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Blackboard and Digital Learning

NEW: Turnitin

This page provides guidance for submitting assignments through Turnitin when using Blackboard.

Turnitin is an originality checking and plagiarism prevention service that checks your work for citation mistakes or inappropriate copying. When you submit your paper, Turnitin compares it to text in its extensive database of student work, websites, books, articles, etc.

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.

File Size, format, and name of your submission

Before submitting your work, please note:

  • Files must be less than 100MB
  • Files must have at least 20 words of text 
  • The maximum paper length is 800 pages. 
  • File types allowed: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP) and Google Docs. To generate a similarity report, plain text PDFs must be in a format where the text is selectable (i.e. not scanned). 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. 
  • The filename of your submission should not include your name.

The University’s Anonymous Marking policy states that, unless otherwise told by your tutor: 

  • You should only include your Student ID number in any submission you make in Turnitin. 
  • The filename of your submission should not include your name.

How to find your assignment

In general, assignment submissions for written work should be located in your module in Blackboard, in the ‘Module Assessment and Submission’ area.  

1. Log in to Blackboard and navigate to your module. 

2. Find the submission point and click on it. The submission point should be located in the Module Assessment and Submission section, usually within the assessment or coursework folder.

Alt text: Module Assessment and Submission section, with a Turnitin assignment highlighted in the Assessment 1 folder

3. The Turnitin assignment area will open.

Turnitin submission window

Click on the question mark icon Question Mark Icon , next to the assignment name, for extra information about the assignment (due date, instructions, etc). If a rubric had been allocated to the assignment, you can click on the Rubric Icon Rubric Icon, a grid image under GradeMark rubric, to see how your work is going to be marked. 

Turnitin settings.

How to submit your work

1. When ready, select Upload Submission

Upload and submit button

Add a submission title for your file. Then select the type of submission you want to make:

  • Upload Submission: to upload a file from your computer, click the Choose file to locate and select the file you want to upload.  
  • Text Input: allows you to type your submission directly into the submission (not recommended).
  • Cloud Submission: to upload a file saved in your cloud storage, click on Cloud Submission then the cloud service where your file is stored.  (You may need to enter your username and password to allow access to your cloud storage.)

Please note: In accordance with the anonymous marking policy, the Submission Title must be your student number.

Turnitin submission type options

2. Once you have entered or uploaded your work click upload and review

Turnitin submission window ready to upload

Please ensure that your submission filename does not contain your name.

3. Review the file you are about to submit, if the submission is correct click Submit to Turnitin: If you selected the wrong file, click Cancel Submission, and try again. 

Turnitin submission preview window ready to upload

4. Wait until submission is confirmed.  A message will appear on the screen saying the submission is complete.

Turnitin submission complete window

The window will close automatically, and you can now view details of the submission.

Turnitin submission details window

Further Information on Submitting your Work

How to download your 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.
Turnitin submission download digital receipt button

How to resubmit a 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.

How to view your grade and feedback

Once the Feedback Release date has passed, you will be able to view the feedback. 
Click on your submission document title. This will open the feedback screen. 

Turnitin submitted document link

From the feedback screen (feedback studio), you might have to click on the feedback section, a comment bubble on the right of the feedback, to view your feedback.

Turnitin feedback icon

The feedback would appear in the blue right-hand side section of the feedback window which could include text comments, voice comments and a rubric.
You may also have feedback directly on your submission, which will appear as text inserted or a comment bubble icon (click a bubble comment to view the comment). To view this feedback click on each bubble icon.

Turnitin feedback window

Remember that your grade is provisional and subject to change during the moderation process.  

Further Guidance on Viewing your Feedback

How to view your similarity report

Your tutor may allow you to see the 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. 

If your tutor has allowed you to view the Originality Report for the assignment, 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.

Turnitin similarity report tab

Further Guidance on Viewing your Similarity Report