Self-Assessment of Student Papers
Using self-assessments:
Self-assessments are designed to help determine
what your students already know about their papers,
and therefore facilitate your commenting. The information
can also help you make a potentially negative comment
positive. For example, if the student indicates the main
point clearly under #1, you can say, "You're very clear
about your thesis in your self-assessment. Where have you
put it in the paper?" Or if under #2, additional time,
the student says that she would have improved the order
of ideas, you can say, "You're right. The order isn't
logical" and then give suggestions. (Sometimes they'll
even tell you how they would have changed it.) #3 or #5
on the longer form alerts you to your students' anxieties
and questions you may never have imagined. Again, it's a
useful way to reassure them and critique their papers
diplomatically.
Distributing the Self-Assessment Form: If
possible, hand out self-assessment forms in section five
minutes before the students turn in their papers. You
might want to tell them that you'll read the form after
you read the paper, so that their words will not bias
your judgment. If your students don't submit papers in
section, you can give them the form to fill out at home.
If you do, be sure you leave extra forms wherever they
drop off their papers, so that if they've forgotten (as
some will) they can fill it out on the spot.
Additional online documents:
Short self
assessment form (three questions)
Long self assessment
form (five questions)