James Joyner notes some things that sometimes get said to students when professors grade essay. One of my favorites, and apparently one that gets the students’ attention is when I simply write “No” in the margin, or, occassionally: “No!”.
One of my favorite Joyner-ism, when we taught together, was when he would write “You Made That Up” or “YMTU” for short.
When I am perplexed, I find a good ol’ fashioned “Huh!?” often does the trick.
And yes, “not so much” was, and remains, rather popular. One student thought it should be on our polisci club t-shirts.
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As the recipient of many, I know that just a good ole “?” or “???” is also effective.
Comment by Robert Holcomb — Tuesday, January 13, 2024 @ 8:40 pm
Lots of underlining followed by “Yes!” is always entertaining. I haven’t graded anything since last summer, though, so my skills are just a teeny bit rusty.
Comment by Chris Lawrence — Tuesday, January 13, 2024 @ 8:46 pm
yup.
Comment by Steven — Tuesday, January 13, 2024 @ 8:51 pm
MARGINALIA
Both James Joyner and Steven Taylor is talking about things professors write in the margins of papers: Joyner:As to the issue of pedagogy, I would note that I seldom used the “interesting” device in my professorial days. Both my then-colleague…
Trackback by The Bemusement Park — Tuesday, January 13, 2024 @ 8:54 pm
MARGINALIA
Both James Joyner and Steven Taylor is talking about things professors write in the margins of papers: Joyner:As to the issue of pedagogy, I would note that I seldom used the “interesting” device in my professorial days. Both my then-colleague…
Trackback by The Bemusement Park — Tuesday, January 13, 2024 @ 8:54 pm
You have a polisci club?! And they have t-shirts?!!!
Comment by John Lemon — Wednesday, January 14, 2024 @ 1:46 am
We have a club, but the t-shirts never came to fruition.
Comment by Steven — Wednesday, January 14, 2024 @ 6:33 am
Sadistic Professors
Professor Taylor blogger at Poliblog is discussing comments made by teachers on student papers. I had an economics professor in college who was infamous for writing things like “bullshit” and “ballsy, but wrong” on papers. One of my best friends respon…
Trackback by Confessions Of A Political Junkie — Wednesday, January 14, 2024 @ 8:56 am
I’m sure Howard Dean would sell you some t-shirts
Comment by Eric — Wednesday, January 14, 2024 @ 10:05 am
A “?” or “???” have always been effective in my circles, although a “?!?!” is a total WTF-bomb, until the “WRONG” shows up on the margin and breaks their hearts. These are, by the way, scientific results reports more than essays, but the suppositions and leaps of logic made by freshmen were like a magic mirror when I was a senior.
Comment by OF Jay — Wednesday, January 14, 2024 @ 2:01 pm