1. For a complete understanding of the university's plagiarism policy please refer to the Dean of Students website. TurnItIn's Peermark tool is available in D2L by request. Please contact the D2L Team to use Peermark.
2. You might be most familiar with Turnitin, which provides a unique content checker and is regarded as one of the best plagiarism checker websites out there.

Turnitin free download - Turnitin, Turnitin Feedback Studio, Plagiarism Checker, and many more programs. Turnitin free download - Turnitin, Turnitin Feedback Studio, Plagiarism Checker, and many.

About WriteCheck Plagiarism Checker

What is WriteCheck?

WriteCheck is an online plagiarism checker that also provides a grammar checker tool by ETS® and a Tutor service by Pearson®. WriteCheck helps students become better writers by identifying grammar errors and unoriginal content in written work. WriteCheck was developed with the guidance and input of instructors who saw the need for a simple service to help students identify and correct writing mistakes in a formative manner.

Who uses WriteCheck?

WriteCheck is a widely used essay checker by students to check their writing before submitting it to a class. Users range from secondary to higher education students, including a large number of students learning English as a second language. Please visit our customer reviews page to learn more about our users' experiences.

What is the difference between WriteCheck and Turnitin?

WriteCheck is designed for students to check for plagiarism and grammar or other writing mistakes while Turnitin is used by instructors to check for originality and quality of writing, facilitate peer review and enable online grading of student’s written work. Both services search the same database content.

The main differences between the two services are two-fold: 1) Turnitin shows the actual source materials of unoriginal content whereas WriteCheck only shows potential unintended plagiarism without matching sources and 2) Turnitin papers are added to the student database of papers; WriteCheck papers are not added to the database.

Why isn't WriteCheck free?

Many free plagiarism checker services end up costing students much more than they think when they find that their essays have been harvested and resold to other students who take credit for their work. We are committed to our customers' privacy and will not redistribute, share or resell papers submitted to the service.

What is WriteCheck's refund policy?

All WriteCheck credits purchased are non-refundable. WriteCheck will not prorate any unused credits for an account.

Grammar Checker

What is the e-rater® technology by ETS®?

WriteCheck has partnered with Educational Testing Service (ETS) to incorporate e-rater as part of the service. The e-rater technology provides students with immediate feedback on grammar with links to the Writer's Handbook so students can learn how to correct and improve their English grammar.

What traits does ETS e-rater technology check?

WriteCheck's grammar checker tool provides feedback on the most common grammar traits, as well as on style, usage, mechanics and spelling.

NOTE: There is a 64,000 character limit for ETS e-rater checking. Papers in excess of this limit are not eligible to receive grammar checking.

How does the e-rater technology by ETS work?

The e-rater engine uses machine learning and natural language processing that has been developed over a decade of research to identify grammar errors in written work. The e-rater engine in WriteCheck is the same technology used for automated scoring in the written sections of the GRE® and TOEFL® standardized tests.

How does the e-rater technology differ from grammar checking in Microsoft® Word?

The e-rater technology feedback is more comprehensive, including additional categories of errors not found in MS Word, and allows for students to investigate and understand writing errors by linking to the Writer's Handbook rather than automatically accepting or rejecting the marks as in Microsoft Word. The e-rater error feedback was designed specifically with student writing in mind.

How do I hide marks?

Users can turn off categories of marks in the right-hand navigation of the application. Alternatively, users can dismiss individual marks by mousing over the marks on the paper.

Plagiarism Checker

What is plagiarism?

The definition of plagiarize according to the Oxford English Dictionary (2011) is:

• 'to take and use as one's own (the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another person);'
• 'to copy (literary work or ideas) improperly or without acknowledgement; (occas.) to pass off as one's own the thoughts or work of (another)'

The definition of plagiarism, commonly misspelled as 'plagerism', according to the Oxford English Dictionary (2011) contains more criminal terms, or as:

• 'literary theft'

What are the different types of plagiarism?

Plagiarism comes in many different forms and is often more complex than people think. Please visit plagiarism.org for a comprehensive view into the different types of plagiarism.

What are the consequences of plagiarism?

The consequences of plagiarism can be personal, professional, ethical, and legal. Read more.

What is a citation?

A citation is when a writer acknowledges that words or ideas came from someone else and gives that source its proper due. To learn more about citation, please visit plagiarism.org.

How do I avoid plagiarism?

There are four main ways to avoid plagiarism which we detail in a series of blog posts:

How does WriteCheck check for plagiarism?

WriteCheck uses pattern recognition to match the contents of submitted essays against a massive repository of digital content. This technique is different than the text searches of popular search engines such as Google and Bing and produces fewer false positives than search technology designed for other purposes.

What content is searched to identify matching text?

WriteCheck searches and compares papers against a database of 60+ billion current and archived web pages, 600+ million student papers and 155+ million periodicals and scholarly publications.

