How to create a Canvas Assignment with Turnitin embedded

This article will provide a guide on how to create a Canvas assignment that uses the Turnitin 'Plagiarism Framework' option.

What is the difference between the two Turnitin integrations?

Original Full Turnitin Integration New Turnitin Integration with Assignments (Framework)
  • Similarity report percentage is visible from the Turnitin inbox dashboard (accessed by clicking on the assignment)
  • View similarity highlights, read, mark and provide feedback all within the same interface
  • Individual submissions only
  • Peer review: use Peermark (part of Turnitin)
  • Submit on behalf of a student within the Turnitin inbox dashboard
  • Submit 1 file only
  • Resubmissions override and erase the original submission
  • Use Turnitin rubrics

  • Similarity report percentage icon in the gradebook and Speedgrader
  • Remark, mark and provide feedback in Speedgrader - but click the similarity report icon to access the highlighted 'similar' content
  • Uses Canvas assignment settings - can be used for individual or group submissions
  • Peer review: use peer review within Canvas assignment settings
  • Submit on behalf of student from gradebook
  • Submit multiple files
  • Resubmissions visible via dropdown menu
  • Use Canvas rubrics

Using the new integration, you can now add a separate due date for specific students or 'sections' of students without changing the date for everyone​.

Create a Canvas Assignment

Navigate to the Assignments area in your Canvas course. Click the blue + Assignment button at top right.

Type in the assignment name and any assignment information in the rich text editor.

Then, adjust typical settings to include:

  • Number of points
  • Assignment group
  • How the grade will display (number, letter, etc.)
  • Whether the assignment will contribute toward the total grade
  • How the students will submit
  • Number of attempts, or re-submissions, a student is allowed

In order to use the Turnitin Plagiarism Framework feature, you must choose Online and File Uploads as the submission type. You may additionally choose to restrict the file type.

After you have selected Online and File Uploads, the Plagiarism Review option will appear with a blank dropdown menu to its right.

Click on the dropdown and choose the only option: Turnitin-PlagiarismFramework.

This will open the limited Turnitin settings that will apply to submissions for this assignment. The default settings are pictured below - you may choose to adjust these to your preferences.

Please note that the final option is a tickbox to save these settings for future use. Currently, there is a known issue with this feature, and the settings will not save. You will need to review the settings each time you create an assignment.

Continue to adjust settings on the assignment, which may include:

  • Whether the assignment is intended for group submission
  • Requiring peer reviews
  • Moderated grading (not recommended)
  • Anonymous grading (so that student names are set to anonymous)
  • Anonymous in-line feedback (so that a marker's name is not attached to any feedback left on the submission itself: please note the name will still appear in any comments left in the far-left area of Speedgrader.
  • Assign to (set who should submit the assignment and the due date/time).

When you have adjusted any settings relevant to your assignment, click the save button if you do not wish students to see the assignment yet or save and publish button if you are ready for students to see it.

For more information from Turnitin on the Plagiarism Framework feature, please visit their FAQ page at this link.

Find a guide for accessing the similarity report from Speedgrader at this link.

Using Turnitin Framework with Group Assignments

Please note that there is a known error associated with using the Turnitin Framework feature with group assignments.

Turnitin Framework works as intended for both the instructor and the student who submits on behalf of the group.

Instructor: You will be able to set the assignment, assign or allow self-selection of groups. When submissions appear, they will populate across all students within a group in the gradebook. When you mark, the mark and comments will apply and be visible to all members in the group.

Submitting student: This student will see accurate information in My Grades, which includes submission status and grade.

Non-submitting student(s): Any student who has another group member submit will not see accurate information in My Grades. They will see 'no submission' and/or 0/F for the grade.

Note that for the non-submitting student, the overall grade for the module at top right will reflect the accurate grade.

However, when they click on the assignment name, this area displays all information accurately, including the submission, any feedback, grade and submission status.

The student can then click Submission details and review the submission and any feedback.