FAQ - Answers to Frequently-Asked Questions About Turnitin2

Recent changes are highlighted in yellow.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information below is as accurate as possible as of September 10, 2010 but is
subject to change. For additional information, see
http://www.submit.ac.uk/static_jisc/ac_uk_what_is_new_8.html.

Questions Answers
What is Turnitin2 is a new, enhanced version of WriteCycle. It includes the same
Turnitin2 and features as WriteCycle with a new name and vastly improved usability and
how does it functionality. Customers that currently have only Turnitin Originality
differ from Checking (without GradeMark and PeerMark) will have access to the new
WriteCycle? version of Turnitin2 OriginalityCheck (without GradeMark and PeerMark).
What was the Turnitin2 was launched on September 4, 2010.
launch date?
What languages Turnitin2 is now available in English and Spanish. Other supported
are available? languages (French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Traditional and
Simplified), Malay and Thai) are available in beta form only.

Submissions in non-Roman character-based languages OTHER THAN

Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Malay or Thai will receive text-only Originality
Reports.
Is Turnitin2 be Yes. All users who access Turnitin2 through “framed in" integrations with
available Blackboard, ANGEL, WebCT and Moodle (i.e. Moodle Basic) will
through experience the same changes as all other Turnitin2 users.
integrations?
Users of non-framed-in integrations [such as Desire2Learn, Moodle (i.e.
Moodle Direct) and others] will see the newly formatted Originality Report
and the new, integrated view of GradeMark. We are working with the
providers of such "deep" integrations to support future access to PeerMark.

Users will NOT need to install or change anything to make integrations

work with Turnitin2.
Can institutions A beta version of Turnitin2 was made available to all existing users starting
see a beta on August 23, 2010. The beta will remain available until October 1, 2010.
version? The beta version is ONLY for previewing and testing the new features of
Turnitin2. No previously existing classes or assignments will appear in the
beta. Any changes made in the beta (including any test classes created or
submissions) will NOT be transferred to your regular Turnitin account. All
beta data will be deleted after October 1, 2010. For more information,
contact tiisupport@turnitin.com.
What are the With Turnitin2, the tools and feedback for OriginalityCheck and
major features GradeMark (plus PeerMark, expected in October 2010) are easily accessible
and benefits of in one, integrated environment. All feedback is overlain on a single,
Turnitin2? consistent, fully-formatted view of the student paper at every step in the
process of evaluation and grading. Note that the integration of PeerMark in
Turnitin2 is expected to be completed by the end of October 2010.

Turnitin2 will provide all the tools you need to evaluate students' written
work, all in one place:

• A single, consistent view of the student's paper—with styled text,

graphics, tables intact—all through the feedback process. This consistent
"document viewer" will make feedback easier to understand.

• Streamlined access to tools: everything is “right there,” saving time and

improving productivity.

• Users can simultaneously view superimposed layers of rich feedback

provided by originality checking, by instructors, and by peers, enhancing
insight and understanding.

• To minimize user disruption, users can easily "go back" to pre-Turnitin2

versions of the Originality Report and GradeMark (at least through July 1st,
2011).

• This unified functionality makes Turnitin2 easier to integrate with course

managements systems via our API.
What was the • FULLY-FORMATTED PAPER VIEWS: The "text-only" view of the
rationale for this Originality Report was a technological compromise; now, major
choice of technological improvements have made it possible for OriginalityCheck to
features for show fully-formatted Originality Reports without degrading system
Turnitin2? performance.

• INTEGRATION OF ALL TOOLS: Users don’t want to switch between

applications to accomplish their work because switching disrupts their
workflow and train of thought, impeding productivity. Now all the parts of
Turnitin work together, work alike and are instantly accessible in a common
view.

• OVERLAYS OF FEEDBACK: Seeing feedback from the different tools

separately creates disconnects in understanding how to improve a written
piece. With Turnitin2, simultaneously visible layers of feedback can
provide important context and relevance so feedback is more meaningful
and actionable.

