Created by Bren Zavacki

What is it?
Anti-plagiarism software takes a digital fingerprint of a student paper and cross-references it against a database of previously written papers and the Internet in order to identify possible instances of plagiarism (Plagiarism.org, 2005). As a result, the software can detect if students used any of the following methods of plagiarism:

• Cutting and pasting information from websites
• Buying papers from online essay services
• Copying text from other students’ papers

(Purdy, 2005)

Anti-plagiarism programs vary. Some are free, while others are fee-based; in addition, certain programs require installation of additional software, while others are completely web-based (Talab, 2004).
Turnitin is the most popular of the programs. Turnitin provides teachers with a customized, color-coded originality report for each student paper that is submitted. The report contains an overall similarity index between the paper and other sources, specific percentages of similarity between the paper and individual sources, and links so that the teacher can view each source that contains overlap. A sample originality report from Turnitin is included below. To see a larger version, please visit the source link below the graphic.


Why use it?
It is very easy for students to plagiarize using online sources. Since the Internet makes material so readily available, papers can be “created” without much effort in a relatively short time period. Students can easily cut-and-paste information from a website into a Word document, take sections from a friend’s paper through file transfer and sharing, or purchase papers and essays online.
There are hundreds of online term paper and essay transfer services that allow students to buy previously written papers or “custom” papers. The price varies, but in most cases, it ranges from $20-$300 depending on the type of paper and the requested level of expertise (Talab, 2004). In addition, the statistics concerning plagiarism are alarming. A November 1999 survey by U.S. News and World Report indicated that 72% of high school students admit to either cheating or knowing someone who has cheated (Talab, 2004). Another survey, which was published in Education Week, reports that 54% of students admit to plagiarizing from the Internet (Plagiarism.org, 2005).


How do I use it?
Each anti-plagiarism software program is slightly different; however, in general, to use an anti-plagiarism program a teacher must:

• Have a license to use the software. Usually this is best done through a school district or individual school rather than on an individual basis.
• Create a user profile or account log-in.
• Set up the classes that will be using the software.
• Set up each assignment that you want to have students submit through the program.
• Train students on the use of the software.
• Learn the specifics of the program

Students must be instructed on how to:

• Create a user profile or account log-in.
• Submit papers.

How are teachers using it?
Teachers are using anti-plagiarism software in many ways. Firstly, it allows teachers to quickly check every student’s work in a shorter time. Instead of picking out individual suspected papers and scouring the Internet for possible plagiarism, the software programs allow the teacher to view any overlap for each and every student paper that is submitted (Turnitin.com, 2006).
Secondly, teachers, school districts, and colleges are using anti-plagiarism software to strengthen their honor codes and discipline policies. By making parents and students aware a school’s use of a program and by including references and information in honor codes and discipline policies, such programs become plagiarism deterrents (Turnitin.com, 2006).
Finally, and most importantly, anti-plagiarism software programs can be used as a teaching tool. Many students inadvertently plagiarize; they do not understand proper documentation technique and/or what constitutes plagiarism. Teachers use anti-plagiarism software to instruct students in these research skills (Turnitin.com, 2006).

Resources and References

Resources

• The University of Michigan’s list of plagiarism detection services: http://www.lib.umich.edu/acadintegrity/print/instructors/violations/detection.pdf

• The Joint Information System Committee’s Technical Review of Plagiarism Software Detection Report: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/luton.pdf

• Virtual Academic Integrity Laboratory’s information of detection tools and methods: http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/cip/vail/faculty/detection_tools/choosing.html

• Turnitin.com’s list of research resources and handouts: http://www.turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html

• Additional media clips pertaining to student cheating: http://www.turnitin.com/static/media.html

• Online term paper and essay services (so you can see some of the sites that are out there):

www.schoolsucks.com

www.essayrelief.com
www.affordableessaywriting.com

References
(2005). Plagiarism.org. Retrieved July 14, 2006, from Plagiarism.org Web site:

http://www.plagiarism.org

(2006). Turnitin. Retrieved July 14, 2006, from Turnitin Web site:

http://www.turnitin.com/static/index.html

Purdy, James P. (2005, Spring). Calling Off the Hounds: Technology and the

Visibility of Plagiarism. Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching
Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture, 5(2), 275-295.
Retrieved July 11, 2006, from EbscoHost.

Talab, Rosemary (2004, Nov/Dec). A Student Online Plagiarism Guide:

Detection and Prevention Resources. TechTrends, 48(6), 15-18.
Retrieved July 11, 2006, from EbscoHost.