Project: Grade essays

Inspiration This tutorial was inspired by a question asked on Reddit forum

Objective

Imagine you’re a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. You spend most of your evenings grading student essays, which has started to take a toll on your health, as you’ve had to sacrifice your gym time. Your IT-savvy friend suggested using AI chat tools to boost your productivity. When you asked for specific guidance, they provided the following overview and steps. Now, it’s your turn to try this approach and see if it improves your workflow.

You will need to adjust the prompt and examples as per your needs.

Overview

In order to get consistency in grading, you need to define the rules of grading. It is not uncommon for teachers to use Rubrics. If you already have a rubric then you can use it, otherwise you will need to create one. Once you have the rubric you will generate a few examples of essays and their feedbacks. You will adjust the examples and feedabacks to match with your grading style. Once you are satisfied with the rubric and the samples you are ready to grade the essays!! Let’s summarize the 3 steps:

  1. Define a rubric

  2. Generate examples of essays and feedback

  3. Grade the essays!!!

  4. Use the free time to enjoy the gym ;-)

Steps

Follow the steps below or go straight to the solution below to try it out.

1. Create a file
  • Name the file : essay-grading-prompt.txt
  • Copy and paste the following to the file
You are a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. 
You grade student essays using the following rubric and provide 
constructive feedback to help students improve their writing.
For the essay you provide the following:

1. A numerical score for the essay based on the rubric.
2. A letter grade equivalent to the numerical score.
3. Specific feedback on each criterion, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
4. Overall feedback on the essay, including suggestions for improvement.

### Rubric

<PASTE THE FINAL RUBRIC HERE>

### Examples:

#### Example-1

<PASTE Example#1 HERE>

#### Example-2

<PASTE Example#2 HERE>

#### Example-3

<PASTE Example#3 HERE>

#### Example-4

<PASTE Example#4 HERE>

#### Example-5

<PASTE Example#5 HERE>

#### Example-6

<PASTE Example#6 HERE>

### Essay:

<PASTE the essay to be graded HERE>
1. Define the rubric

Prompt

  • Adjust the prompt below to meet your requirements
  • Chat with ChatGPT or Gemini to finalize the rubric !!
  • Copy the final rubric and feedback guidance to the file essay-grading-prompt.txt under the Rubric section
As a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12, design a clear and accessible rubric for evaluating narrative essays. This rubric should:

Include five key evaluation categories: thesis clarity, organization, grammar and mechanics, use of evidence, and style.
Use a scoring scale from 1 to 10: Provide simple, specific criteria for each score level, with a focus on describing what constitutes excellence (9-10), competence (5-8), and areas needing improvement (1-4) in each category.
Provide brief, example feedback: Include concise comments that can guide students in understanding strengths and areas for improvement at each score level within each category.
The rubric should be straightforward and easy for both teachers and students to understand.

Completion

  • Here is a sample Rubric for narrative essays
  • You may use it as-is or adjust it
| **Category**             | **Score 9-10 (Excellence)**                                                                                 | **Score 5-8 (Competence)**                                                                                     | **Score 1-4 (Needs Improvement)**                                                                                           |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Thesis Clarity**       | *Clear, insightful thesis with a unique perspective.* <br> **Feedback**: “Strong thesis that guides your story with purpose.” | *Thesis is present and mostly clear but could be more specific or nuanced.* <br> **Feedback**: “Clear thesis, but consider adding depth or clarity.” | *Thesis is vague, unclear, or missing.* <br> **Feedback**: “Thesis needs to be more specific and provide direction for your essay.” |
| **Organization**         | *Logical, effective structure with smooth transitions between ideas and paragraphs.* <br> **Feedback**: “Excellent organization and flow.” | *Logical structure, but transitions may feel abrupt; some ideas could be better connected.* <br> **Feedback**: “Good structure; work on smoother transitions.” | *Lacks clear organization; difficult to follow due to disorganized or missing transitions.* <br> **Feedback**: “Reorganize ideas to improve flow.” |
| **Grammar & Mechanics**  | *Nearly flawless grammar, punctuation, and spelling, showing strong command of language.* <br> **Feedback**: “Very few, if any, errors—well-edited.” | *Minor grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors, but they do not distract from meaning.* <br> **Feedback**: “Minor errors—proofread carefully.” | *Frequent grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors that impede understanding.* <br> **Feedback**: “Frequent errors—focus on proofreading and editing.” |
| **Use of Evidence**      | *Thoughtfully selected evidence (e.g., quotes, examples) enhances thesis and narrative.* <br> **Feedback**: “Strong, relevant evidence supports your points well.” | *Evidence supports thesis but may lack specificity or impact.* <br> **Feedback**: “Evidence is good; consider adding more specific details.” | *Little or no use of relevant evidence to support the thesis.* <br> **Feedback**: “Needs more relevant examples or evidence to back up points.” |
| **Style**                | *Engaging, vivid language and varied sentence structure that enhance the narrative voice.* <br> **Feedback**: “Excellent style—your voice and word choice shine.” | *Clear language and some stylistic variety; occasionally engaging but could use more vivid detail.* <br> **Feedback**: “Good style; add more vivid details to strengthen narrative.” | *Language is flat, with limited stylistic variety; repetitive or awkward phrasing.* <br> **Feedback**: “Consider using more vivid language and variety in sentence structure.” |

---

Explanation of Scoring Scale:
**9-10 (Excellence)**: The essay shows a deep understanding of narrative elements, presenting a well-defined thesis, strong organization, few or no grammatical errors, insightful evidence, and an engaging style. Minor adjustments may enhance, but the essay is ready to publish or present.

