As I read more and more about the teaching of writing and the various elements to be aware of, I can't help but reflect on my grading practices. As I sit in front of a stack of 100 essays that need grading, I am suddenly wondering, am I grading fairly? Am I commenting on usage or grammar? Am I being narcissistic and grading on whether their writing appeals to me as their reader? Is it fair to take points off for poor grammar or lack of topic sentences and/or evidence choice? I am still unsure, and I know that grading will always be the worst part of the teaching process. What are the things that teachers should be looking for in student writing? I have rubrics, but sometimes find them to be stifling. At times I will see students making an error not present on the rubric that I feel needs to be addressed but is not reflected in their grade because I did not foresee it when creating the rubric. Sometimes my rubrics feel too specific. Should the rubric be vague so that I have wiggle room? Or should it be specific so students know what they are being assessed on specifically? If it's too specific will that make their writing formulaic?
I don't expect that there is a specific answer to this, and I realize that my grading will continue to evolve through years of experience, but I can't help but wonder if I am assessing on the correct writing skills.
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