Setting up a Google Assignment with Plagiarism Detection

To set up a Google Assignment with plagiarism detection, you'll start in Canvas by creating an assignment. Then, link that assignment to Google's tools, wrap things up and Publish from Canvas. 

Start in Canvas

  1. In Canvas, create an assignment as you usually do. (Go to Assignments and click +Assignment). 
  2. Type in the assignment title and description.
  3. Type in the number of points the assignment is worth. Remember this number. You'll need it in a minute, and it cannot be changed later. 
  4. For “Submission Type,” select “External Tool.”
    Submission Type menu with External Tool highlighted   
  5. For the “Enter or find an External Tool URL” section, leave the search field blank, and click the “Find” button.
  6. Select Google Assignments (LTI 1.3). [Do not select either the Google Docs or Google Drive Cloud Assignments. Those are a different sort of thing.]
    Configure External Tool window, showing Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) highlighted  

  7. Canvas will ask you which Google account you want to use. Select your Highline Google account, the one with your Highline email address . If that’s not the one that comes up, click “Switch Account.” Once you have the right account, click the “Continue” button. 
    Screenshot highlighting Highline Google account, Switch Account, and Continue button  
    ( If this is the first time you’re linking to Google Assignments, you may see “Link” instead of "Continue." Click “Link.”)

Configure the Assignment in Google

Once you've linked your Google account, a new web page will open. This is where you configure all the details for the assignment. 

  1. Decide whether to check plagiarism for assignment submissions.
    Create Google Assignment screen, with Check Plagiarism switch turned on and highlighted  
    Flip the slider to the right, and Google will Google the content of your students’ assignments and provide an “originality” report. More on that below. Please be aware that students are limited to originality reports on only 5 assignments per course.   When you turn on the originality report, a pop-up window will let you know how many are left for your class.
  2. Add a file for students to use as a template (if appropriate). Do you have a file with, say, a set of questions that you would you like your students to respond to? Add it, and each of your students will get their own copy of the file. In the example below, each student will receive a copy of the file "OLC Innovate 2021", and can then add their information.
    Create a Google Assignment screen showing a template file included in the assignment  
  3. Add points and Due dates. Make sure the points and the due date match the Canvas assignment this Google Assignment is attached to. That cannot be fixed!  
    Screenshot of Total Points and Due Date options 

  4. Add a rubric (if appropriate). If you have a rubric already built in Canvas, it’s probably easiest to copy/paste from that one into the Google Assignment rubric.
  5. Click the Create Button.
    Create button, highlighted 

Finish up back in Canvas

Once you click Create, you'll be back in Canvas, looking at the Configure External Tool box again. 

  1. On the “Configure External Tool” pop up, click the “Select” button.
    Configure External Tool window, showing Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) highlighted, and the Select button circled. 
  2. Make any necessary adjustments to the Submission Attempts and assignment dates. 
  3. Remember to click “Save” (or “Save & Publish” if you’re ready to publish) on the Canvas assignment page. If you don’t save and publish, it won’t be available to students.   Again, you must publish the Canvas assignment .

What's next?