PlagScan
PlagScan is a tool that makes it easier to check for plagiarism by checking the similarity of a document with other sources. Texts can be uploaded and text passages that are found in other sources in the same or very similar wording are highlighted so that plagiarism can be recognised more quickly. In order to use PlagScan, the deletion intervals must first be adapted - please refer to the handout.
- Upload texts as Word or PDF documents
- Comparison of the text with various sources (websites, submitted work, etc.)
- Source basis for comparison can be configured individually
- Recognition of (almost) verbatim reproductions from other sources
- Colour highlighting of text passages with potentially problematic matches
- Quick navigation between affected text passages
- Highlighting of problematic text passages on a timeline
- Listing of sources that show with matches with the text
- Mapping of the sources to the marked text passages by colour highlighting
- Direct comparison between text and source through side-by-side view (if source is available online)
- Indication of the level of similarity with other sources in per cent
The teaching service has summarised all the important information in this handout. From logging in and uploading the texts to be checked to possible pitfalls, you will find a compact overview of working with PlagScan here.
We also deal with frequently asked questions in our FAQ on plagiarism checking (in German).
PlagScan provides a quick and efficient way to find possible literal borrowings in a text. The software looks for matches between the analysed text and other sources and highlights them so that you can quickly switch between the potentially problematic passages. It is often even possible to display the checked text and the matching source side by side for direct comparison. PlagScan also gives an overall percentage score that is useful for orientation. PlagScan is therefore a useful tool that can greatly speed up (but not replace) manual checking.
Please note that PlagScan cannot judge whether a passage is actually plagiarised. A check with PlagScan does not replace an assessment by a teacher. Please read our handout on the limitations of the tool and possible pitfalls when using it.