How do you mark and comment on essays?
Name (optional): 


  1. When you make comments on an essay, which type of feedback would you rate most valuable to the student?

            1 2 3      
      praise what they do well most valuable least valuable  
      judgement on thinking skills, attitudes and knowledge most valuable least valuable  
      express my feelings about the essay most valuable least valuable  
      give suggestions & guidance most valuable least valuable  
      correct errors most valuable least valuable  


  1. Which of the above do you do most often - least often?

            1 2 3 4      
      praise what they did well never always  
      judgement on thinking skills, attitudes and knowledge never always  
      express my feelings about the essay never always  
      give suggestions & guidance never always  
      correct errors never always  


  1. Which do you do first? last?

            1 2 3 4 5      
      praise what they did well first last  
      judgement on thinking skills, attitudes and knowledge first last  
      express my feelings about the essay first last  
      give suggestions & guidance first last  
      correct errors first last  
      other first last  


  1. If "other", please explain


  1. How would you rate these marker's categories in order of importance for the student's learning?

            1 2 3 4      
      Uses a wide range of appropriate evidence Very important Unimportant  
      Communicates precisely, without noise due to grammar, spelling, etc Very important Unimportant  
      Adopts correct conventions of presentation Very important Unimportant  
      Understands the question Very important Unimportant  
      Understands concepts (critical to the essay topic) fully and uses them well Very important Unimportant  
      Other Very important Unimportant  


  1. If "other", please explain


  1. Where do you actually write comments?

            1 2 3 4 5      
      in margins never always  
      in double-space lines never always  
      at end of essay never always  
      on cover page never always  
      on attached slip of paper -free form  never always  
      on attached grading form never always  
      other never always  


  1. If "other", please explain


  1. What do you write?

            1 2 3 4      
      grade on first draft on final draft  
      short evaluative comment e.g. quite a good effort on first draft on final draft  
      ticks & crosses on first draft on final draft  
      comments in margin on first draft on final draft  
      indicators in margin e.g. ABC with reference to comments on structure and organisation expanded elsewhere on first draft on final draft  
      Proofreading marks on first draft on final draft  
      reasons for grade - attached criteria on first draft on final draft  
      suggested alternatives that might have been beneficial on first draft on final draft  
      come and see me ( follow up conference) on first draft on final draft  
      other on first draft on final draft  


  1. If "other", please explain


  1. How quickly do you return each draft?

            1 2 3 4 5 6      
      within 2-3 days never always  
      within a week never always  
      within ten days never always  
      within two weeks never always  


  1. How do you feel about marking essays?

            1 2 3 4 5 6      
      procrastinate never always  
      hate it never always  
      gives me nightmares never always  
      quite comfortable never always  
      quite enjoy the challenge never always  
      useful - learn something  never always  
      other never always  


  1. If "other", please explain


  1. What would help you most with essay marking?

            1 2 3 4 5 6 7      
      clear marking criteria most valuable least valuable  
      improved proofreading guide most valuable least valuable  
      marking software most valuable least valuable  
      database of comments most valuable least valuable  
      marking process guide most valuable least valuable  
      conference with other teachers most valuable least valuable  
      regular moderation most valuable least valuable  
      exemplars of each type of essay most valuable least valuable  
      other most valuable least valuable  


  1. If "other", please explain