Marking, grading and dealing with academic dishonesty

Teaching Resource Guide
for Teaching Assistants

TA Skills
	Cooperating with your course instructor
	Preparing for the first meeting/ class
	Leading discussion groups
	Presenting information to students
	Giving explanations to students
	Asking questions in class
	Conducting a laboratory session
	Guiding students in writing written assignments
	Marking, grading and dealing with academic dishonesty
	Motivating your students
	Managing classroom
	Knowing if you're doing a good job

Marking, grading and dealing with academic dishonesty

Tips:

Discuss with your course instructor about the marking scheme and penalties for any late submission of assignments and for academic dishonesty
Make sure that you fully understand the marking schemes and marking schedules
Give results and feedback to students as soon as possible
Ensure that students understand what plagiarism is, how to avoid it and the possible penalties
Help students when they are preparing the paper is the most positive way to prevent plagiarism
Tips to mark different types of assignments

Academic assessment has two purposes:

To assess students’ achievements;
To diagnose students’ strengths and weaknesses for improvement.

Tips to mark different types of assignments:

A. Essays and other written work

Mark as fairly as possible;

Try not to be influenced by students’ handwriting;

Try not to allow your perceptions on students to influence you;

Make sure you have a clear marking scheme;

Mark tests anonymously if possible;

Mark all responses to a single essay question at the same time;

Judge content rather than literary style.

B. Questions contain calculations and diagrams

Use marking scheme with a list of main points and mark correspondingly;

Tell students in advance to show all calculations if "step" marks are given;

Tell students in advance if marks will be deducted for an incorrect answer;

Don’t penalize the same error twice.

C. Practical work

Practical work include presentation, debate, group discussion, etc.. Make sure your marking or grading follow the criteria of the marking scheme.

Giving feedback to students

Make constructive comments;
Emphasize the good points of the student;
Point out bad points without being unpleasant and make suggestions;
Mark the grade in permanent ink.

Administering a test

Re-state the penalty clearly at the beginning of the class, e.g., expulsion, a "F" grade, certain points to be deducted from the final grade, etc.;
Make sure that you are present during the test;
Random or alternate seating arrangement;
Check students’ ID photo;
Spend some time at the back of the room: students who want to cheat will turn around to see where you are;
If you are suspicions about students but your are not sure, allow them to finish the exam, but take notes on what you have observed;
Do not allow students to rush chaotically to hand in their exam script in at the end of the period.

To set multiple choice questions:

Use alternate forms;

Randomise test questions and answers.

Dealing with academic dishonesty

Check for plagiarism, paraphrasing and citation without acknowledgment in marking;
Discuss with your course instructor;
Ask students to present or explain their idea in the assignment to see if they understand it or not;
Check if there are any guidelines set by the department, school or division for handling academic dishonesty;

Before any penalty is exercised, hard evidence, e.g. identical assignments, have to be obtained. There must be fairness and consistency in the practice of all disciplinary actions.

Further Readings

Davis, B.G., Tools for Teaching, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publisher, 1993, pp.222-235, pp.299-309.
University Teaching Development Centre, Assessment of Student Performance, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2nd edition, 1994.