Coursera: Fantasy and Science Fiction (Summer 2012) discussion

I have come to the conclusion I must be a bitch when it comes to marking. I have given almost no 3s for form and perhaps done that two or three times for content.

Am I bad or just exacting? :)

By the same token, however, I prefer it when others are similarly harsh with me. For example, I was gobsmacked to get an averaged out 4 for last week, which I know was rushed, unsubstantiated and generally poorly written. Oh, AND that one was less that 150 words long!

So, are you guys hard or soft markers? Do you prefer to be marked strictly or with more leeway?

I don't think we can say whether we're being hard or not because the sample size isn't large enough. Up until last week, for example, I hadn't had a single of these "terrible ESL essays"...I'd no idea what people on the forums were talking about! And then I got one that made hardly any sense at all so it had to get 1s. Perhaps if you could take that kind of essay (and the ones who used the wrong stories) out of the stats, you'd get a clearer idea.

I've given out one six, one five, and maybe three or four threes and a two. The six left me open-mouthed, I'd genuinely never considered that angle before, it was beautifully argued, and I really did feel enriched.

The vast majority of essays only seem to scrape the surface, though - for the last 2-3 weeks I've had three essays almost exactly the same ("Dracula's about sex", "Science is bad", etc etc). I'm saddened that - for the ones I'm marking, anyway - people seem to be coasting a bit mid-course.

Conversely I'm really not sure what I have to do to get a better mark than 4 - which we talked about on another thread - and that for me is where the peer marking falls down because there's no guidance (such as you would get from a tutor or TA at university) and all of us markers have such a wide range of experience and language ability.

I must be an exception because I get at least one of the ESL essays every single time. I try to understand the point even when the language is difficult so I often grade them higher on content then the 1 they get for form.

I certainly am not a tough grader, mostly because I'm not confident enough of my composition skills to know when something, other than an obvious mistake, is wrong. And although I'd rather be graded tougher, I don't trust the peer grading system for exactly the reasons Caroline stated.

I've had some really good essays and a lot of really bad ones but most are squarely in the 4 range.

For the most part, the grade doesn't matter to me, since I'm taking this class for myself. I naturally like to do well, but I'm okay if I don't get more than a 4.

As I mentioned in another thread, I don't see why I got a 6 on one particular essay when I felt another one where I got a lesser mark was better. That's what I wish would be explained.

Jute wrote: "I must be an exception because I get at least one of the ESL essays every single time. I try to understand the point even when the language is difficult so I often grade them higher on content the..."

Well, I get quite a few where English is obviously not someone's first language - you can tell from the idiom sometimes, or a persistent failure to conjugate verbs correctly, or missing/incorrect articles. Those I don't mark down at all as long as I can understand the content clearly, and I do make an effort to point out what's gone wrong (because heaven knows I struggle with German articles and would appreciate the help!). The annoying ones are those that are riddled with spelling errors - it is *not* hard to find a spellchecker. Eight or more plus grammar issues, and that's a 1 as far as I'm concerned, because it is lazy. Although if it was a consistent spelling fault such as phonetic spelling, I would just point that out.

But I have had one which was absolutely unintelligable and couldn't be followed at all. None this week, thank goodness - three 4s and a 3 for poor grammar. Two of those 4s could have been 5s with a stronger argument and more support from the text. You still have to "show your working", right? :)

This week I had one that was where the writer just wrote and said they didn't have time this week and rather than plagiarize they explained. I thought that was good of them to do so.

I hate to give out 1's and I rarely see anything that is so amazing that it deserves a 3, especially for form. Even when it's obvious that English is not the writer's first language, I only give a 1 for form based on the structure rather than the grammar. But what in heaven's name would rate a 3 for form?

So mostly I've been giving totals of 3 and 4.

I did have one of the ones last week that wrote (and not well) about an unassigned story. In good conscience I couldn't give it more than a total of 2.

I'll be curious to see what I get this week because I did a lot of research for my essay. My grades have ranged from 3 to 4.5 in the past.

