Correcting Student Papers

If you are an instructor and have a need to correct papers submitted to you electronically via Word, there are a wide range of approaches you can use when adding your corrections. These include the following:

• Using the Comment feature.
• Using the Track Changes feature.
• Inserting text boxes or callouts.
• Use TC fields to create and then generate a table of comments.
• Create special comment styles that call out your comments in a different font, color, or format. Use the styles to format your comments entered directly in the document.
• Use the Versions feature (not available in Word 2007).
• Using footnotes or endnotes.
• Using hidden text.

As you can imagine, discussing each of these in depth is a bit much for a simple tip. However, the techniques for each of these methods have been covered in other WordTips.

So what is the key to deciding which method is best for you? You need to find which one is the most comfortable and then adapt it to your needs. You can even mix and match methods, if desired. In all instances, however, you should keep a copy of the original submitted by the student, and they should be instructed to keep a copy of whatever they sent you in the first place.

When all is said and done, many people still consider a good old hand-written commentary on a hard-copy essay using arrows and marginal notes to be the most effective. (Besides, paper copies make it easier to comment on and grade papers in places you don't normally have your computer—like the commuter train or curled up in front of the fire on a cold winter evening.)