In an effort to eliminate cheating on class assignments, UCSD has signed a two-year contract with IParadigms Inc., which runs an Internet-based service designed to stop plagiarism.
Through this service, called turnitin.com, professors can submit student essays, research papers and recitations through a large-scale search engine. These papers are then compared with documents throughout the entire Internet, along with an extensive archive of previously submitted student papers.
The papers are returned with an “”Originality Report,”” which is a duplicate of the submitted student paper with any text copied or paraphrased from the Internet highlighted and color-coded. The professor can then follow links to the original online sources from which the portions of the paper were plagiarized and determine whether it is necessary to take action.
Once implemented by the university, the service may be used by instructors without any charge to their department.
“”I think it’s an excellent tool to ensure that the authenticity of student work is maintained,”” said Nick Aguilar, director of Student Policy and Judicial Affairs. “”The tool sends a message to the students that we value integrity.””
Students and professors at Thurgood Marshall and Eleanor Roosevelt Colleges implemented turnitin.com on a trial basis in the Dimensions Of Culture and Making of the Modern World programs during winter 2001 and spring 2001 quarters.
Most students and instructors were satisfied with the results, and SPJA decided to establish the service throughout the entire university.
However, Benjamin Carson, a DOC non-student instructor, has mixed feelings about the program’s implications.
“”I always get depressed when I use [turnitin.com],”” he said. “”TAs should be aware enough of student development that a sudden change in achievement would be noticeable. Yet sometimes it’s necessary.””
Andrew Mo, a Warren freshman, objects to the process.
“”Plagiarism comes from procrastination and high levels of competition among students. [Turnitin.com] does not solve the root of the problem,”” he said. “”Students need to learn how to manage their time more efficiently.””
The turnitin.com system claims over 15,000 registered users ranging from high school teachers to whole universities. It is employed at other UC campuses as well as high-ranked institutions such as Duke, Cornell and the California Institute of Technology, where it has been in service for years.
Turnitin.com states that its philosophy is not merely to apprehend plagiarizers, but to discourage students from plagiarizing in the first place.
“”The adoption of this service is about more than catching wrongdoers,”” Aguilar said. “”We want students to become aware that academic integrity is important, and we want to ensure that students who may be inclined to plagiarize will make the right decision and not risk their academic careers.””