Turnitin Similarity Report and PeerMark

Turnitin Similarity Report allows instructors to identify potential cases of plagiarism and AI use in assignment submissions; Turnitin’s PeerMark tool enables instructors to create peer-review assignments.

Turnitin is only available for assignments in UB Learns.

Enabling Turnitin Similarity Report in an Assignment

Instructors can enable Turnitin Similarity Report after students have submitted assignments. If enabled after submissions have happened, instructors will have to click the icon in the Turnitin Similarity Report column for each student to generate reports.

  1. On the assignment edit page, click Evaluation & Feedback.
  2. Click Manage Turnitin.
  3. Click Enable Similarity Report for this folder.
  4. Click Allow learners to see similarity scores in their submission folder under Display if you want students to see their similarity scores.
  5. Click Automatic similarity checking on all submissions or Identify individual submissions for similarity checking under Submissions Checked to set which submissions generate a report.
  6. Click More Options.
  7. Select Standard paper repository or Do not store the submitted papers from the Submit papers to drop-down menu.
    • Standard paper repository allows future submissions to be compared to current submissions.
    • Consider using Do not store the submitted papers for assignments when students are submitting multiple drafts.
  8. Under Compare against, select the types of content you want to use to compare the submission.
  9. If you are providing a template to students, click Upload Template under Exclude assignment template and add the template.
  10. Click Submit to save More Options.
  11. Click Save to save Turnitin settings.
  12. Click Save and Close to save the changes to the assignment.

Viewing a Turnitin Similarity Report

Instructors now have the option to view a classic report format or the new beta format by clicking Go to Beta View or Go to Classic View in the top-left corner of the report. Students only see the classic format.

  1. On the navbar, click Assessments and select Assignments.
  2. Click the name of the assignment.
  3. Click the Turnitin percentage icon under the Turnitin Similarity Report column. A new tab will open.
  4. To view the full AI report, click the AI score icon. A new tab will open.

Creating Peer-Assessment Assignments with Turnitin’s PeerMark Tool

Turnitin’s PeerMark tool enables instructors to create peer-review assignments, allowing students to read, review and evaluate their classmates’ submissions. Key features include anonymity options, customizable questions and libraries.

Adding a link to the PeerMark tool in a UB Learns course

  1. Navigate to the module where you would like to add a PeerMark assignment.
  2. Click Existing Activities and select Feedback Studio – PeerMark. You will see a link to the PeerMark assignment at the bottom of the module's content.

Setting up, reviewing and grading PeerMark assignments

Once you create the Peermark tool link, you can set up a Peermark assignment, develop questions and read and grade peer reviews.

The following are links to documentation on the PeerMark support site.

Turnitin Similarity Report and PeerMark Customer Success Manager

Leann McArthur, Turnitin's Customer Success Manager for UB, provides free support for instructors who are using Turnitin Similarity Report  and PeerMark. Some short topics offered in one-on-one or group sessions include:

  • Maximizing the use of the time-saving tools in Turnitin
  • Interpreting the Turnitin Similarity Report to formatively develop student writing
  • Working with the AI indicator in a nuanced and thoughtful fashion
  • Developing effective PeerMark assignments

Additional Resources