Are essays added to the Turnitin database?

No, files submitted to WriteCheck are not added to the Turnitin student database, or any other database.

What does the percentage mean?

The 'Similarity Score' shows how much of your paper matches content in the Turnitin database. There is no firm line between a 'good' or 'bad' score. The score is meant to be used as a guide rather than a judge of the paper. For example, a 500-word poem could have a Similarity Score of 1% but could contain the famous phrase 'to be or not to be, that is the question'. Obviously, the poem would contain plagiarism but would deliver a very low Similarity Score.

Can I use WriteCheck for my essay writing business?

No. Commercial use of WriteCheck is not allowed by our Terms and Conditions. WriteCheck is intended for students who want to check their own work. It is prohibited to use WriteCheck for ghostwriting or other services that sell essays, papers, homework writing or other written work. Using WriteCheck for profit of business services like these will result in the deactivation of your account without refund. WriteCheck, in its sole discretion, may determine whether an account is commercial use.

Professional Tutoring

How does Pearson Tutor Services work in WriteCheck?

WriteCheck offers two tutoring credit types, the Standard Critique and the Extended Critique. The Standard Critiques provide feedback on papers up to 2,500 words (or up to approximately 10 pages). The Extended Critique provides feedback on papers up to 5,000 words (or up to approximately 20 pages). When you make a submission for tutoring, you can provide the tutor with the assignment description along with any additional instructions for the tutor. Upon submission of a tutoring credit, WriteCheck passes the paper to Pearson Tutor Services (PTS), who assigns it to a professional PTS tutor who will review it and provide personalized feedback.

How long will I have to wait until my critique is ready?

Completed critiques will typically be ready for you to download within 12 hours, and no longer than 24 hours, after you submit your paper for review. (Please note exceptions for national holidays.)

How many times can I submit a tutoring credit for feedback?

A tutoring credit can only be submitted once for tutor feedback. Any resubmission of a tutoring credit will only generate a new Originality Report. Tutoring credits allow 3 resubmissions for Originality Reports.

What is the difference between a Standard Critique and an Extended Critique?

A Standard Critique addresses a paper that is up to 2,500 words (or up to approximately 10 pages). In it, a tutor addresses 3 areas of concern, provides a step-by-step plan for revision, and embeds 3-5 comments within the text of the essay. An Extended Critique addresses a paper that is up to 5,000 words (or up to approximately 20 pages). In it, a tutor addresses 4 areas of concern, provides a step-by-step plan for revision, and embeds 3-5 comments within the text of the essay. A paper of any genre can be submitted for either type of critique, provided it fits within the word count guidelines.

Can I expect a critique to improve my writing grade?

The service helps you understand your strengths as a writer as well as some areas you can work on to make your writing better. Revision based on qualified feedback and ongoing writing practice are essential to improving your writing skills. However, due to the number of factors involved, our service makes no guarantees about improvement in students’ grades.

What feedback will a tutor provide on my paper?

Feedback is provided within a special writing Response Form, attached to the top of your submitted essay. The Response Form offers suggestions for revising specific areas of concern, points out what is working well in the paper, and, at the bottom, supplies a step-by-step review list of items to address in revising the paper. Feedback is also embedded within the text of essay, exemplifying issues raised in the Response Form and demonstrating a typical reading audience’s response to the writing.

What is an ‘area of concern’?

‘Area of concern’ refers to the elements of a well-written essay. Tutors will comment on three of the following areas of interest: Main Idea/Thesis, Content Development, Organization, Introduction/Conclusion, Use of Resources, Transitions, Word Choice, Sentence Structure, and Grammar & Mechanics. Your tutor’s feedback in the areas of concern is the centerpiece of the review.

At the end of the response form, you’ll find a set of steps that walks you through a summary of the revisions recommended in the area of interest feedback.

Can I tell a tutor to look at specific areas of my paper?

Yes. You can make requests and provide any special instructions for tutors before you submit your paper. Use the “Assignment Description/Tutor Instructions” text field on the tutoring submission page. If you have a long paper, for example, this is a great place to let tutors know which section of the paper you’d like them to focus on. If your instructor has said you need to work on organizing your paper or eliminating run-on sentences, for example, this is also the place to tell your tutor. Don’t hesitate to share with your tutor any thoughts and concerns you have about the paper you are submitting.”

What are the qualifications of the tutors who provide feedback on my paper?

Pearson tutors have advanced degrees in composition and rhetoric, literature, creative writing, and other relevant fields within the humanities. PTS tutors go through an intensive training process in which they learn the best practices for online writing instruction.

How do I submit a paper for tutoring?

If a tutoring credit has been purchased for an account, the submission page will display a tutoring submission option. Click on the tutoring submission option in order to upload a paper for tutoring. There are only 4 file formats that are accepted for tutoring: DOC, DOCX, TXT, and RTF.