ESL ones I usually grade with the same rules as anyone else. The way I look at it is that if I did a course in, say, Russian*, and had to be marked on 'form' I would expect to be treated the same as anyone else taking the course because I chose to take a foreign course. In the same way, if I went to a physical university in Russia, I wouldn't want extenuating circumstances because of my non-native-speaker status. Help definitely, but not laxer marking.

As I said, I wonder if I am too harsh on everyone else because I expect it of myself. Am I wrong to put my views here on others who might see it differently?

* Choosing that because my BA is in Russian

Emy wrote: "As I said, I wonder if I am too harsh on everyone else because I expect it of myself. Am I wrong to put my views here on others who might see it differently?"

In the absence of explicit guidelines, what can you do but use your own expectations? Tbh I'm mostly following the forum consensus, which seems to have an attitude of generosity - I think I was probably harder the first couple of weeks, although I've always been polite and helpful. I myself have been obnoxiously told off for missing two typos...

Oh, you know what? I give up. I'm never going to get more than a four because you just can't please all four reviewers at once. Is anyone else this disheartened? How can I get three comments that all say "no flaws" and one that says "use a title, otherwise no problem" (which I'm damned if I'm going to waste word count on!), and still get a 2 for Form?

I'll never whine about Content because that's just too broad but honestly, if you can't get a three when all your reviews say "no problems" then what on earth is the point of having the grade?

Caroline wrote: "Oh, you know what? I give up. I'm never going to get more than a four because you just can't please all four reviewers at once. Is anyone else this disheartened? How can I get three comments that a..."

I'm sorry for it being so discouraging Caroline. You had someone say you needed a title? Wow.... just wow...

I know, that really annoyed me because it's one of those things that's come up over and over on the forum and the staff have never fed back on it. Why would you need a title on a 320 word assignment, anyway, it should be bloody obvious what you're arguing in your first two lines. I've had a couple to mark with titles which didn't actually stick to that subject at all!

I think it has got to the point where it doesn't make any difference whether I coast or put loads of work in because the reviewers' foibles and preferences change each time so you can't get a grip on what's wanted.

To me a 3 is something amazing, astounding, moving.

Caroline wrote: "I know, that really annoyed me because it's one of those things that's come up over and over on the forum and the staff have never fed back on it. Why would you need a title on a 320 word assignmen..."

Below are the comments on my essay. My score was a 2

So... what was I supposed to do better?
student1 → Your prose is fluent and pleasing -- well done. You have used a few contractions (couldn't twice), which might be seen as inappropriate in a formal essay. It's a personal thing, of course -- if you care about pleasing those people who care, then don't do it; but if you don't care, don't worry.
student2 → Nice form, thanks for spacing it out, I would have used other words in s few places. However, overall it is great!
student3 → Well structured and clear essay; sentences are powerful. Arguments firmly support all statements. More vivid words would improve the style.
student4 → Grammatically correct, well constructed essay

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh, that's *exactly* the sort of feedback I get (often even briefer, actually). Completely frustrating. The only useful bit of yours there is "more vivid words" but that's such a personal taste thing it's hard to know what they mean - or whether another reviewer would say you were being too vivid!

I must admit I did review one with "your language seems rather florid and overwrought in places, which gives you less space to make your argument convincingly" because they'd scattered words such as "horrific" around like confetti, which ate their word count.

Mine was:
student1 → Your grammar, punctuation and spelling are very good. I found your thoughts easy to follow.

student2 → Hello! I would like to see a better structure: intro, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Also please do write a title, this gives a better first impression. However, you writ gramatically correct and it is clear and understandable what you say.

student3 → A nicely written essay.

student4 → No style flaws that I can detect. Solid essay style-wise.

You'd think 2's comment was the most helpful but: titles are not required, the topic was clearly introduced in the first sentence, it had three paragraphs and in the Content feedback the SAME student said "I agree with your reflections" - so had completely changed their mind about the style of essay in the time between writing their form and content remarks.

There's nothing I can glean from that other than that I didn't please their personal framework...or perhaps they didn't actually read it...!

What is it with titled essays is beyond me :-s

Also, contractions?! Well, that may not be very academic, but as far as I'm concerned, it's fine!

