Reframing Turnitin: From Plagiarism Detector to Formative Tool for Academic Writing and Integrity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Turnitin has historically been perceived by students as a punitive mechanism for detecting plagiarism rather than as a pedagogical tool to support academic writing development. This paper explores how Turnitin can be reframed and repositioned as a formative tool that enhances student engagement with referencing, paraphrasing, and academic integrity. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies, this article critically examines how students’ relationships with similarity reports can shift through guided support, dialogic feedback, and academic literacy frameworks. The study offers a synthesis of evidence supporting the formative use of Turnitin, arguing for a pedagogical rather than disciplinary integration of the tool, and recommends inclusive, proactive educational strategies that foster academic confidence and reduce misconduct referrals. Article visualizations:
Author: Chelle Oldham
Institutions: The Open University, University of Glasgow
Language: English
Subfield: Safety Research
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413855115