Sitting down to grade pieces of writing can be daunting. Here’s five ways to ensure you’re not left scrambling:
- Familiarize yourself. Go over the parameters of the assignment and the rubric before beginning (with the instructor and fellow TAs is ideal), so you gain clarity right away. Knowing the instructor’s expectations of an assignment is key to good grading practice.
- Avoid Agony. Find an efficient method that works for you: establish a working session i.e. Pomodoro Method; schedule your grading (batches of 10 assignments a day for 5 days); keep a grading notebook; use small cue cards to keep the length of your comments reasonable.
- Find the sweet spot. If you’re new to grading, or even to a particular genre, read through a stack of assignments before even starting to assess the work. Having a sense of the quality of the work before grading saves you having to go back and adjust later.
- Switch it up. Changing location mid-way through a batch of assignments or organize a mark-a-thon with fellow TAs. Take breaks!
- Prioritize your creative work. If you have a story due in your own workshop the same week as grades need to be in, get an hour in on your own writing before you even sit down to grade.