• "GO BACK" OPTION: Some people may need more time to adjust to
these improvements, so we have enabled users to easily "go back" to the
 pre-Turnitin2 versions of the Originality Report and GradeMark. The
buttons to "go back" are in the lower right corner of the document viewer
frame.
What • A screen shot walk-thru will be available at http://www.turnitin.com/
documentation demo_video.asp
is available? • QuickStart Guides are available at http://turnitin.com/static/support/
guides_manuals.html
• Help Center articles are available available at http://turnitin.com/static/
knowledge_base/knowledge_base.html
• Full user manuals are available at http://turnitin.com/static/support/
guides_manuals.html
• A full library of web-delivered user training videos is available at
http://turnitin.com/static/support_video_gallery.html
• A schedule of live walk-thru web sessions is available at
http://turnitin.com/resources/documentation/turnitin/training/
Turnitin_Daily_Training.pdf
What other • A screen shot "walk-thru" video is available to help users learn about the
training material upcoming changes. View Walk-Through Video
is available? • All web-delivered product training videos will be updated for Turnitin2.
• Intercept screens - intercept pages (aka "interstitials") now inform users
about specific changes, how to "go back" to previous versions, and how to
view instructional videos.
• Live walk-thrus are offered given 6x/week. View Walk-Through
Schedule.
What are the Turnitin2 includes OriginalityCheck, which produces an Originality Report
major changes that shows the student's paper with its full formatting—including styled
to Originality text, graphics, tables, charts, photos and other visual elements—exactly like
Checking? the paper that was submitted. The formatted paper will be displayed in a
panel on the left with matches highlighted in different colors, with the list of
matching sources in the right side panel.

In addition, they will be able to:

• Differentiate matches by numbers and different colors. These colors offer

a clean, streamlined look and will allow easier viewing of and
differentiating between matches by customers with mild color-blindness.
Now, there are 12 different colors used for differentiating matches.

• Click any highlighted match in the paper to display "a glimpse" of the text
from the source in a small window next to the matching section of text
(source text will include some surrounding text). This replaces having the
full text displayed in the right side panel in the text-only view. The side-by-
side view showing the full text of matches is still available in the text-only
view (use the button in the lower right corner of the document viewer frame
to navigate to the"text-only" view ) and is expected to be added to the new
document viewer by end of September.
 • "Drill down" on matches to see a list of additional sources that contain the
same matching text. Viewing this list of "overlapped" sources will be much
faster and easier that the current method of going through the sources one-
by-one in the single source mode.

• Make all of the same exclusions that are currently possible (quoted
material, bibliographic material and small matches).

• View superimposed layers of GradeMark comments with

OriginalityCheck results. Layers can be switched on and off with the click
of a button in the toolbar in the top-left side of the screen. The ability to see
PeerMark comments in the document viewer is expected to be added in
October.

• Choose to "go back" to the pre-Turnitin2 "text-only" view at the click of a

link. (The text-only view is what Turnitin users have seen in the past.)

• The ability to print and/or download the fully-formatted Originality Report

is being added. Currently, users choosing "print" or "download" will receive
a "text only" version of the Originality Report.
What is the • Previously, the text-only Originality Report was necessary for system
rationale for performance reasons. Now, technology improvements enable us to show the
these changes to fully-formatted paper without performance degradation. New users,
the Originality especially, expect the paper to look like the original submission
Report? (“WYSIWYG or What You See Is What You Get”); now it does. With
OriginalityCheck, the new fully-formatted Originality Report eliminates
confusion about what happened to formatting, images, tables or figures and
works the way users expect it to work.

• A common concern from customers has been that they grade on

formatting, so the previous lack of formatting created issues for instructors
and students. The lack of formatting in the "text-only" view also makes it
difficult to tell when students have correctly used block quotations. With
Turnitin2, instructors can mark up and grade the paper while seeing the
originality information on a fully-formatted paper with block quotes
displayed just as the student wrote them.

• Instructors wanted more insight into matches that have multiple matching
sources, to help them figure our more accurately what students are using to
write their papers. The new Originality Report shows how many sources are
overlapped and offers a "drill down" feature to navigate through the list of
sources.

• The "text-only" view is still available as an alternate view at the click of a

button in the bottom right corner of the document viewer frame.
What are the GradeMark has been streamlined with a unified set of tools for comments
major changes and mark-ups in the right side panel.
to GradeMark?
With Turnitin2, GradeMark users will be able to:

• Drag and drop QuickMark marks and comments onto the paper from the
side panel.

• Highlight phrases, words and single characters—not just rectangular

blocks of text—and associate the highlighted material with a QuickMark or
comment. Note that users must be directly over a character to start
highlighting; soon, users will be able to just click near a character to start
highlighting. The user experience of highlighting will become much more
fluid and more like a real highlighter on paper.

• View superimposed layers of OriginalityCheck information and PeerMark

comments along with the GradeMark mark-ups. Layers can be switched on
and off with the click of a button.

• Choose to "go back" to the pre-Turnitin2 version of GradeMark at the

click of a link. This access will be maintained through at least July 1st,
2011.

The new design has streamlined, replaced and/or combined some features
such as:
• In-line text commenting has been replaced by the highlighting and
commenting feature.

• The clipboard and the QuickMark palette of symbols have been replaced
by an easy-to-read side panel of labeled comments and QuickMark tools
that all work alike.

• Print, download and statistics functionality for GradeMark in the Turnitin2

document viewer will be added by mid-September. Printing, downloading
and statistics are currently available in the old version of GradeMark.

