Are you thinking about using SafeAssign to check for plagiarism but are worried that your classmate’s paper will be flagged as a match? Don’t worry – there are ways to avoid this. When you are tasked with writing a research paper, one of the most important things you can do is use some type of plagiarism detection software to ensure that your work is original. You may be wondering if it is safe to use SafeAssign to match another student’s paper. The answer is yes – as long as you are using the latest version of the software. SafeAssign has been enhanced in recent years to provide even more accurate results. So, don’t worry – using SafeAssign is a safe and reliable way to ensure that your work is original.

Why Your SafeAssign Report Matches Another Student’s Paper

There are various reasons why your SafeAssign report matches your fellow student’s work, and below, we’ve mentioned a few:

     1. Using the Same Version of the Paper as Another Student

First, make sure that you are using a different version of the paper than your classmate is. Also, be sure to choose different matching options in SafeAssign. For example, you can choose only to match text or match both text and ideas.

Let’s say two students are working on the same paper. One student decides to finish it early, so they upload their paper version to SafeAssign. They don’t know that the other student has uploaded a different version of their paper, so SafeAssign will mark it as a match when you upload yours.

     2. Only Matching Text

If you only match the text in a paper, any paragraph with identical wording will make your SafeAssign report show a match. This puts you at risk.

     3. Copying another student’s paper

You may have decided to copy your classmate’s work. Not only is this dishonest, but this will also put you at risk of getting caught by SafeAssign. If you and your classmate use the same version of the paper, and you both select “only matching text,” your SafeAssign report will show an identical match.

     4. Using the Same Sources

Let’s say your teacher requires you to use sources in your paper. You find the source that looks best for your argument, but so does another student. Now, you and your classmate have both copied and pasted the exact words from your source into your papers. This is plagiarism and will get both of you into trouble.

     5. Not Putting Your Name on Another Student’s Paper

This is just rude. If your teacher suspects that you have copied your classmate’s work, they are likely to check their SafeAssign report too. Even if you change the wording in your paper to avoid all the matching text, you will still be caught because your teacher can quickly tell that this is not your work.

     6. Using Another Student’s Paper as a Draft

This may seem like a good idea, but if your SafeAssign report matches another student’s paper, you will both be in trouble. Your teacher is likely to check the other student’s paper too, so you’ll both get caught.

How to Handle your Paper Matching Another Student’s Paper

Here are steps to follow once you get your SafeAssign report back:

Go over the matching text carefully and try to determine how it got there

If the matching text is due to an error you made, such as not putting your name on another student’s paper or using another student’s paper as a draft, explain what happened and take responsibility.

If the matching text is due to another student’s misconduct, try talking with them to see if you can work out a solution. If none of these steps works, explain the situation to your teacher.

How to Prevent Plagiarism and Paper Matching Another Student’s Paper

There are several ways  to prevent your paper from matching another student’s work:

1. Never use the same version of the paper as another student (include the link to “Using the same version of the paper as another student”)
2. Choose “only matching text” or “matching both text and ideas” when matching your paper to another, as SafeAssign options will vary based on the level of plagiarism detection needed.
3. Similar to “Using another student’s paper as a draft.”
4. Use your own words when paraphrasing or quoting the passages of any source.
5. Mention the source in your paper if it is a paraphrase or quote, and give credit to them for their words.
6. Refer to the link included in the paragraph below.
7. Use a plagiarism detection program such as SafeAssign, Turnitin, Grammarly to check your paper before submitting it.
8. Use the SmartLook feature of SafeAssign to let someone else proofread your paper. If you follow these steps, there is a much lower chance that your paper will match another student’s work.

Why Does SafeAssign Highlight My References?

The references in your paper (i.e., quotations, paraphrases, and summaries) are highlighted because the SafeAssign program checks that you are giving credit to your sources when using their words or ideas. This is something that all students should be doing, whether they are writing a research paper or a literature review.

When your paper matches another student’s work, you can click the “View Details” link in your SafeAssign report to see the quotations, paraphrases, and summaries highlighted. In this window, you can find out where the matching text is and how it got there.

When another student commits plagiarism, they’re not only cheating you; they’re cheating themselves. So, it is not worth the risk to plagiarize another person’s work. Just be sure to take the precautions listed above to avoid plagiarizing in the first place.

How To Use SafeAssign in your Classes

SafeAssign provides several resources for instructors in their classes, such as plagiarism detection and feedback on student papers. Instructors can monitor how students are doing in their classes by reviewing their SafeAssign reports to see how often papers are being submitted, which categories require the most attention, and which students submit the unique work. They can then use the information to adjust their teaching accordingly.

SafeAssign also provides instructors with feedback on student papers. Instructors can choose to receive an email notification any time a paper is submitted containing selected categories of concern, including “only matching text,” “matching both text and ideas,” or “duplicate content.”

Conclusion

The plagiarism checker SafeAssign is a great way to ensure that your students submit original work. Using the SafeAssign matching tool, you can compare student papers against a database of already-published works to ensure that no one is copying content without giving credit where it is due. This process can be completed quickly and easily, and it’s a great way to maintain academic integrity in your classroom. Have you tried using the SafeAssign matching tool in your classes? What tips do you have for making the most of this helpful resource?