REFRAMING TURNITIN: FROM PLAGIARISM DETECTOR TO FORMATIVE TOOL FOR ACADEMIC WRITING AND INTEGRITY

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.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0420/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>