7 TIPS FOR EVALUATING STUDENT ESSAYS

There are three ways in which students can thoroughly study a piece of literature: reading individually, discussing in class, and writing essays. While it is not necessary for teachers to assign an essay for every text, when they do, they should provide thought-provoking topics and questions that encourage students to delve into important aspects of the work. Additionally, with the current reduced frequency of meetings, both students and teachers will rely on essay writing to enhance learning, and even consider seeking assistance from the best thesis writing services for more complex projects. Assessing their essays will play a crucial role in this learning process.

Below are some suggestions for effectively evaluating student essays in a constructive and supportive way:

1. Do not use essays as tests.

The purpose of the essay is not to assess the student's lack of knowledge. Instead, it allows each student to engage in independent thinking and analyze a specific subject related to the text.

To pique the students' interest, ask specific questions about the text. These questions should make them wonder about important ideas that can be analyzed, investigated, or clarified. It is beneficial if the assignments can lead to multiple avenues of exploration, as a single answer would make the essay resemble an exam.

The seminar aims to delve deeper into significant pieces of literature, comprehending them, reflecting on the arguments made by authors of informational literature, or immersing in the world crafted by authors of imaginative literature. Reading and discussing facilitate the students' engagement with the text, and writing should also contribute to achieving these objectives.

It is possible that students can develop an understanding and appreciation for a work by reading it themselves and discussing it in class. In such cases, assigning an essay might be unnecessary. However, when studying expository works, it may be beneficial for students to express and evaluate arguments in an essay to solidify their understanding. Exploring passages or analyzing a character's words or actions can also allow students to discover new aspects of imaginative literature. However, like stage performers, there is a point where enthusiasm and proficiency may decline after reaching a peak moment of excellence and insight.

Typically, it is advisable to follow a general guideline when it comes to giving out essay assignments: If there is not a valid and relevant justification for assigning an essay that supports the objectives of the seminar, it is preferable to avoid assigning one.

2. Write an essay yourself.

You might have been teaching the same books for a while and have a collection of assignments ready. You may already have specific expectations for each assignment. Nevertheless, each group of students is unique, and their individual needs change over time. Stay receptive to the idea of assigning something fresh, a task that can enhance your current students' comprehension.

Ensure that you are capable of answering the question or discussing the topic, regardless of the situation. The most effective way to assess the worth of your assignment is to create an outline that incorporates the most suitable methods of development for two or three theses. Confirm that the essay can be responded to in a written manner. Additionally, be cautious of any temptations to provide a solution to the issue presented in the text. Look out for approaches that may cause students to detach themselves from the text and impose an external resolution. We desire for students to engage with the text itself, rather than introducing evaluations, resolutions, beliefs, and opinions that are unrelated to the text.

After completing an outline or a full essay, you can determine whether your assignment meets its intended goals. This will allow you to identify any necessary changes and be prepared to steer your students away from potential distractions and challenges while mentoring them.

3. Make sure you don't forget about the crucial means of communication.

Seminars are dynamic conversations. Therefore, we only require participants to speak in full sentences and use the text as a reference for their arguments. However, we do address any speech patterns that disrupt the coherence of a student's ideas. For instance, we strive to eliminate the incorrect usage of words like "like," "so," and phrases such as "I feel that."

Similarly, when assessing student essays, it is crucial not to disregard punctuation, grammar, and spelling mistakes. These errors can be compared to the involuntary verbal habits that students tend to fall into during conversations. They disrupt the progression of logical reasoning. Words and sentences serve as the fundamental components of thoughtful and expressive communication.

Having said that, it is important to not take on the role of editing the students' work. Instead, if the same mistakes are made repeatedly, give the essay back to the student and guide them on how to fix the errors that you have pointed out. You can simply mark a check symbol in the margin next to the line where the mistake is made; this way, students are more likely to remember their mistakes and learn to edit their own work in the future.

In case specific mistakes continue to occur, it might be necessary to provide a quick review for the entire class. However, if only a few students are facing difficulties, they can be directed to a set of punctuation rules. In certain situations, it may be crucial to utilize a grammar handbook that includes exercises.

