Monday, April 02, 2007

Commenting on Student Papers

As I am spending a lot of time grading papers of late, I was highly amused by my google quote of the day

I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.
- An English Professor

and this McSweeney's list.

And while I would sometimes like to write things along the lines of "You have managed to coldly and persistently rape the English language for 17 pages. Congratulations" more often than not I end up with more of the "You had some nice details" variety.

1 comment:

Chremdacasi said...

Roomie, I think the harsher comments would probably elicit more of an improvement in future writing (either that or drive your students to hate you and earn you a repuation as a teacher to avoid.) Anyway, I say, branch out and try out some of the items on McSweeney's list. Or come up with some of your own....

Here's a suggestion...

"This drivel you have crafted (and I use crafted so liberally that "slopped down" would probably be more appropriate) is so atrocious as to be repugnant to the degree that regurgitation and perhaps even expiration would be preferable than to have to attempt to enumerate each and every inadquacy contained herein.....

Please try again... :-)"

I think adding the please try again takes some of the edge off of the original comment. Plus, a smiley face makes everyone's day. What do ya think?