I haven't had contractions picked up on, thankfully, but it's not something I'd mark anyone down on provided it was still grammatically correct (e.g. the its / it's thing). To be honest, I don't remember getting any comments on contractions at university either, but that might be because I was often reaching out to get to a word limit not trying to get back into one - kinda reduces the use of contractions a lot!!

Title wanters can kiss my ****! Since Prof R was telling us right in the first video to drop so many of the essay conventions, like "I am going to discuss...", "I show that..." I figured that he wasn't asking us to use things like titles either! If we use titles, we should also be using formal citation, footnotes and all the rest of that gubbins, and we aren't. So using a title would get mark down for me as something the author could improve by dropping...

Thought you folks might appreciate this:

http://stroppyeditor.wordpress.com/20...

haha funny!

I just got the email about the History course and they are using peer grading for that. There are apparently 70,000 enrolled. Taking my experience from this class into account, I am not expecting much from the essay portion.

Well, if it is anything like Listening to World Music and certain other courses, I might just as well audit without any essays :-s

Yeah, I am that lazy.

so I read my last feedback, and seriously, one of the critics told me my spelling was awful (there was an extra letter in one word, clearly a typo) but since English is obviously my 2nd language, they were still giving me a 2.

:|

Never even been out of the US and was an english lit major to boot!
lol

Head, meet desk. Maggie, that is truly awful...you have to wonder what some of these reviewers think they're doing.

I know! I just look at the humor in it though, or I would get too frustrated...

Anyone else tempted to rate straight 3s across the Form section this week? No typos, no grammar cock-ups, sensibly argued...maybe it's the glass of cider I had earlier but I'm sorely inclined to be generous for essays without obvious mistakes. There are so many awful comments and so much disillusionment out there (and here), I sorta feel like spreading some sunshine.

Yeah, must be the cider talking..;-)

Caroline wrote: "Anyone else tempted to rate straight 3s across the Form section this week? No typos, no grammar cock-ups, sensibly argued...maybe it's the glass of cider I had earlier but I'm sorely inclined to be..."

haha please pass the glass!

*grin* I've sobered up now - the last one of my set was a doozy, had to give it a two. Could hardly make head or tail of the book review...*facepalm*.

First one was a 6, though, so that's a happy thing.

unfortunately I couldnt load up my essay-must have been the godaddy thing, but 0 points fo me this week...

Maggie wrote: "unfortunately I couldnt load up my essay-must have been the godaddy thing, but 0 points fo me this week..."

Oh no...I am so sorry. I know that if you miss an essay or two it's not an issue, but it's upsetting when you went to the trouble to write one!

I didn't have too much to drink, but in honor of Caroline I was fairly lenient today!

Well, I'll be interested to see what I get.

I know Jute! I thought I had a good topic too....oh well

Yowch... I got a 4 this week but man, the comments were pretty harsh.

3.5 here for "not sticking to the topic"...yeah, yeah. One gave me a 3 for grammar at last! but they all hated the content. Which I'd pretty much expected, it was definitely my weakest so far - but I don't see how you can comment that your reading was "enhanced in ways few other essays have" and still score it a 1...*facepalm*.

The stupid thing is that given I got a 1 for content, I must have got three 2s and a 3 for form - if I'd got two 2s and two 3s that would have given me a 5 overall on a very weak essay. It makes no sense.

I must be a generous scorer...

Okay so you all read my essay... here's the comments on the form:

student1 → Writing is clear and straightforward.
student2 → You have an introduction, a body and a closing. The writing is a bit awkward, but overall this is well-done.
student3 → The peer's views about the content of the book has been well placed according to his thoughts.
student4 → Some of your phrases lack clarity and sometimes your choice of words or their mere absence cripples the flow of reading. You are using commas and periods much too sparingly for your current level of control over written ideas, and when you eventually use them you tend to incorrectly break the phrase.

Since I got two that said my writing was weird, I'll have to look at that.

It's not mean to rate someone a 1 for content if they've pretty much just retold the story for 90% of the essay then said something obvious about it, is it? I feel mean but goodness, you'd think people would have stopped doing that by now...

