A software tool like Turnitin and other plagiarisms detection tools  can help you with screening a research paper, but a number doesn't tell you if it is plagiarized. Plagiarism detection tools look for similarities with already existing content that may be present on sites, journals, and other students' submissions.. A plagiarism match may also be from a quotation, an academic  reference entry, a phrase everyone uses, a template for an assignment, or writing that has too close a source. The report is a reminder to look carefully at the matched passages and ensure your use of sources is appropriately documented.

The share percentage shows how much of the text that the checker has flagged is similar to other sources usually online. This number does not indicate whether those sources are appropriately quoted, cited, or relevant to your argument.. A high score generally  mean that quotes and bibliographic entries are correctly formatted.  A low score does not generally  always signify that you have not acknowledged others' borrowed ideas. For this reason it is generally important to look at the matches rather than estimate the percentage of the work..

No single similarity score is universally auto-acceptable for every paper. Outcomes vary by assignment, the database accessible to the checker, the report configurations, and instructor/institution expectations.. A literature review, like any paragraph, may have a greater number of source-specific words compared to a personal response and a bibliography can return hits that are not included in the discussion of the paper. Follow your instructions for the class and don't try for a particular number.

To scan a report, access it via the assignment platform or another method provided by your school in Nigeria. The procedure differs based on the institution in Nigeria, and students might not have the ability to generate reports on their own. Begin by reading the entire paper, then examine each highlighted passage plus its corresponding source.. Compare the two documents word for word. Ask yourself whether the excerpt is a direct quote, a paraphrase with a citation, a conventional or common phrase, or some language that is unnecessarily close to the original text or document. Check the reference page and the report: the plagiarism software will identify matching phrases, but it cannot determine if your source information is accurate or if you are using it per course policy..

Some reports include options to exclude quotations or bibliographies from the displayed score. These settings can affect the percentage, so scores from reports configured differently may not be directly comparable. Excluding material from a report does not mean that it can be left uncited or that it no longer needs to follow your institution’s rules. If the report’s settings are unclear, ask your instructor how to interpret it.

If there's a quote in the passage, don't try to eliminate the match by replacing words at random. Instead, determine what function the passage fulfills in your assignment. If it quotes a source word for word, retain it only if the quotation serves your purpose and is also permissible. Set off the quoted words with quotation marks or the proper block-quote indentation style, cite it, include a page number or other locator if your style calls for one, and then state why the quote is important. A quote should reinforce your argument, not substitute for it.

If you meant to paraphrase, you should check whether you have long learned the idea in your own words and sentence structure. The replacement of just a word in the source text by a synonym is not an effective paraphrase.. A paraphrase that was edited can still be quite close to the original text, and that means might indicate that you really haven't understood the point properly. Paraphrasing should retain the sense of the original source and say it in an innovative or creative way that is appropriate for your contribution. It also needs a reference because even though you have reworded it, it is someone else's idea..

An easy method to paraphrase is to read the passage until you get the best argument, qualification, or limitation of the author, without looking at the source. Set the source aside, and write a short sentence summarizing the important points in your own text . Rewrite your sentence based on your own understanding rather than lifting  the original and editing as you go. Then, after completing this step, go back to the source and compare it to your own unique version. You should not have changed the meaning, omitted a condition, or kept a phrase that was unique to the source and needs to be importantly  quoted. Record the source, then restate what it shows and why it is important..

Some flagged words may be general language, the technical jargon, or words that are found in other online academic sources. It's generally important to understand that a short match does not necessarily mean an academic integrity violation. Read what surrounds the text and ask yourself if the phrase is unique, if it states an idea borrowed from another source, and if a citation is required. If you copy text from a course prompt or mandated format, ignore the instructions and do not remove this information just to alter the score of the checker.

When you carrying out your research, take careful notes so you remember where the ideas and information came from. Keep track of page numbers or other distinguishing information from quotations and clearly mark anything you have copied this essential when dealing with Nigerian supervisors. This helpful method assist  you to separate the information you find from your own ideas when writing, and helps avoid unintentional copying if you revisit that source. Follow your course's style guide and make sure each in-text citation has an entry in the reference list if that style guide recommends one..

Generally do not provide multiple checker percentages as 'proof' that a paper is acceptable. Different checkers search different repositories of material, and use different procedures to compare a document. One plagiarism check showing no problems does not mean that another system will not.. Furthermore, erasing your references, adding filler words, or using software to make a copied phrase look different will not fix the problem. It is not about a percentage, but about correct attribution and clear writing. Before submitting your research work, read through the study once without reading the score. Make sure readers can distinguish between your ideas and sources', quotations are clearly marked, and paraphrased material is appropriately referenced..

Finally, go through  all the quoted sections within their context and edit to make sure they are accurate and clear. If you are unsure if they are or are not similar enough, check with your supervisor  or center. It is good to have a transparent paper that builds in the evidence into your reasoning, than a paper that simply has an arbitrary similarity score.