Create a Turnitin Assignment (Original)

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a Turnitin Assignment for the submission of text based assignments (i.e. PDF, Word and PowerPoint files).

Similarity Report

A Similarity Report can be produced and highlights any text in a student’s assignment that matches sources in the Turnitin database, including web content, previously submitted assignment and subscription-based journals and publications.

Multiple file submissions and group assignments

Turnitin only allows the submission of one file. Turnitin also does not allow the submission of group assignments, consider using the Blackboard Assignment tool for group assignments that do not require a Similarity Report.

In case a group assignment where the Similarity report is required one member of the group will need to submit on behalf of all group members and marks will need to be manually entered for non-submitting group members. Refer to the Assessment tools guide.

Draft submissions

UQ Assessment policy states that students must have the opportunity to submit a draft assignment to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment. To comply with the policy, it is recommended that the setting Generate Similarity Reports for student submission should be set to Generate reports immediately (students can resubmit until a due date): After 3 resubmissions reports generate after 24 hours. Note, with one submission link it is not technically possible to limit the students to only one draft submission.

If it is required to limit students to one draft submission only, you will need to set up two Turnitin submission links: one for the draft and one for the final submission. Note, you will need to provide clear instructions to the students as two links may cause confusion.

Video guide

Watch the video (YouTube, 6m 35s)

Setting up your assignment

It is recommended that all Turnitin assignment links are added within the Assessment section in the Course Menu. Best practice is to create a folder for all required assessment information. To avoid student confusion, the folder should be given exactly the same name as the assignment in the Course Profile. Refer the Create a Folder guide.

Tip: Add an Item inside the folder with instructions for students regarding assignment submission and links to all relevant documents such as the assignment question and marking scheme (if it is not online). For step-by-step instructions, refer the Add an Item guide. The following information should be included in the assignment instructions:

How the file should be named.
The file type/s students may submit.
Not to include animated text/images in PowerPoint files.
What to do if they have problems uploading their assignment. i.e. Email the assignment to the course coordinator, continue to try to upload the assignment until they are successful and contact AskUs for help if needed.
That late assignments are allowed and that all assignments automatically have a time/date stamp of when they are submitted.
Include a link to the AskUs instructions on Turnitin: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment/turnitin-assignments
Assignment submission is a three step process and it is the responsibility of the student to check the assignment preview and confirm that the assignment has been successfully submitted. Students need to download a copy of the Submission ID as proof they have submitted the assignment.

Creating the Turnitin assignment submission

Click on the Build Content button.
Select Turnitin from the drop-down list.

turnitin link

The following screen will be displayed.

create turnitin assignment

Enter the Assignment title in the Title textbox.

Note: This should match the title of the assessment task in the Course Profile.

Enter Assignment instructions in the Instructions textbox, such as "Click on the link above to submit your assignment".

Note: The text displayed is difficult to see (small font and grey) and it is recommend that you create an item with instructions for students regarding assignment submission and links to all relevant documents such as the assignment question and marking scheme (if it is not online).

sample assignment

Enter the Mark the assessment is out of in the Max Grade textbox. Refer to the Marks / Rubrics / Grading form overview guide for information on options.
Select the Start Date by using the Date Selection Calendar.
Set the time in the Start Date box manually.

Note: Students are only able to submit assignments after the Start date has passed.

Select the Due Date by using the Date Selection Calendar.
Set the time in the Due Date box manually.

Please refer to UQ Assessment policy section 3.3.

Note: Students are blocked from submitting assignment after the Due date/time unless late assignment submission is enabled.

Select the Feedback Release Date (when marked assignments and grades are available to students in Turnitin) by using the Date Selection Calendar and set the time in the same box manually..

Tip: Initially set well after the due date to allow for marking time and to cater for extensions. Set yourself a reminder to change the Feedback Release Date in your calendar for when you think you will have completed the marking.

setting date and time

Note: To avoid getting the error message 'date_start - start date can not be more than 1 year in the past' disable the Adaptive release by clicking on the Edit button. Choose Adaptive Release. Uncheck all display dates.

