How to Receive a Paper Back from
Assessment
One of the most important and, alas, overlooked aspects of
learning in college is the appropriate receipt of a written assignment that the
instructor has graded, commented upon, and returned to the writer. Sometimes, a student will immediately open to
the last page, check first their grade, giving less attention to the marks,
comments, and questions the reader has prepared for the author. Often, the author will never work through the
comments, correct the mechanical errors, or follow up the return of the paper
with a visit to the reader during office hours. The following is a list of
suggestions designed to help writers learn the most from their marked papers.
1) When first you
receive your paper, put it away until you are out of the classroom and in a
quiet place; you are about to do serious reading and need to be free of
distractions.
2) Take out a
pencil and piece of paper to make your own notes.
3) Read you
title. Is there one? Does it reflect your main argument?
4) Read your
first paragraph. Has the reader
questioned your thesis, case for importance, or methodology? Have you properly
written the main text’s title?
5) Check each
first sentence of the body paragraphs.
Do they explain how the interpretive idea of the paragraph contributes
to the paper’s thesis?
6) Is the
quotation format correct? Is it properly
cited? Do you discuss the use of
language in each quotation?
7) Write down
questions the author has written in the paper.
Can you provide answers to them?
8) Be extra
sure to write down any corrections of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and
usage. If you do not understand the
error, make a note to ask your reader about those, or refer to a good college
handbook to correct each error.
9) Where did
your paper shine? Where did your reader
compliment a phrase, idea, or paragraph?
What do you notice about those parts of the paper? How do they differ
from other parts?
10) Read the
comments at the end carefully. Jot down
any questions you have about them to bring to the reader during office
hours.
11) Imagine the
paper with all the questions addressed, all the errors corrected. What would that paper look like? sound
like? Believe that you are able to
construct this paper!
12) Commit
yourself to addressing all issues in the next paper. Be sure you do not repeat errors! Nobody
expects your papers to be perfect, but your reader and you expect each paper to
improve upon the weaknesses and strengths of the earlier papers.
13) Review your
notes on this process and the reader’s comments on this paper before submitting
your next paper.
