by Phyllis Benay & Jan Youga

Problems with Commenting:

1. Comments which do not relate to or which contradict the assignment. (For example, a student is asked to write a personal opinion essay and is then criticized for using first person pronouns.)

2. Comments which are too extensive: they are longer then the student's paper, virtually rewrite the student's sentences, or give too much feedback to be helpful.

3. Comments which could be rubber stamped, i.e. awkward.

4. Comments which do not show that you have actually read and tried to understand what the student has said.

Problems with Correcting:

1. Correcting all the student's errors, particularly when these are numerous.

2. Correcting with symbols or expressions which may be meaningless to the student.

3. Explaining grammar rules on the paper.

4. Confusing your personal stylistic preferences with actual errors.

Commenting for Revision (most useful when a revision is recommended or demanded, but can also be used for final papers):

1. Circle grammatical errors, but don't explain what's wrong. The student needs to figure out why it is circled.

2. Use real, authentic responses, i.e. Uh??? I don't get this? I'm lost here. What does this mean?

3. Be very specific about what you do like so students know what does work, i.e. The language in this part is very, very clear. This is a great thesis statement,- it controls the whole paper.

4. If the mechanics are so bad or the structure is so convoluted, stop reading. Place an asterisk where you stopped and tell the student that you couldn't/wouldn't continue until he/she received help from the Writing Center or from you.

5. If you don't want another draft of this paper, then let them know that for their next lab report or essay they must do some work with the Writing Center or you will not accept the paper. Make a list of those students, remind them about your warning a week or two before the next project is due, and hold the line.