Do tutoring credit paper submissions generate Originality Reports?

Yes. When tutoring credits are used for a paper submission, the paper is sent to Pearson Tutor Services to be reviewed by a tutor and WriteCheck will also generate an Originality Report simultaneously upon submission.

What are the national holidays for Pearson Tutoring?

During the following holidays, please allow for exceptions to the standard 24 hour turnaround time for tutored papers.

• Thanksgiving: November 21 (6PM ET) - November 24 (9AM ET)
• Winter: December 22 (6 PM ET) - January 2 (9 AM ET)
• Other National Holidays

Using WriteCheck

How do I get started?

You need to purchase credits in order to check a paper with WriteCheck. At the top left of the screen, you will see how many credits you have. If you have no credits, click 'Purchase Credits.' Once you have credits, to begin submitting a paper, click the 'Submit Document' button at the top left of the screen.

What operating systems and browsers are supported by WriteCheck?

• Microsoft® Windows® Vista Service pack 1, Windows® 7, Mac OS X v10.4.11+
• 3GB of RAM or more
• 1,024x768 display or higher
• Broadband internet connection
• Firefox 15+, Chrome 23+, Safari 5+, Internet Explorer 8 or 9
• Javascript enabled

How large can my document be? How many pages or words?

A single paper can be up to 5000 words—approximately 10 single spaced pages or 16-17 double spaced pages. If your paper is longer than that, it will be considered 2 or more papers, depending on the total number of pages. For each 5000 words, you need to purchase an additional paper credit. Submitted documents cannot be greater than 20MB.

How do I submit a paper?

To submit a paper, click the 'Browse' button and select the document you want to submit. Then click the 'Submit Document' button. If you prefer submitting text directly instead of submitting a file, click the 'Copy & Paste Text' link.

How many times can I submit a paper?

You can submit your paper once and then submit a revision of that paper three times. If your revised paper is substantially longer than the first submission, WriteCheck will not consider it a revision of the original paper and ask you if you would like to submit the revision as a new paper.

How many times can I resubmit a paper?

Each paper submitted to WriteCheck can be resubmitted 3 times. Resubmissions must be at least 70% similar to the original document. Resubmissions cannot be more than 150% the length of the original document.

Why did the submission fail?

There are a couple reasons why a submission may have failed. Password protected files cannot be processed by our system. Files larger than 20MB cannot be processed by our system. If your paper is larger than 20MB it may be because of large images contained in the file. To submit the text of a large file containing images use the cut and paste submission method in WriteCheck. The system cannot process image based pdfs.

How do I submit another paper?

To submit another paper, you need paper credits. At the top left of the screen, you will see how many credits you have. If you have no credits, click 'Purchase Credits.' Once you have credits, to submit another paper, click the 'Submit Document' button at the top left of the screen.

WriteCheck Results

How long will I have to wait until my results are ready?

Most WriteCheck reports are available in under one minute. At peak times the reports can take a little longer, usually between five to ten minutes.

How will I know if my results are ready?

When you submit a paper to WriteCheck you will see a status that says 'generating' in the Report column next to the title of your paper. When your results are ready, you will see 'view results' in the status column next to the title of your paper. When you click on the 'view results' link the report will open and the e-rater feedback usually takes less than half a minute to load onto the paper.

How do I see my results?

To see your results, click 'view results' in the Report column next to the title of your paper.

What does the highlighted text mean?

The yellow highlighted text shows content that matches text in the Turnitin database. The purple text shows grammar feedback marks from the WriteCheck grammar checking tool.

What does it mean to exclude quotes and bibliography?

By checking the exclude quotes and bibliography, WriteCheck will only show matched text that is not block-indented or surrounded by quotation marks.

e-rater is a registered trademark of ETS.
Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

TurnItIn does two main things for writing assignments:

1. When a student submits a file to D2L's Assignment tool (formerly D2L's Dropbox) an originality score is generated. This score indicates what percentage of the student's writing is similar to writing that already exists in the world.
2. An instructor can provide feedback using TurnItIn's new Feedback Studio. It is similar to D2L's feedback features, but with the added bonus of being able to comment directly on the student's paper.

The similarity score is not proof of plagiarism. It is only saying someone else has written a similar sentence. For a complete understanding of the university's plagiarism policy please refer to the Dean of Students website.

TurnItIn's Peermark tool is available in D2L by request. Please contact the D2L Team to use Peermark. (Note: This can be a difficult tool to use and its effectiveness is under review by OIA.)

Self-help materials are available on the D2L Help Pages, but the easiest way to learn D2L is to visit the team during open lab times or schedule a 1:1 meeting. They are happy to come to your office or meet you online if you are remote!

Teaching good citations (University of Arizona Library).

Why Google can sometimes be better than TurnItIn if you suspect cheating.