Home Teaching Guides Commenting On Student Writing Strategies For Commenting At The End Of Student Papers

Introduction

Myths and Realties

When Not to Respond

Designing Writing Assignments

Commenting: Margins and End

Margins

Insight from a Colleague

End

Insight from a Colleague

In Brief

Insight from a Colleague

More Suggestions

Questions to Ask

Key Strategies

Being Productive

Insight from a Colleague

Insights into Process

Time-Saving Tips

Commenting on Drafts

Rubrics

Helping Students Learn Editing

Helping Students Learn to Fix Errors

Overview of Rhetorical Context

Discipline Specific Resources

---

Print-Friendly Page
Authors & Contributors

Strategies For Commenting At The End Of Student Papers

• If marginal comments point students to specific issues in their papers, then end comments help students create a big picture of the smaller points of your response to their work.

• Focus your energies here, too. Pick only a few of the key criteria to respond to. Don't try to cover everything.

• Consider the sandwich approach: Start with a strong point, identify places to improve, close with praise.

• Comment on this paper, but look forward to what students can improve in their next assignment.

• Avoid "terminal" end comments that primarily provide a justification for a grade. Offer students one or two formative suggestions for improving their writing.

• Insight from a Colleague