Sometimes a little randomness helps me be a more consistent marker.

As a rule, I’m usually kinder on the student works I read first and harder on those I read last. This is because by the time I reach the final students, I’m tired, cranky and well out of patience. The papers I read last suffer because of this.

Or, I’m kinder, gentler at first and at the end when I’m rushing to finish, but brutal on those who fall in the middle.

To avoid this I try to read student works in a random order. This gives everyone a chance at the kinder, gentler me.

That said, I’ve also begun reading the worst students first. I’ve found that what destroys my momentum and energy when I’m marking a lot of stuff is suddenly stumbling across a piece of bad writing. I lose patience and that poisons me for all the work that follows. It also slows me down as I take out my frustrations on the next few pieces of writing.

Eventually, though, i’m done. Then I do feel kinder and gentler.