Feedback & Comments
Throughout the semester, I’ll provide feedback on your papers in three ways:
- Rubric: Via a rubric, which assigns specific point totals based on certain criteria.
- Comments: Via comments left in Canvas. Canvas comments are usually global, and present an overview.
- Codes: Via specific codes left within the text of your essay or paper. For this third type of feedback, to facilitate quick grading, I’ll be using the codes listed below.
Here’s a video that explains where to find feedback within Canvas.
Code Instructions
The codes below are designed to give you detailed feedback that you can use to revise your paper.
- Find. Find your code. The codes are in alphabetical order. You can scroll down or use ctrl-f (cmd-f for Apple) to find the code in question.
- Read. Read the description associated with your code to understand the problem identified in your paper or essay. In most cases, there’s a link to the lecture notes for that problem, if you need additional information.
- Revise Essay or Paper. Revise your essay or paper to fix the problem identified by the code.
- Profit!
Feedback Codes
ap – argumentative paragraph: I’ve identified this paragraph as an argumentative paragraph. Learn more here.
ats – announcing topic sentence: the topic sentence announces the subject it “will” introduce, instead of simply introducing the topic. Learn more here.
bf – background as filler: this paragraph appears to be a filler paragraph to meet word count, but doesn’t contribute significantly to your discussion or argument. See if you can convert the paragraph to an argumentative or example paragraph. Learn more here.
bls – break long sentence: this sentence is too long and may benefit by being broken into two sentences.
bp – background paragraph: I’ve identified this paragraph as a background paragraph. Learn more here.
cl – clunky: awkwardly worded or overly wordy.
cp – punctuation: punctuation errors in this sentence.
cs – comma splice: two sentences are separated by a comma instead of a period.
cta – call to action: call to action doesn’t directly address the reader. Learn more here.
ctl – conclusion too long: see if you can shorten your conclusion. Consider moving important info into the body. Learn more here.
elq – extra long quote structure: you are allowed only one long quote structure per paper. Convert to a short quote or paraphrase in your own words. This extra long quote structure means a reduction in your word count point total to the next lower category. Learn more here.
cne – citation not at end: your ITC (in-text citation) should come at the end of your sentence. Learn more here.
ep – example paragraph: I’ve identified this paragraph as an example paragraph. Learn more here.
esm – explain step missing: ICE Method present, but the explain step is missing or does not spell out why the quote was included and / or how it supports the paragraph topic. Learn more here.
if – italics formatting: This should not be italicized.
fi – fix indent: the first line of your paragraph should be indented 1/2 inch. Learn more here.
fpt – first person third: you’re using first person POV here, but this is a paper. It should be third person.
fts – focus topic sentence: your topic sentence does not introduce the focus of your paragraph. Learn more here.
gg – Good to go. Good job! This sentence is good to go.
ggp – Good to go paragraph. Good job! This is an effectively written paragraph.
gts – Good topic sentence: nicely worded topic sentence that 1) introduces the main focus of the paragraph and 2) connects to the topic (background paragraph), claim (argumentative paragraph), or preceding main point (example paragraph).
hm – hook missing or needs work: your hook is missing or needs further development. Learn more here.
if – incorrect formatting: your Works Cited page is not formatted in accordance with MLA. Check your margins, font, spacing, and hanging indent. Learn more here.
ism – introduce step missing: ICE Method present, but introduce step is missing or does not mention the author or title of the publication. Learn more here.
it – incorrect text: the text within your ITC is not correct. Learn more here.
itl – intro too long: introduction paragraph is too long. See if you can shorten it or move some info into the body.
lqs – long quote structure: formatting for your long quote structure is incorrect or longer than 75 words. Learn more here.
lst – thesis statement is a list: the thesis statement describes the contents of the paper or essay, not the claim or main idea. Learn more here.
mi – missing info: provide more background info about your topic within the bridge. Review that you’ve adequately covered the 5W’s and the H. Learn more here.
mit – missing in-text citation: Quote present, but missing ITC. Learn more here.
mq – missing quotes: although this appears to be a direct quote, quotation marks are missing. Learn more here.
ms – missing source: you are providing detailed information that is clearly from an external source, but you do not include an ITC. Learn more here.
mts – missing topic sentence: paragraph does not have a clear topic sentence. Learn more here.
mw – missing word(s): There appears to be a typo here where words or missing.
nc – no credit: this paragraph is full of externally sourced info, but no source or sources are provided. As a result, this paragraph does not count toward the minimum number of body paragraphs and / or as one of the body paragraph types listed in the rubric. Learn more here.
