I'm with you today: I have 25 papers to grade before tomorrow's class. Yuck.
I try not to get myself in this position by grading 5 papers each day after students turn them in, but sometimes I just can't find the time or bring myself to get started. Then my system's blown and I have to spend an entire day grading. It makes me very cranky!
I have to do them in sets, not 5 each day. My watch goes off every 12 minutes to maybe keep me on track.
You're kidding. Absolutely no capitalization? Not even the student's name?
I've only managed to grade 3 papers today, so you're already well ahead of me!
Well, at least there's some comfort knowing others are in the same boat today...
JM: no capitalization at all, not his name, not the author's name, nothing. It read like a long text message or something.
The no captialization one? That's fast to grade. I write REWRITE on the top and give it back.
Unless it's e. e. cummings, of course.
Does using a timer really help?
the timer helps me. I don't stop in the middle of a paper when it goes off, but it keeps me focused for an hour or so.
I agree about the quality of sleep after really, truly finishing. So much better, and a goal in itself.
I headed over to a cafe planning to grade at least 15 essays. I figured I'd have a bagel and coffee, churn through 4 of them, some tea and 4 or 5 more, then lunch with a stretch to finish.
Instead, I graded two papers, ran into a friend, and ditched the cafe. That's life.
profgrrrl: using a timer is really helpful --there are always a few papers that need significant extra time, but it keeps you more or less on track.
I usually try to set aside a time for a marathon grading session - don't stop until it's all done. But, two semesters worth of teaching on-line classes has taught me this - it's a whole lot easier when you can just type your comments!
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