Myth

Commenting on student papers does take time, but it doesn't need to take hours. Start by thinking about how much time you have. If you could spend only 15 minutes on each paper, what would be the most important features to respond to? How the paper is organized? How much detail the writer includes? Whether the writer supports a clear argumentative claim? Design the assignment to focus on what you want to spend your time on. Tell students exactly what you'll be looking for. Then comment only on those elements.

If you have only five minutes per paper, think about a shorter final product and a rubric. Even generic responses with a bit of individualized feedback can help students grow as writers.