maintenance.

  • Turnitin indicates that no submissions or grading will be possible during these times.

Recommendations:

  • Instructors: set assignment due dates that avoid scheduled maintenance windows.

  • Students: submit assignments in advance of the assigned due dates to ensure successful submission.