How to use Turnitin in Canvas

Table of Contents

• Introduction 
• How to Enable Turnitin in a Canvas Assignment Framework 
• How to View Turnitin Similarity Reports 
• Common Issues & Troubleshooting 
• Additional Resources / Related Articles 
• Contact / Escalation Information

Introduction 

This solution explains how instructors can enable Turnitin within a Canvas Assignment using the Framework (plagiarism review integration). Turnitin helps instructors check student submissions for similarity against online sources, publications, and student papers. Using Turnitin within the Canvas Framework allows similarity reports and originality scores to appear directly in Canvas, streamlining grading and academic integrity review.

This solution should be used when instructors want to: 

• Check student submissions for originality  
• Promote academic integrity  
• Provide feedback on student writing  
• Review similarity reports within Canvas SpeedGrader  
• Ensure assignments meet institutional academic integrity expectations  
• Turnitin can be used for essays, research papers, written assignments, and other text-based submissions. 

This solution is for instructors who want to enable plagiarism detection in a Canvas assignment using Turnitin’s plagiarism review feature. Turnitin can help identify potential academic integrity concerns while also providing feedback tools to support student writing. 

Before using Turnitin in Canvas, the following requirements should be met: 

• Turnitin must be enabled in Canvas by the institution  
• The instructor must have permission to create assignments  
• The assignment must be configured as an online submission  
• Students must submit files in supported formats (such as DOC, DOCX, PDF)  

Note: Turnitin may not generate reports for unsupported file types. 

How to Enable Turnitin in a Canvas Assignment Framework 

Step 1: Create or Edit an Assignment 

1. Log into Canvas.  
2. Select the course.  
3. Click Assignments in the Course Navigation menu.  
4. Click + Assignment (or edit an existing assignment).  

Step 2: Configure Assignment Settings

1. Enter the Assignment Name and instructions.  
2. Set Points, Due Date, and other settings as needed.  
3. Under Submission Type, select Online.  
4. Choose File Uploads.  

Step 3: Enable Turnitin Framework

1. Locate the Plagiarism Review section.  
2. From the dropdown menu, select Turnitin.  
3. Click the Turnitin settings link.  

Step 4: Configure Turnitin Settings

In the Turnitin settings menu, you may configure: 

• Store submissions in the Turnitin repository  
• Exclude bibliographies  
• Exclude quoted material  
• Generate similarity reports immediately or on due date  
• Allow students to view similarity reports  

Solution Steps: 

1. Select the appropriate settings based on your course needs. 
2. Click Save to apply Turnitin settings. 

Step 5: Save and Publish the Assignment

1. Click Save or Save & Publish.  
2. Students will now see the assignment and submit their work.  
3. Similarity reports will appear in SpeedGrader and the Gradebook. 

How to View Turnitin Similarity Reports 

1. Go to Assignments.  
2. Select the assignment.  
3. Click SpeedGrader.  
4. Click the similarity score indicator.  
5. Review the similarity report in the Turnitin viewer.  

The similarity report highlights matching text and provides sources for review. 

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Turnitin option is not visible 

• Confirm Turnitin is enabled for the course.  
• Contact Kean IT or Learning Technologies by placing a request at helpdesk.kean.edu under Applications & Software for assistance. 

Similarity report is not generating 

• Reports may take several minutes to process.  
• Confirm the file type is supported.  

Student submitted an unsupported file format 

• Ask the student to resubmit using DOC, DOCX, or PDF.

Similarity score shows a high percentage

• Review the report to determine whether matches are properly cited.  
• Adjust settings to exclude bibliography or quotes if needed.  

Assignment created manually may not connect to Turnitin

• Ensure Turnitin is enabled within the assignment settings.

Additional Resources / Related Articles 

Turnitin Canvas Integration Guide

https://help.turnitin.com/integrations/canvas.htm  

Turnitin Similarity Report Overview

https://help.turnitin.com/similarity.htm  

Contact / Escalation Information 

If you encounter issues accessing Turnitin in your Canvas Course, or if the navigation settings are not saving or behaving as expected, you may contact the Kean Canvas Learning Technologies Support Team for assistance.     

Please submit a support request through the IT Help Desk portal using the Canvas support catalog. When submitting a ticket, include the following information to help expedite troubleshooting:     

• Course Name and Course ID (Example: 2026SP*BIO*1000*01)     
• A brief description of the issue     
• Screenshots of the issue (if available)     
• The specific tool or link in question that you are trying to access     

If the issue involves permissions, locked navigation items, or course template restrictions, the request may need to be reviewed by the Learning Technologies Management Team.     

For urgent issues affecting active courses, you may also contact the IT Help Desk directly:     

• Help Desk Website: helpdesk.kean.edu/support/home     
• Phone: 908-737-6000     
• 24/7 Canvas Support can be found by clicking on Help in the Global Navigation section and clicking Chat with Canvas Support (Faculty). They can also be reached via Hotline at 855-781-8511.     

The support team will review the request and assist with troubleshooting, permissions, or configuration changes as needed.