How does Canvas check submissions for similarity?
The Turnitin Document Processor is a tool that is available on all Canvas assignments.
When enabled on an assignment, the Turnitin Document Processor will generate Turnitin similarity reports for all submitted files that meet Turnitin's eligibility criteria.
Files that are not eligible simply will not generate a similarity report. They will still be accepted for submission and will be available for marking in Speedgrader. This means there is no risk if you set the assignment settings to generate a similarity report.
Where a submission contains multiple files, all files will be submitted, but similarity reports will only be generated for eligible files.
Where students only submit files that are not eligible for similarity checking, all files will be submitted, but no similarity reports will be generated. There is no point using the Turnitin Document Processor on such assignments.
When should I use the Turnitin Document Processor?
The Turnitin Document Processor can be used whenever students will be asked to submit at least one file that meets Turnitin's eligibility criteria and you would like to run student submissions through Turnitin's similarity checker.
The Turnitin Document Processor can be added to an assignment any time before marking. However, we recommend adding the Turnitin Document Processor to an assignment before student submissions, as this will generate the similarity reports at time of submission, making them already available when you start marking. Otherwise markers will need to request the similarity reports for each submission individually when marking, which is simple to do.
How to add the Turnitin Document Processor to an assessment
The Turnitin Document Processor is not selected by default. If you want a similarity check for an assessment, you must add the Turnitin Document Processor to the Canvas assignment settings manually.
All our setting up Canvas submission points guidance has been updated to show you how to add the Turnitin Document Processor to a Canvas assignment.
How to read the similarity report
See the How to View and Mark submissions page for further guidance on accessing and reading the similarity report generated by the Turnitin Document Processor.
How to prepare students
As similarity reports will only be generated for files that meet Turnitin's eligibility criteria, if you set your assignment to use the Turnitin Document Processor to generate a similarity report we recommend that:
In the Canvas assignment settings, you specify file types that students can submit, ensuring that all file types are included.
You inform your students in advance about how to submit. You can copy the text below into the Assessment and Feedback, or Assessment Information page of your Canvas module site.
"For the [file description] part of this assessment, files will be checked for similarity.
Read the [Turnitin end user agreement](https://api.turnitinuk.com/api/lti/1p0/user/static_eula?lang=en_us) before the assessment start date, as you will be prompted to agree to this when submitting your work.
Before submitting your assignment, check that your [ file description] file meets [Turnitin's eligibility criteria](https://guides.turnitin.com/hc/en-us/articles/23929463501965-File-requirements).
You can use the Draft Check Canvas site check your similarity report before submission. This site is available via the left-hand Modules menu in Canvas.
For further guidance see the [Submission and Feedback in Canvas: A Student Guide.](https://canvas.sussex.ac.uk/courses/14493)"
We've also created PowerPoint slide that can be shown to existing students to explain the changes if needed
See more from Setting up assessments, marking work and giving feedback