nec – not establishing criteria: your topic sentence does not establish the criteria for your point-by-point comparison. Learn more here.
nw – nicely worded: Good job! This sentence is nicely worded.
nwp – nicely worded paragraph. Good job! This is a nicely worded paragraph.
pcs – paragraph comma splice: multiple comma splices within this paragraph.
ppp – punctuation paragraph: multiple punctuation errors within this paragraph.
pst – paragraph shifting tense: incorrect shifts of verb tense within this paragraph.
ptl – paragraph too long: It looks like you have more than one main idea within this paragraph. Break into shorter paragraphs with specific topic sentences. Learn more here.
qa – quote arguing: It looks like you are using quotes to make your points instead of using them as evidence (to backstop your supporting points). Work on improving your supporting points, then let quotes be the evidence that backs up these points. Learn more here.
qp – quote packing: this paragraph is a string of quotes, one after the other. Have a closer look at your argumentative paragraph structure and quote structure, to make sure quotes support your own analysis and reasoning. Learn more here and here.
qns – quote no source: while your quote does have an ITC, your ITC info does not match a source on your Works Cited page. Learn more here.
qpd – q-p-dot: formatting for short quote ITCs should be in this order: quotation marks, parentheses, period(dot). Learn more here.
qts – thesis statement is a question: rewrite your thesis statement so it is a statement, not a question. Learn more here.
rdr – restatement doesn’t restate: restatement of thesis does not restate the main idea or claim in the thesis statement. Learn more here.
ro – run on: two sentences are connected together without punctuation.
sd – summary disconnected: your summary of findings does not effectively echo the main points or ideas in your body. Learn more here.
sf – sentence fragment: this is not a complete sentence.
si – source info: info for one or more of your sources is missing, out of order, or incorrect. Learn more here.
sis – support info support: There appears to be a mismatch between your topic sentence and the main focus of this paragraph. Supporting points and / or information don’t support your topic sentence. Learn more here.
sna – sources not alphabetical: sources need to be listed in alphabetical order. Learn more here.
snd – subject not discussed: although this is a point-by-point comparison, this paragraph primarily discussed only one subject being compared only. Learn more here.
sni – summary new info: your summary of findings includes new info, instead of reviewing your discussion from the body. Learn more here.
snq – source no quote: source does not match an ITC in the body of your paper or essay. Learn more here.
sns – summary not summary: your summary of findings is long so doesn’t feel like a summary. Learn more here.
sp – spelling: word misspelled.
spp – spelling paragraph: multiple spelling errors within this paragraph.
sql – short quote long: this quote structure is formatted as a short quote structure but should be a long quote structure. Learn more here.
st – shifting tenses: verb tense shifts within this sentence incorrectly.
tdp – t-dot-p: formatting for long quote ITCs should be in this order: text, period(dot), parentheses. Learn more here.
tsa – topic sentence ambiguous: topic sentence of paragraph is unclear or ambiguous. Learn more here.
tsc – thesis statement concise: thesis statement is too long or is more than one sentence. If more than one sentence, see if you can combine into a single sentence. Learn more here.
tsd – thesis statement debatable: thesis statement is a question, fact, list, or is otherwise not debatable. Learn more here.
tsf – topic sentence function: topic sentence does not name check the claim (argumentative paragraphs), topic, (background paragraphs) or preceding main point (example paragraphs). Learn more here.
tsl – topic sentence list: topic sentence lists what will be in the paragraph instead of introducing the paragraph focus. Learn more here.
tsm – thesis statement missing: thesis statement appears to be missing. Learn more here.
tss – thesis statement specific: thesis statement uses words or phrases which are too broad or are filler. Learn more here.
tst – thesis statement template: thesis statement does not follow assignment thesis statement template. See your paper or essay Fact Sheet for details.
tsq – topic sentence is a question: topic sentence is a question instead of a statement. Replace your question with a statement that introduces the main focus for that paragraph. Learn more here.
unc – unclear: I’m not sure what idea, thought, or concept you’re trying to share.
wca – Works Cited alphabetical: your sources are not in alphabetical order. Learn more here.
wcc – Works Cited content: your Works Cited sources appear to be incorrect, missing information, or contain errors in punctuation or order of information. Learn more here.
wct – Works Cited title: Works Cited title needs to be at the top of its own page. Make sure to insert a page break. Learn more here.
wf – what function: the paragraph type is unclear. I had trouble identifying the type of paragraph. Is it argumentative, background, or example? Learn more here.
wp – what pronoun: the antecedent for this pronoun is unclear or missing. For example, if you wrote “it,” what does that word refer to?