Secret Code for Marking Essays

We have a lot of essays we need to read carefully and evaluate quickly. So we give feedback by means of shortcuts and shorthand. The main shortcut is by marking according to a rubric, a set of criteria with points attached. The rubric allows us to tell you what aspects of the essay are strong and what ones need work without having to write it out in longhand. Also, if you consider the rubric in advance, then you’ll have a pretty good idea what we’re expecting in the essays.

Rubric for Marking Essays
Element	Points
The paragraph begins with a strong topic sentence that responds directly to the question, takes a position on the material, and includes reference to the essential idea from Tocqueville	2
The paragraph employs good historical material from lecture or other sources as supporting evidence	5
The paragraph shows the author understands the concept from Tocqueville	3
The paragraph is sound as to rhetoric and style	1
Total Points Possible	10

In addition to a response employing the rubric, you may notice certain other shorthand marks on your essay. Here is what they mean.

Shorthand for Marking Essays
Awk	Awkward, meaning I think I know what you mean, but you have said it poorly.
Dev	Development, meaning you need more of it here.
Err	Error, meaning an error in fact.
FR	Sentence fragment. Don't do these.
K	Knoephla, which is a German-Russian fluffy dumpling. This means the passage in question is vague or vacuous.
Q	Question, meaning you should have read it more carefully.
RO	Run-on sentence. Don't do these, either.
Sp	You need to give more specifics.
TS	Topic sentence, meaning yours is absent or inadequate.
?	Means just what it seems—I can't figure out what you mean.
Circled item	This means an error of spelling, punctuation, or word use.

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