• The ability to export or import QuickMark sets or rubrics will be added by

the end of October 2010.
What is the • Instructors need to feel really comfortable with online tools to make the
rationale for switch to paperless grading. With Turnitin2, GradeMark’s look and feel
these changes to have been significantly updated to be much more user-friendly, including
GradeMark? the removal of the floating palette of mark-up tools and symbols which
many instructors found confusing and intimidating.

• Instructors wanted precise, powerful highlighting and comments. With

Turnitin2, GradeMark has the ability to highlight text at the individual
character level (previously only available as strictly rectangular shapes), the
 ability to associate a comment with highlighted text, and the ability to attach
additional comments to a QuickMark.

• Instructors wanted to be able to manage their grading content much more

easily. With Turnitin2, comments and GradeMarks will be managed in a
single, unified side panel, instead of in the clipboard and palette.

• Instructors did not want to spend a lot of time learning how to use
GradeMark; they want to become more productive NOW. Turnitin2 makes
the overall GradeMark experience much more smooth and efficient,
allowing instructors to quickly reap the benefit of these time-saving,
powerful tools.
What are the PeerMark was launched in January 2010 and replaced the service known as
major changes Peer Review. All PeerMark features will be fully integrated with Turnitin2
to PeerMark? are expected by the end of October 2010. The previous version of PeerMark
continues to be avaiable from the assignment inbox. With Turnitin2 ,
PeerMark users will:

• Be able to view superimposed layers of PeerMark comments along with

the GradeMark mark-ups and the OriginalityCheck information. Layers can
be switched on and off with the click of a button. (Expected October 2010)

• See the same document viewer frame around PeerMark as for GradeMark
and OriginalityCheck. Assignment set up, the assignment inbox and the
question libraries will remain unchanged. (Expected October 2010)

• Have a set of drag-and-drop tools in the side panel that replaces the palette
of mark-up tools. (Expected October 2010)

• Have a simple, unified side panel for mark-up tools and peer review
questions that is fixed (not movable, flippable or resizable). (Expected
October 2010)

• Use highlighting and associated comments instead of the in-line text

commenting tool. (Expected October 2010)
How have the The QuickMark marks and rubric libraries will be made available through
Libraries the Library tab in instructors' accounts. The PeerMark question and
changed? assignment libraries that currently exist under the Library tab will not be
changed.
Are there Yes - the navigation is consolidated and simplified into easily-accessible
changes to the sets of tabs at the top of the user's screen.
site navigation?
The functions on the left side of the users' screen will be become tabs above
above the main body of the users' screen. As a result, the user's workspace
will be widened.
 The tabs for user info and messages will be consolidated with the links to
the help center, feedback and logout at the very top of the screen.
Are there be Yes - the instructor assignment inbox has been simplified to allow easy
changes to the access to the core Turnitin2 functionality. In October 2010, users will be
Instructor able to view the Overall Similarity Index breakdown from the assignment
inbox? inbox. Until then, users can view the breakdown on a per paper basis in the
Originality Report within the Turnitin2 document viewer.

What is the • The assignment inbox is cleaner, more intuitive and easier to use, with
rationale for clutter removed.
changing the
navigation and • Navigational headers achieve even better use of the space on the screen
the inbox? and the ability to move more easily between the solution’s services and
features.

• Increased ease-of-use allows users to spend less time learning how to use
the program and more time evaluating student work.
What are the Originality Checking-only subscribers will see all of the changes to the site
implications for navigation, the new assignment inbox, and all of the changes that apply to
institutions that the Originality Report.
subscribe to
Originality The Originality Report will show the student's paper with its full
Checking only? formatting—including styled text, graphics, tables, charts, photos and other
visual elements—exactly like the paper that was submitted.

