At the University of Derby, Turnitin is integrated into Blackboard so you will access Turnitin via our online submission tool within your module in Blackboard.
Turnitin Guides: Please see the following link for full information: Student Turnitin guides
The following are a number of FAQS for the main queries you may encounter:
Q: Is Turnitin down/unavailable?
The following page will show any issues Turnitin are experiencing:
Q: How do I submit my work?
See the following guides
Log into Blackboard, by going to Learn.derby.ac.uk or https://courseresources.derby.ac.uk/ and opening the relevant module to access the Submissions and Assessments area.
Further information is available her for submitting your work : Turnitin Help Guides
Q: What file types can I submit?
The following file types can be used to upload your work:
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP) and Google Docs.
You may be able to upload files of other types if your tutor has allowed, but these files WILL NOT have a similarity report generated.
Movie/video files cannot be uploaded to Turnitin. Please contact your tutor to request a Panopto Submission Point be created.
Q: What is the maximum file size I can submit?
- Files must be less than 100MB
- Files must have at least 20 words of selectable text to be able to generate a report. This cannot be done on scanned images/text.
- The maximum paper length is 800 pages.
Q: Can I upload multiple files?
Turnitin currently only accepts single file uploads on each submission point.
Work done over multiple files will need to be need to be merged into one using the the Insert File option or copy and paste.
Q: Can I submit via the Blackboard app?
Submissions can be made using the Blackboard app. These are not supported and we recommend completing this in a browser on your mobile, laptop or computer.
Q: How can I see the settings on the submission point?
Go to Step 4 on this guide: Submission Point Settings
Click on the question mark icon , next to the assignment name. This will display the extra information about the assignment EG: due date, grades release date, if late or resubmissions are allowed.
If a rubric had been allocated to the assignment, you can click on the Rubric Icon , a grid image under GradeMark rubric, to see how your work is going to be marked.
Q: How do I download my digital receipt?
See this guide: Digital Receipt
The digital receipt is proof of your submission. Click the download digital receipt icon, located on the far right of the submission, and save a copy.
Q: There is no Submission Point visible in my module
These are set up by your tutors, please contact them to check
- If the submissions points have been set up or when this will be done
- If the submission point is set to hidden from students or has a future release date to auto appear at a set date and time.
- A new submission point should be set up for any referral assignments
Please email your completed work to your tutor to mark or upload on your behalf when the submission point has been set up/made available.
Q: The Due date on the submission point is incorrect
Contact your tutors to have the incorrect settings amended.
The due date set on the submission point will override anything printed in a module handbook, assignment brief or web page.
Q: How do I delete my submission?
Students are unable to delete files from Turnitin.
If you have submitted the wrong file or uploaded to an incorrect submission point, contact your tutor to request the incorrect file be deleted on your behalf.
Q: Why has my file changed after submission?
The formatting, layout, page numbering may change when viewing your submission through the Online Turnitin Viewer Window. This is due to the viewer being a standard web page which does not hold the various formatting options available in all the software applications you can use to submit your work.
Your tutor will see the same layout when they are marking the work through the viewer window. They can download your work using the relevant software to see the original uploaded version of the file when they complete their marking.
Q: Why can't I play audio on file after it has been submitted?
Audio cannot be accessed in the Online Turnitin Viewer Window. This will require the original file to be downloaded and opened in the software it was created in.
This will be the case for PowerPoint files.
Q: How do I resubmit my work?
See this guide: Resubmit File
You may be able to upload a new version and overwrite a previous submission.
To do this, click on the resubmit button, an image of an arrow pointing upwards and located on the right of the submission, and go through the upload process again.
This will only be allowed if the Submission settings have been set to allow resubmissions.
Q: Why can't I resubmit my work?
Your work can only be resubmitted on the following conditions:
The Submission point is set to allow resubmissions
The due date and time has not passed
Once the due date/time has been reached, resubmissions cannot be made.
A late submission/first time submission can be made on the condition Late Submissions have been allowed in the submission settings . These will be marked as late and may be given a capped score.
If the above two conditions are true in the Submission Point settings and you still cannot resubmit, please try using a private web page or another browser to rule this out as the issue, or another device.
See following link: How do I open a private web page
Q: Why can't I see my Originality score?
An originality score will show on your work, if this has been allowed in the submission point settings by your tutor.
Originality score shows a lock icon or wording: ‘This has been disabled by the tutor’. The settings have been chosen by your tutors to not allow students to view their score. Please speak to them in the first instance, there may be a genuine reason why this has been chosen in the settings.
If allowed, an originality score will show immediately on your first 3 submissions to the same submission point. Any further re-submissions will take 24 hours for an originality score to be displayed. The 3 attempts does not reset daily.
Originality scores may not show if there is something in your work that system is unable to compare against, or if you have submitted your work using an unsupported file type.
See the next question for viewing your score before submitting your work.
NOTE: IT or your tutors are unable to to make a score appear on your submission.
Q. How do I view my score before submitting my work?
As long as your tutor has allowed the score to be visible in the settings, your score can be checked with out making a submission using the Turnitin Draft Coach
See this guide: Turnitin Draft Coach
Q: Why is my originality score is high or the score changed/Unchanged?
Linked to submission you have made, or settings have been amended and this has reflected in the score
Q: How do I view my similarity report
See this guide: Similarity Report
The similarity report is a plagiarism checker. Don’t worry if you have more than 0% as it’s likely that things like references and quotes are also being checked.
The Similarity index will be displayed as a number in the similarity red bar, located on the right-hand side of your submission, just below the main feedback comment bubble.
Click on it to open and view the full similarity report.
This will only be accessible, if your tutor has allowed this in the Submission Point settings.
Further guidance: Turnitin Help Guides Similarity Report
Q: Can I get a previous copy of an assignment or originality score?
No. Once a resubmission has been made to a submission point, the previous file will be overwritten and cannot be recovered.
Q: Why is my feedback not showing?
See the following guide for viewing your feedback or Grades: How to View your Feedback
These will be available to you once the Grades Release date has been reached and your work has been marked/graded by your tutor.
You will need to go back to the assessment area and link you used to submit your work.
NOTE: Feedback WILL NOT show in the Grade-Book or the Provisional Feedback and Grades area in Blackboard, unless it has been set by your tutors to be visible in these areas.
You will be unable to see any Feedback for an assignment that was uploaded on your behalf. This will need to be provided by your tutor via email or other methods.
Q: I missed the deadline, can I apply for an extension?
You will need to speak to tutor in the first instance to discuss this.
Please ensure you have contacted IT to have assistance with any submission issues before the assignment deadline.
Q: I have emailed my tutor but not had a response
Please allow the tutor time to respond, or contact your PAT, module leader or college team.
See the following link: College Team Contact Details
Partnership students - please contact your college tutors.