Library: Turnitin Originality Checking Services
Turnitin is an online subscription service that allows instructors to compare student papers against a database composed of millions of articles, books, Internet sites and previously submitted student papers. If a match is found, Turnitin displays the submitted paper and matches found in the Turnitin database.
For more information, visit the Turnitin Web site.
Plagarism and Turnitin
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines the act of plagiarizing as:To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source"
Plagiarism is not a new phenomenon on college campuses. It can be an intentional act or a consequence of ignorance and/or confusion. Identifying plagiarism in a student paper before the final grade is awarded can illuminate issues that may then be addressed in an appropriate manner.
Finding plagiarism can be a time consuming challenge. Sources may be as diverse as Internet sites, books, periodicals, and term paper mills. Indeed, the advent of the Internet has made plagiarism easier than ever before.
Therefore, Antelope Valley College has invested in a subscription to Turnitin, an electronic originality detection service. Turnitin can make identifying plagiarism easier and more efficient. Instructors are assigned an account and may submit student papers in digital format from any computer with Internet access.
Antelope Valley College has a Board approved policy on cheating, plagiarism and academic honesty.
The Antelope Valley College Student Code of Conduct section 6032.1 states:
"Dishonesty, including but not limited to, cheating, or plagiarism. Plagiarism--from the Latin word for 'kidnap'--involves using another's work without giving proper credit, whether done accidentally or on purpose. This includes not only words and ideas, but also graphs, artwork, music, maps, statistics, diagrams, scientific data, software, films, videos and the like. Plagiarism is plagiarism whether the material is from published or unpublished sources. It does not matter whether ideas are stolen, bought, downloaded from the Internet, or written for the student by someone else--it is still plagiarism. Even if only bits and pieces of other sources are used, or outside sources reworded, they must still be cited. To avoid problems, students should cite any source(s) and check with the instructor before submitting an assignment or project. Students are always responsible for any plagiarism in their work.
An instructor who determines that a student has cheated or plagiarized has the right to give an 'F' grade, or numerical equivalent, for the assignment or examination.
Antelope Valley College reserves the right to utilize electronic means to investigate possible academic violations. Enrollment in any class implies student agreement and consent that all assignments are subject to submission for textual similarity review to an electronic database."
Please contact Carolyn Burrell, Turnitin Administrator, at (661) 722-6454 for information on current training opportunities.
You must apply for an account before attending a training class. Please call (661) 722-6454 for more information.
To request an account contact:
Carolyn Burrell
Reference/Electronic Resources Librarian
Turnitin Administrator
661-722-6454
e-mail: cburrell@avc.edu