4. Be generous.

A high-quality essay will tackle the given question or topic, displaying a well-organized and coherent structure while also maintaining proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Additionally, the student should use an effective method of analysis that promotes critical thinking. Any valid and logical interpretation of the text should be accepted.

An essay that does not meet the requirements mentioned above will be considered a failure. Such essays, which do not fit into the categories of being excellent or deficient, will still showcase a decent comprehension of the text. However, they might lack sufficient utilization of the text or fail to provide enough support for their thesis statement.

To evaluate essays generously does not require compromising standards. Instead, it involves helping students develop the necessary skills and tools to meet those standards. The measurement of excellence should align with the skills that have been taught and the opportunities provided for practice.

5. Be as specific as possible.

As a seminar instructor, it is your responsibility to guide your students in writing an essay that meets the given criteria. Not all students will progress at the same rate in their skills, so it is important to consider each student's individual growth when evaluating their essays. Your feedback should direct them towards specific areas where they can improve. For instance, if a student struggles with effectively using the text and relies too heavily on direct quotations instead of integrating them into their own sentences, you can take one of the quotes and rephrase it using your own words to demonstrate the difference. Similarly, if a student has difficulty with organizing their essay, you can provide them with a more effective structure for presenting their supporting points. Many students face challenges when initially learning to develop a thesis that is plausible, arguable, focused, and unified. By highlighting the shortcomings of their thesis in terms of these standards, you can guide them in refining it. Lastly, a student might choose an inappropriate or no tool at all to support their thesis. Help them understand which tool could have enhanced their analysis of the text.

Using a standard rubric to evaluate your students' essays is not recommended. Writing is a natural process that cannot be evaluated using a narrow set of standardized criteria. It is important to consider both the form and content of an essay together and not give separate scores for each. The formal elements of an essay should effectively convey clear thinking or they should not. It is not beneficial for students' growth if we include interpretations that are not clearly stated by the student. On the other hand, it is important to not be overly impressed by a smooth rhetorical style. Some students may have a natural talent for expression and language, but an excellent essay must also demonstrate depth, reflection, and a careful treatment of the text. When reading the essays, provide comments that address specific content expressed through the formal elements of writing, similar to how you would read any other piece of literature.

6. Consult with your colleagues.

Due to the challenge that teachers face in providing well-balanced feedback, it can be beneficial for newer teachers to seek input from experienced colleagues by sharing essays with them. This exchange allows for a fresh perspective that may identify unnoticed logical arguments or address gaps in the essay that the teacher's familiarity with the student may have overlooked.

This practice not only ensures that you carefully evaluate the essays, but also encourages discussions with your colleagues, making your conversations with your students more engaging.

7. Be encouraging.

To effectively coach your students and achieve success, it is important to provide both encouragement and correction. You don't have to highlight every error or mistake, but instead be discerning in your approach. Consider the unique strengths and weaknesses of each student, and use your comments to guide them towards greater achievements.

Every student should be continuously improving with each writing assignment. Their thinking should be probing deeper, their analysis of the text should be more seamless, and they should have a solid understanding of what makes a good thesis. Take notice of their progress while also identifying a couple of areas where they can still improve. If an essay is exceptional, acknowledge it without nitpicking for flaws.

If you can, avoid writing letter grades or percentages on the student's assignments. This can lead to students solely focusing on their score and disregarding your valuable comments and guidance.

If there is enough room in the course schedule, students should be allowed to rewrite their essays. When a student is struggling, they may need to rewrite their essay to improve it. Additionally, if a student can turn a good essay into an excellent one with the help of coaching, they will learn a lot and feel motivated by the experience. However, it's important to set a limit on how far in the future the rewrites can be done. The student should still be connected to the text to retain their understanding of the issues.

Final thoughts

Writing can be difficult and requires skill. In order for your students to become proficient, they require guidance from a coach who is organized, focused, and supportive. It is important for you to have confidence in your students' ability to enhance their writing abilities. By following these 7 tips for assessing your students' essays, you will provide them with the necessary tools to excel as strong writers and logical thinkers.