Turnitin is an internet-based anti-plagiarism technology that
enables faculty members to level the academic playing field for honest students.
The Office of Academic Technology has licensed Turnitin.com for the use of
University of Florida faculty and students. Turnitin.com products and services
help educators and students maximize the Internet's educational potential
by making it a safe place for research and learning.
The dramatic growth of the Internet means that more and more
articles and essays on a nearly infinite array of topics are available on
the World Wide Web. Likewise, services offering academic papers for sale have
boomed on the Internet, making it increasingly easy for students to find and
submit work that is not their own.
Turnitin’s web-based program searches out matching and even partially altered phrases from web content and Turnitin databases. The software then provides to the instructor a color-coded “originality report” with links to similarities in submitted text. This then allows the instructor to carefully evaluate suspect papers for proper and improper citation as well as for dishonest plagiarism.
Use of Turnitin is a potent deterrent against plagiarism, stopping potential violators from undercutting their own education and letting honest students compete in a fair arena, thus helping strengthen academic values and codes of honor.
Used alone or in conjunction with the plagiarism prevention service, additional online solutions at Turnitin.com help educators and students make the most of the Web. Peer Review makes it easy for educators to let their students anonymously critique and evaluate each other's work, and Research Resources teaches the ins and outs of plagiarism, research, and citation in the information age.