When viewing the Originality Report, these users will see the buttons that
provide access to the GradeMark and PeerMark views, but if they click on
them they will receive a message that those services are unavailable for
their institution. The smaller buttons for switching the GradeMark and
PeerMark feedback layers on and off will be present but non-functional for
Turnitin-only customers.
Does an All accounts have been automatically moved to Turnitin2. Individual users
institution have will have the option to switch to views of the old GradeMark and the text-
to move to only Originality Report, but all navigation, inbox, and library access
Turnitin2 as of changes will be automatic and irreversible. The user's choice of old
the launch date? GradeMark or the text-only Originality Report will persist until they choose
What if they're to switch to the new version. These older versions will remain available
not ready or until at least July 1, 2011.
don't want to?
If institutions do All accounts have been automatically moved to the new service. Individual
not want to users have the option to switch to views of the old GradeMark and
move to Originality Report though at least July 1, 2011. All navigation, inbox, and
Turnitin2 library access changes have been automatic and are irreversible. The user's
immediately, choice of old GradeMark or the text-only Originality Report will persist
how long can until they choose to switch to the new version.
they stay with
the old service
before being
forced to
switch?
Can a parent No. But individuals can choose to use the current views of the Originality
account Report and GradeMark through at least July 1, 2011.
administrator
have some of its
child or
individual
accounts switch
to Turnitin2 but
not others?
Can parts of a No. But individuals can choose to use the current views of the Originality
single account Reports and GradeMark through at least July 1, 2011.
be moved to
Turnitin2 while
others remain in
the current
service?
How much will There will be no additional charge to current WriteCycle customers;
Turnitin2 cost? Turnitin2 is available to them automatically. 2010 pricing of Turnitin2 for
new customers remains the same. Current customers who have a license for
Originality Checking only will have access to the OriginalityCheck features
in Turnitin2 (but not GradeMark or PeerMark).
What will Papers submitted after July 28, 2010 (when we implemented our new
happen to the document imaging method) will be ported automatically into the Turnitin2
work that was framework after September 4, 2010. Any QuickMark and clipboard
done (e.g. comments that had previously been created in GradeMark will be migrated
papers that were into the new format for GradeMark marks. All highlights created in
graded, marks GradeMark will be transferred as-is to the new Turnitin2 environment. In-
that were line comments will be migrated to display as new GradeMark comments
created) in the (blue "speech-bubble" comments).
current version
of the service Papers submitted before July 28, 2010 will only be available through the old
when a user versions of Originality Checking and GradeMark which will launch
moves to automatically when a user opens such a paper.
Turnitin2?
It is not currently known what will happen to these papers and this work
after the older versions of the products are removed (sometime after July 1,
2011) but it is believed that they will either be available in read-only (print)
format or there will be a button to automatically reprocess the paper using
the new method.
Have any Account administrators will see changes to their QuickMark and rubric
administrative libraries which will be updated to match the changes to the GradeMark
functions QuickMark and rubric libraries. This is necessary to allow the Turnitin
change? Administrators to create QuickMark comments and rubrics to share across
their institutions.
 Turnitin Administrators will see the change to the site navigation.
Have any No. The assignment creation screens and the functions and settings
assignment set associated with assignment creation will not change for Turnitin2.
up functions
changed?
Have any other The libraries associated with GradeMark (the marks and rubrics libraries)
ancillary are now accessible from the Libraries tab in instructors' accounts. This
features changed allows instructors to create marks and rubrics without having to wait until a
(gradebook, paper is submitted to an assignment. The PeerMark question library and the
discussion assignment library, will remain and be unchanged.
boards)?
The instructor assignment inbox has been changed to accommodate the new
Turnitin2 document viewer. The inbox has undergone organizational
changes to improve the usability and feel of the inbox.

The student assignment list was slightly modified to accommodate access to

the new document viewer.

The navigation inside users accounts has changed. The tabs that were above
the main body of the users' screen (e.g. the user info and messages tabs)
were moved to the very top of the screen next to the links for the help
center, feedback and logout. The tabs that ran down the left side of the
users' screen have been moved to the area above the main body of the users'
screen (where the previously mentioned tabs were moved from).
Was there a We notified customers of a special maintenance window for Saturday,
maintenance September 4, 2010 from 10:00am to 6:00pm Pacific Daylight Time
window? (GMT-0700). All Turnitin services were UNAVAILABLE during this time.
Will printing of This feature is planned to be included but the specifics of how it will appear
the paper with are unknown at this time.
its layered
information be
possible?
What is the Students will get access to the new Turnitin2 view from within their
impact on the assignment list—the same place they access GradeMark and the Originality
student Report now. Students will see their marks, Originality Reports, and
experience? PeerMark reviews in the new Turnitin2 view. If a student is not allowed to
see one of the services (based on dates or assignment settings) the button to
that service will link to a message explaining why that service isn't available
at that time. Students will also experience the change to the site navigation
and will see a slight change in their assignment list.

Will Turnitin2 Macros will still be stripped from all files submitted to Turnitin. The
be able to detect insertion of white text and images of text is a known issue and we are
cheating currently working to develop a way to flag such papers for further
methods that the investigation by instructors.
current version
does? (e.g.
white text,
macros)
Will new users The link to the old versions (pre-Turnitin2) of the "text-only" Originality
have access to Report and GradeMark will be available to all users. The "classic" view
the "text-only" (with sources on top) of the Originality Report will be accessible only
view of the through this "text only" link. This access will be maintained through at least
Originality July 1, 2011.
Report? Will
new users have
access to the
"pre-Turnitin2"
view of
GradeMark?
Who controls
instructors'
access to these
views?
What if a user They should send an email to Tiisupport@Turnitin.com with any questions
has issues or or reports of problems.
problems?