2023 UNISA Turnitin UNDERGRADUATE student FAQ list

What is Turnitin?

Turnitin is the Originality Checking service used at Unisa to prevent

plagiarism and encourage academic integrity.

Where do I find

Turnitin?

Turnitin is integrated with myUnisa (myModules & myExams) and the

application is automated.

Do I have to do

Turnitin separately?

NO, you do not. Since Turnitin is integrated with myUnisa, separate

submissions are NOT required.

Do I have to request

Turnitin for

assignments?

NO, you do not. Turnitin will run automatically for selected assignments.

Do all assignments

require originality

checking?

NO, they do not. Turnitin is applied for selected assignments only.

Do I have to accept

the Turnitin EULA

when uploading an

assignment on

myUnisa?

YES, you have to. The Turnitin EULA (End User License Agreement) is

required to run an originality check for your submissions.

Example: Turnitin EULA must be accepted

Do I have to accept

the Turnitin EULA for

every submission with

Turnitin requirements?

NO, you will be asked once only to accept the Turnitin EULA. It will be

acknowledged automatically after the first submission.

Example: Turnitin EULA already accepted

Are submissions

stored permanently

on Turnitin?

YES, submissions are permanently stored on Turnitin! This is done to

protect your work from future plagiarism by others.

Do I have to include a

title/cover page for

my assignment?

YES, the title page confirms your authorship.

UNISA Turnitin submissions are ‘all inclusive’, thus every assignment

needs to include a title/cover page with your name and student number.

Note: We cannot protect your authorship without it.

Do I have to include a

bibliography/referenc

e list for my

assignment?

YES, when a bibliography/reference list is applicable to the specific

assignment because it validates the research content in your assignment.

UNISA Turnitin submissions are ‘all inclusive’ and requires the inclusion

of a bibliography/reference list when applicable to the specific assignment.

Note: We cannot acknowledge your original content without it.

Can I first verify my

assignment before

submitting the final

version for

marking/grading?

YES, you may first upload your assignment and review the current

similarity report. This gives you the opportunity to discuss the

findings with your lecturer BEFORE making changes for the final

version to be uploaded.

May I check my

assignment a second

time before submitting

the final version for

marking/grading?

YES, you may upload your assignment a second time to review

similarity report findings. This gives you another, but final chance to

discuss the findings with your lecturer BEFORE making changes for

the final version to be uploaded.

Will my first

assignment

submission appear as

possible plagiarism

when I upload the

revised version?

NO, it will not, provided you uploaded your first assignment version

yourself within the formal Unisa submission space – myUnisa.

Is my third

assignment

submission the final

similarity check to be

used for

marking/grading?

YES, the third upload you make for the assignment is considered

the FINAL version and will be used to conduct a FINAL similarity

check for purposes of marking/grading.

Are my first and

second assignment

versions seen as

possible plagiarism

when my third and

FINAL version is

processed?

NO, they are not, provided you uploaded your first and second

assignment versions yourself within the formal Unisa submission

space – myUnisa.

How long does it take

to generate a similarity

report?

The Similarity Report is generated by Turnitin within 24 hours after

receipt from myUnisa.

Example: Stage 1

Note: Do not attempt to resubmit the assignment when it is being

queued!

Example: Stage 2

Note: Do not attempt to resubmit the assignment when it is

pending!

How will I know if the

Similarity Report has

been generated

successfully?

When the Similarity Report has been generated, it will be attached

to your assignment and will display the Similarity Index (%).

Example: Similarity Report completed

What is a Turnitin

Similarity Report?

The Similarity Report provides a summary of matching text found in the

submitted assignment.

• The Similarity Report reveals the sources of matching text identified.

• The extent of matching text is indicated by an index of similarity,

shown as a percentage.

Note: This means the higher the percentage is, the greater the extent of

non-original content.

May I view the Similarity

Report?

YES, Unisa students are permitted to view the similarity reports for

their own assignments.

How do I open the

Similarity Report?

Click on the Similarity Index (%) block attached to your

assignment and the report will open in a new window.

What does the

percentage on the

Originality Report

mean?

The percentage shown on the Similarity Report is an indication of

NON-ORIGINAL content and is NOT a “ percentage of plagiarism”.

What is the acceptable

percentage for the

overall Similarity Index?

The Similarity Index does NOT indicate plagiarism,

thus there is NO “acceptable percentage”.

• Plagiarism, if present in the assignment is unacceptable,

regardless of the overall Similarity Index!

Please refer to the Unisa policies regarding plagiarism, copyright,

academic integrity and ethical conduct.

• Originality Reports are analysed to determine if plagiarism

occurred, whether inadvertently or with intent.

Note: The above means, even when the similarity index or a

specific individual match percentage is very low, but portions of

blatant plagiarism are found in the text, it is still unacceptable.

What is the acceptable

percentage for an

Individual Source?

Very important: As a universal rule for all Unisa students, the similarity

of submission content to an individual source must be below 5%.

This generous allowance accommodates subject terminology and

acknowledgement of sources.

Note: Ask your lecturer about conditions under which a certain

percentage of matching text may be allowed and how such text

must be acknowledged in your assignment.

Why is there no

similarity report for my

submission?

• Similarity reports will not be generated for corrupted files and

scanned submissions.

• Click on the blue encircled question mark next to the error

message to reveal the reason.

Example: Similarity Report unavailable

Note: Submissions shown as queued or pending are NOT errors,

they are being processed and will complete within 24-hours.

How do I improve

content originality in my

assignment?

E.g. How do I reduce

the index?

• Discuss the purpose and expectations of the assignment with

your lecturer.

• Improve your academic writing skills to present your own

“voice”.

• Generally, it is not necessary to rework every portion of

highlighted text.

Note: Your focus should not be to reduce the similarity index, but

to give your own interpretation of the work done.

Where do I get more

information on academic

integrity to avoid

plagiarism?

Consult the UNISA library pages:

ALL GUIDES Alphabetically - LibGuides at University of South

Africa (UNISA)

Attend library presentations specifically for undergraduate

students:

Home - Unisa Library Training and Events Calendar Libguides -

LibGuides at University of South Africa (UNISA)

Regards, Unisa Turnitin Team