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The Similarity Score, expressed as a percentage match, simply indicates the proportion of text in a submission which matches text elsewhere. Turnitin detects similarity, but similarity isn't the same thing as plagiarism - similarity can be entirely legitimate. It can reside in quotations, or in the language of a discipline. For this reason we can't definitively point to a threshhold. The principle is that students need to evidence or illustrate the point they're making with well-chosen quotations, but the more of their own ideas, expressed in theirown words, they get into their work, the more chance they have to earn credit. The important thing is to ensure that ideas and quotations used are properly referenced in an appropriate academic style, not to aim for a particular similarity score.
A piece of work has a similarity score of 0%.
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No plagiarism?
No, an similarity score a Similarity Score of 0% does not guarantee the work is not plagiarisedoriginality. Turnitin has uses a large database of web sites, books, journal papers articles and other sources, but does not (and cannot) include everything ever written. Although Turnitin can help with highlighting areas of poor academic practice, it can't substitute for academic knowledge and judgement.
Can I put one
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student's work through Turnitin, without putting all students in the class work through as well?
No, all students in the class must use the same submission method to ensure fair treatment.
All papers should be treated equally throughout the submission process.
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