I'd say not mean, definitely!

Currently feeling an idiot though because with the new term starting at work, I forgot it was Tuesday and didn't hand in... >.<

Caroline wrote: "It's not mean to rate someone a 1 for content if they've pretty much just retold the story for 90% of the essay then said something obvious about it, is it? I feel mean but goodness, you'd think pe..."

I don't think it's mean at all!

In addition to the quick reply above... To me a retelling of the story is more of a book review than a critical essay, so not what we are asked to produce. If we were asked for that, then fine, but as it stands, a 1 is completely appropriate as the writer has not followed the instructions.

Cheers. I'm not sure why I felt mean about it - possibly because it was pretty well-written in terms of form, with a couple of obvious mistakes that suggested an ESL writer. And they did try to make a point - but the retelling took up almost the entire writing.

I gave out a six as well, though! So not all bad. :)

Wow.. I got yet another 4. I really don't think that there is any possibility of anything better.

One thing I'm really tired of is getting nailed for retelling the story. How on earth do you make your point without giving a piece of the story. I'm not talking here about wholesale just spewing out the story, but.. well, I guess I'm just frustrated.

Hmm interesting point Jute. I think the difference to me is in two things - Quantity and Objective.

Quantity is for me just 'How much retelling are you doing?' - Like quotes, it's keeping the right side of the point where you are reciting the author not quoting to illustrate an idea.

Objective is 'Why are you telling me this?' - we've all read the story (hopefully), so you shouldn't need to tell me what happened, just refer to it.

For example, retelling John Carter's arrival on Mars is adding nothing or little to what read myself.

To Be continued!

Okay..I don't quite know what to do with this one essay...

The person did it on The Martian Chronicles. How do you score that?

1 for content seems to be the standard (since they have not enlightened the attentive reader of that novel). Opinion varies on form. Depends how generous you feel, I guess.

Caroline wrote: "1 for content seems to be the standard (since they have not enlightened the attentive reader of that novel). Opinion varies on form. Depends how generous you feel, I guess."

Well, I'm somewhat worried that it's a system glitch so I posted on the forums..but we'll see..

I had that one essay on Bradbury and two others that were unusual... one just talked about the format of the book, said it had spelling errors, etc. and the other one talks about what would happen if the planet Winter gets warmer. So I thought only one of the four really even touched on the assignment.

How were everyone else's essays?

Jute wrote: "How were everyone else's essays?"

Mine, or the ones I'm marking? Weak all round...pretty boring in fact. Probably because three were very similar to my own which I already thought was poor! The last one talks about the weather as a metaphor for the loss of variety in an ambisexual culture which I think is pretty interesting and nicely written so I'm going to give that one threes. The rest are straight twos; nothing outstanding, nothing terrible. I won't be surprised to get less than four on this myself.

Just done mine - thanks for the kick!! 3 meh but OK ones, and the last was a beautifully written review. As in, not a critical essay at all. :(

So this week I got marked down for spelling Genry as Genry instead of Genly. I guess the person who marked it didn't really read the story since the man's name was Genry but only used Genly because of pronunciation issues by the natives.

Well, I think I had the "review" one too, but I also had one where a person made a tribute to the claim of Le Guin by anarchists and made "an essay" out of quotes from the book and the commentary nearby :) Gave 3 and 3 for that one.

Just checked mine. Usage of articles (well... must confess that if I ever get how to use articles, it's gonna be wonderful!), structure, coherence and so on. 4 though :)

Okay so these are my comments on content... I got a 2.5

Not that I expected to get anything better than a 2 given my track record, but if I give comments like these I give the person a 3...

--------------

student1 → My only query in the face of your very strong and convincing thesis, is to ask if you are sure that keystones of arches represent only the union of the two cultures. What about the union of male and female?
student2 → Great thesis, well argued.
student3 → Your topic - Estraven as keystone - is interesting and gave me a different perspective on the novel. Your development is logical, with good examples. Nicely done.
student4 → The examination of the symbolic importance of the character 'Estraven' is an interesting angle, one I doubt many have looked into.