Optional Settings

Click on the Optional settings link.

optional settings

Select Standard paper repository from the Submit papers to dropdown list. This will allow all submissions to go to the central database.
Uncheck Allow submission of any file type checkbox. Only file types supported by Turnitin shall be used, otherwise similarity report will not be generated.
Check Allow late submissions checkbox to cater for students with extensions.

Note: All assignments are time/date stamped and late assignments are labelled Late in the Assignment box.

Warning: This setting only allows students without a submission to submit after the due date (i.e. students with extensions who have already submitted before the due date will be unable to submit again). If a student needs to submit again after the due date and have previously submitted, you can submit on their behalf. Refer to the Submit an assignment on behalf of a student guide.

Attach a rubric as required. Refer to the Rubrics guide.

Note: Turnitin rubrics are different to Blackboard rubrics. It is not possible to use a Blackboard rubric in Turnitin.

Note: The availability of rubrics is based on who is logged on, not what Blackboard course the Turnitin is accessed from. Your tutors will be able to use the rubric you attached for marking though it will not be available to them from the rubric list.

settings

Check all Compare against checkboxes.

compare against rubric image

From the Generate Similarity Reports for student submissions drop-down list, select Generate reports immediately (students can resubmit until due date).

Note: This option must be selected as per the 3.10.02 Assessment policy. Students will receive a Similarity Report for the initial submission and the next three resubmissions immediately. Any subsequent resubmissions will require students to wait 24 hours for a report. Students may resubmit as often as the student wishes until the assignment due date

Note: Only the latest submission is available to the instructor or student. No resubmissions are available after the due date and time of the assignment.

Note: UQ Assessment policy states that students must have the opportunity to submit a draft assignment to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment. The Similarity Report is a tool to assist students how to properly acknowledge sources as well as highlighting possible plagiarism issues.

Note: The Turnitin Similarity report does not compare assignments submitted by the same student within one course.

Check the Allow students to view Similarity Reports checkbox.
Uncheck the Exclude bibliographic materials checkbox.

Note: Unchecking the textbox will increase the percentage match in the Similarity Report. Bibliographic materials can also be included and excluded when viewing the Similarity Report. This setting cannot be modified after the first assignment has been submitted.

Uncheck the Exclude quoted materials checkbox.

Note: Unchecking the textbox will increase the percentage match in the Similarity Report. Quoted materials can also be included and excluded when viewing the Similarity Report. This setting cannot be modified after the first assignment has been submitted.

Uncheck the Exclude small matches checkbox.

Warning: If you decide to use small matches, avoid using the Percentage option as this ignores text matches equal to a percent of the total word count. (e.g. 2% of a 3000-word assignment would mean it will exclude matches of less than 60 words). Small matches can also be included and excluded when viewing the Similarity Report.

Note: Please communicate to the students Bibliography and quote exclusion definitions (Turnitin guide).

Click on the Upload Template or Create Custom Template button if you are using a template for your assessment.

Note: Uploaded or created templates of text will be automatically excluded from the Similarity Report.

Warning: Once a submission has been made to the assignment, templates can no longer be added or edited.

Check Save these settings for future use if you want to use the same settings in your next assignments. If this box remains unchecked you will have to set the settings every time.
Click on the Submit button.

The Success! screen will be displayed.

success screen

The Turnitin assignment submission link will then appear in the folder you have created it in.

sample assignment in the folder

Include the Column in Grade Centre Calculations

Include in Grade Centre calculations

From the Control Panel, select Grade Centre > Full Grade Centre.

Click on the down arrow for the assignment column you just created.
Select Edit Column Information from the drop-down menu.

arrow and edit column information

Select Yes for Include this Column in Grade Centre Calculations.
Click on the Submit button.

include column in grade centre calculations and submit

Hide column from students

To ensure students are not able to view their results prematurely, you will need to ensure the Turnitin assignment column is hidden from students until you are ready to release results. For step-by-step instructions on hiding the Grade Centre column, refer to the Control the Release of Results guide.