What Your Students Want You to Know about Marking Papers

Working as a writing specialist in the Claude J. Clark Learning Center, SUNY College at Plattsburgh, Mary Dossin heard many comments about the way professors mark papers.   She summarized her findings in an article printed in the October 1992 Composition Chronicle. Here, in brief form, are her conclusions:

• What students appreciate most is the opportunity to rewrite their papers after they have been marked or discussed.
• Students respond well when instructors demonstrate in their comments that they have made a real effort to understand the student's point and message.
• Students want comments they can understand and are irritated by indecipherable handwriting and obscure jargon or abbreviations.
• Students respond well when standards are clear.
• Students are most frustrated by papers that are returned with only a grade.
• Students complain most about professors who make only negative comments on their papers and don't tell them what they have done well. They also need to be told what they have done well so that they can continue doing it.
• Students resent what they perceive as condescension and sarcastic humor.
• Finally, students like to receive their papers back as quickly as possible, certainly before the next writing assignment is due.

from A Brief Guide for Faculty, WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM AT
WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY, 1998-99 edition.