Using an extension in Google Docs, help your students get formative feedback and guidance on their writing assignments including checking for similarities (plagiarism), improving citations, and correcting grammar.
On This Page:
What is Turnitin Draft Coach?
How do I install it?
How do I use it?
Logging in
Similarity Check: check for plagiarism
Citation Check: check for missing references and citations
Grammar Guide: highlight any grammar mistakes and provide guidance for correction
What is Turnitin Draft Coach?
The Turnitin Draft Coach is an add on for Google Docs that highlights grammar mistakes and provides explanations to help students edit and deepen their understanding. For students, Draft Coach encourages learning by providing formative guidance on how to address errors and improve writing before final submission. Faculty can see fewer grammar, citation, and academic integrity issues since students address them earlier in the writing process with Draft Coach.
“Students learn twice as fast when they receive constructive feedback (specific comments on errors, suggestions to the students about how to improve, and at least one positive remark) than their peers who simply receive a score on their math homework.” ------- Dylan Wiliam, Embedded Formative Assessment
Advantages to students using Turnitin Draft Coach:
- Gives feedback earlier in the writing process can help students learn about idea attribution, citations and grammar
- Provides formative guidance during the writing process leading to the summative assessments
- Offers feedback loops so students can practice and learn
- Can identify opportunities for improvement and provide specific coaching related to the students' unique work level
- Encourages more confident writers
How to Install Turnitin Draft Coach
There's nothing to install!
Turnitin Draft Coach is an extension for Google docs as long as you're logged in with your Union College credentials.
How to Use the Draft Coach
Logging in
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Login with your college credentials and open your Google doc. You can get to the G Suite Drive on your MyApps page.
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In the menu bar, click on [Extensions], select [Turnitin Draft Coach], and then select [Turnitin Draft Coach] again, and you'll see Turnitin Draft Coach open in a right sidebar.
- If this is your first time using Turnitin Draft Coach, you will need to check that you've read the agreement. Click in the box to check to say that you agree, and click on the big blue [Continue to Draft Coach] button.
Note: You will only need to do this once.
Now you'll see you'll see Turnitin Draft Coach in your right sidebar.
- Select the Similarity, Citation or Grammar tab across the top, OR click on the links for Similarities, Citations, or Grammar check.
A Similarities Check will check to see if there are instances in your text that are similar to or match against sources in Turitin's database. That text will be flagged, and you'll see links to where Turnitiin found that text. See below for more.
NOTE: You have a total of three reports that you can run for your draft. If your similarity score is higher than you would like, take a look at the highlighted matches and see where you can improve, and then run your report again when you are finished revising your first draft.
A Citations Check will check for any missing references and citations. It does not check for incorrect formatting. See below for more.
Draft Coach Grammar Guide will highlight any grammar mistakes and provide an explanation to help students deepen their understanding and edit their text. See below for more.
Similarity Check
A Similarities Check will check to see if there are instances in your text that are similar to or match against sources in Turitin's database. That text will be flagged, and you'll see links to where Turnitiin found that text. Note that you can only run 3 reports on your document.
- Click the Similarities tab in your Turnitin window, and then click on the dark green [Run Similarities Check] button.
- Wait for the process to complete.
- Once processing is complete, you'll see your page with suspicious text highlighted, and a list of where those instances were found.
- You can click on the links to see exactly where those instances occur.
- Now you know where the issues are. Click on the Link to find out "What should I do with my score?".
- Click on any one of the tiles for suggestions on how to resolve your issues.
- At any time, you can click on the blue [Back to Similarities Check] button to see other instances in this report.
NOTE: You can only run 3 reports on the same document.
Citation Check
A Citations Check will check for any missing references and citations and you can run a check as many times as you like. It does not check for incorrect formatting, just missing information.
- From the home screen of Turnitin Draft Coach, select the [Citations] tab and then click on the dark green [Run New Citations Check] button. Coach window.
- Wait until it's done processing, and you'll see screen with your report with instances of missing citations or references.
- Click on the blue link to find out "What should I do with this report?".
- Click on any one of the tiles for guidance on how to correct your issues.
Note: You can run as many Citation Checks as you want.
Grammar Guide
The Draft Coach Grammar Guide will highlight any grammar mistakes and provide an explanation to help you to understanding the issues, and edit your text.
- From the home screen of Turnitin Draft Coach, select the [Grammar] tab, and then click on the dark green [Run Grammar Check] button
Wait for the scan to process, and then you'll see your Grammar Guide report.
- You can click on the link to see "What should I do with these results?".
- You can click on any of the tiles, in this illustration it's a fragment and and extra space, to see suggestions on how to resolve the issue and why.
Note: You can run as many Grammar Checks as you want.
If you are having difficulty or you have unanswered questions,
please contact the Help Desk through the ITS Service Catalog or call (518) 388-6400.