National daily Manila Bulletin featured The Lewis College on the front of their Schools, Colleges and Universities Bulletin section (E1), To see the online version of this article, click here (this opens a new window/tab).
Automating Assignment Evaluation: A Deep Dive into the World of Classroom Monitoring
College Writing: Stay Original, Stay Honest
College writing isn’t just about submitting assignments for a grade—it’s an essential way to practice expressing your ideas, supporting your arguments, and developing an academic identity. Originality helps build:
Credibility: Professors trust your thinking when they see it. Confidence: Expressing yourself in your own words strengthens communication skills. Long-term skills: Original writing habits benefit future job applications, business proposals, and community engagement.
In short, writing matters—and writing honestly matters even more.
Why Turnitin Checker Isn’t Always Ideal
Turnitin is widely used across academic institutions to detect unoriginal content. But it isn’t always available or suitable for all students, particularly in rural or private colleges.
Here's why: No personal access: You can’t use Turnitin unless your institution has an active license. Individual students can’t create accounts.
Not designed for flexibility: If you're revising a draft multiple times, you can't easily check your progress unless a teacher resubmits it.
Focused on traditional essays: It’s more useful for structured academic writing than for reflections, resumes, or creative projects.
Limited feedback: It shows what matches, but not how to fix it.
Expensive for institutions: Smaller colleges often prioritize funding for internet, labs, or textbooks instead of costly software licenses.
These factors can leave many students—especially in underserved areas—without a trusted way to review their work before submission.
What Students Can Use Instead
For students writing independently or studying in schools without institutional tools, there are reliable options. One strong alternative is PlagiarismSearch, which offers:
Web-based access
No school account needed
Quick, transparent results
Affordable pricing (including free checks with limitations)
Support for various formats: Word, PDF, text, Google Docs
Unlike Turnitin, it empowers students directly to check and improve their work before anyone else sees it.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Unintentional plagiarism is more common than students think. These missteps can happen even with good intentions:
Copying phrasing from sources without quoting or paraphrasing well
Using AI tools to reword content without understanding it
Sharing ideas with peers and ending up with very similar text
Mixing cited and uncited information
Forgetting to cite group contributions
Remember: plagiarism isn’t just copying from Wikipedia. It includes any content that lacks proper attribution, even if paraphrased.
How to Practice Authentic Writing
Here are practical strategies to build strong writing habits:
1. Start with Your Thinking
Before researching, take time to brainstorm your opinions and arguments. This centers your voice and helps you avoid copying.
2. Use Sources to Support, Not Substitute
Research should enhance your message, not become the message. Use outside information for context, evidence, or contrast.
3. Revise in Rounds
Don’t rush. After writing, step away, then return to revise. This helps spot areas where you might sound too much like your source, or not enough like yourself.
4. Read Aloud
If a sentence doesn’t sound like how you’d naturally speak or explain, it might need revision.
5. Run a Check Before Submitting
Even if you’re confident, consider using a plagiarism checker like PlagiarismSearch. It’s one last way to protect your work.
Real-World Value: Why It Matters Beyond Class
Many students believe that plagiarism rules only apply to academic writing. But originality is essential in:
Job applications: Employers want resumes and cover letters that show personal experience, not copied phrases.
Grant writing and proposals: Reused text can lead to disqualification.
Community work: Whether you’re organizing events, writing blogs, or presenting, your message needs to be yours.
Being known for honest writing builds trust, not only with teachers but with future collaborators, partners, and audiences.
What Instructors and Schools Can Do
Colleges should help students understand originality, not just police it. Helpful steps include:
Introducing accessible tools (not just Turnitin)
Offering mini-lessons on paraphrasing and source use
Encouraging early drafts and revisions
Focusing on the process as much as the final product
If students feel supported and informed, they’re more likely to value their voice and less likely to copy someone else’s.
Write With Integrity
Whether you're enrolled in a big university or a rural community college, the expectations are the same: write honestly, write clearly, and write with care. But the tools students need to meet those expectations must be accessible.
If Turnitin Checker isn’t available, it doesn’t mean your writing has to suffer. Alternatives like PlagiarismSearch allow students to verify their work, learn from feedback, and protect their academic reputation.
Because at the end of the day, your writing is your voice, and your voice deserves to be heard.
National daily Manila Bulletin featured The Lewis College on the front of their Schools, Colleges and Universities Bulletin section (E1), To see the online version of this article, click here (this opens a new window/tab).
