Submitting Papers through Direct Submit
Direct Submit is a tool provided through Blackboard Vista that can help you detect
sources of potential plagairism in students‟ papers. Any paper may be uploaded to Direct
Submit.
Before DirectSubmit can be used in a section, a Link must be created for the paper to be
uploaded.
Login to Blackboard Vista
Follow these steps to submit papers through Direct Submit.
1. Navigate to http://cms.bc.edu using your web browser
2. Enter your BC credentials to log in
Create a Direct Submit Content Link
Follow these steps to submit papers through Direct Submit.
1. Click the Build tab in the upper-left-hand corner.
2. On your course home page, click on the „Add Content Link‟ tab, then scroll down to
„Direct Submit,‟ and click „Create Direct Submit.‟
3. Assign a Title to the Direct Submit instance
4. Click „Configure.”
Now click on the Teach tab and
1. Click on the down arrow next to the Direct Submit link
2. Select "Hide Item"
This will hide the Direct Submit console from the students in the course.
Submit through Direct Submit
1. From the Teach view, click on the Direct Submit content
Link (this brings you to your Direct Submit dropbox).
2. Click Submit Papers.
3. Check off the option “Submit as draft.” (This is important, as it will prevent papers
from being submitted to a campus-wide database.)
4. Select Upload File and browse for the file.
5. Click Submit.
6. A report will be generated, with an overall score and sources of potential plagairism.
Please note that the amount of time necessary to run the report will vary. Generally 30 minutes to
1 hour is a safe time frame, though reports will often be returned sooner than that.
If you have any questions regarding DirectSubmit, you can contact us at CMS@BC.EDU.
FAQ for Direct Submit
Q: How long will it take for me to receive a score report once I have submitted a file on Direct
Submit?
A: The amount of time may vary, based on the length of the paper, as well as demands on Direct
Submit’s servers. Generally, 30 minutes to 1 hour will suffice.
Q: Do I have to check-off “Submit as Draft” when uploading a document?
A: Yes, “Submit as Draft” prevents the paper from being submitted to a campus-wide database,
but will test the paper against outside sources of plagiarism.
Q: If a student’s paper has a large quotation from a single source, but is properly cited, may I
resubmit the paper without that material?
A: Yes, just click on the checkmark next to the source, then click “Re-process the paper without
the selected sources.”
Q: How can I see a visual representation of what the student might have copied within the
document itself?
A: Click on the magnifying glass next to the source, and the text will be completely highlighted.
Q: I checked a student’s paper on SafeAssign and the report came back with a score of 15%,
though I am sure I have seen the writing before. Why isn’t the score higher?
A: SafeAssign and Direct Submit do not have access to all databases, nor are previous students’
papers used in tracing potential plagiarism. Direct Submit uses documents available publically
on the internet, as well as ProQuest ABI/Inform database in searching for potential sources for
plagiarism. Direct Submit should not be used as the only method for checking papers against
plagiarism, and any questions you might have about plagiarism should be directed to the
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Jen Bader.