**5-8 (Competence)**: The essay demonstrates general proficiency with narrative elements, although some areas could be improved. Organization is clear, and evidence is relevant, though the overall impact may lack polish. The essay is functional and readable, but some fine-tuning could bring out the narrative's full potential.

**1-4 (Needs Improvement)**: The essay struggles in several areas, such as thesis clarity, organization, grammar, evidence, or style. Significant adjustments are needed to achieve coherence and polish. The essay lacks clarity or focus and requires a thorough revision for improvement. 

---

Sample Feedback Phrases for Each Score Level:

**Thesis Clarity**  
- **9-10**: “Strong thesis that clearly sets the story’s direction and purpose.”  
- **5-8**: “Thesis is present but could use more specific detail or clarity.”  
- **1-4**: “Thesis lacks focus; clarify your main point to guide the narrative.”

**Organization**  
- **9-10**: “Excellent structure and flow. Each section transitions smoothly into the next.”  
- **5-8**: “Structure is good; some transitions need smoothing to connect ideas more clearly.”  
- **1-4**: “Hard to follow; try reorganizing the sequence of events for clearer progression.”

**Grammar & Mechanics**  
- **9-10**: “Almost error-free; very well proofread.”  
- **5-8**: “Minor errors; proofread carefully to catch small mistakes.”  
- **1-4**: “Frequent errors; careful editing is needed to improve readability.”

**Use of Evidence**  
- **9-10**: “Strong, well-chosen examples or quotes that enhance your story’s impact.”  
- **5-8**: “Examples are relevant but could be more specific to strengthen your points.”  
- **1-4**: “Lacks relevant examples; consider including details or quotes for support.”

**Style**  
- **9-10**: “Engaging style with vivid language that brings your story to life.”  
- **5-8**: “Good overall style; consider adding more descriptive language for effect.”  
- **1-4**: “Language is basic or repetitive; try using more varied, vivid language.”
2. Generate a few samples

You will now generate multiple examples for use in the prompt. Adjust the examples to meet your requirements, grading style, feedback style etc. The examples will then be added to the essay-prompt file.

  • Generate examples of poorly-written/well-written-excellent essays and add to the file
  • Adjust the examples as per your own style
  • Paste the 6 examples under appropriate sections in the prompt file
You are a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. 
You grade student essays using the following rubric and provide 
constructive feedback to help students improve their writing.
For the essay you provide the following:

1. A numerical score for the essay based on the rubric.
2. A letter grade equivalent to the numerical score.
3. Specific feedback on each criterion, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
4. Overall feedback on the essay, including suggestions for improvement.

Use the rubric below, to create 2 examples of essays with a score between 1 and 3. Each essay will be 1 paragraph. Provide feedback for the essay.

### Rubric

<PASTE THE FINAL RUBRIC HERE>
  • Generate examples of well-written essays and add to the file
You are a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. 
You grade student essays using the following rubric and provide 
constructive feedback to help students improve their writing.
For the essay you provide the following:

1. A numerical score for the essay based on the rubric.
2. A letter grade equivalent to the numerical score.
3. Specific feedback on each criterion, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
4. Overall feedback on the essay, including suggestions for improvement.

Use the rubric below, to create 2 examples of essays with a score between 4 and 8. Each essay will be 1 paragraph. Provide feedback for the essay.

### Rubric

<PASTE THE FINAL RUBRIC HERE>
  • Generate examples of perfect essays and add to the file
You are a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. 
You grade student essays using the following rubric and provide 
constructive feedback to help students improve their writing.
For the essay you provide the following:

1. A numerical score for the essay based on the rubric.
2. A letter grade equivalent to the numerical score.
3. Specific feedback on each criterion, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
4. Overall feedback on the essay, including suggestions for improvement.

Use the rubric below, to create 2 examples of essays with a score between 9 and 10. Each essay will be 1 paragraph. Provide feedback for the essay.

### Rubric

<PASTE THE FINAL RUBRIC HERE>
3. Grade the essays
  • Copy the content of essay to be graded in the prompt file under the Essay section

  • Copy the content of the file to Chat AI such as ChatGPT or Gemini and checkout the results !!

  • You may contunue to improve and re-use your prompt for all future essay grading :-)

Solution

Try out the following sample essays:

You are a high school English teacher for grades 11 and 12. 
You grade student essays using the following rubric and provide 
constructive feedback to help students improve their writing.
For the essay you provide the following:

1. A numerical score for the essay based on the rubric.
2. A letter grade equivalent to the numerical score.
3. Specific feedback on each criterion, highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
4. Overall feedback on the essay, including suggestions for improvement.

### Rubric

| **Category**             | **Score 9-10 (Excellence)**                                                                                 | **Score 5-8 (Competence)**                                                                                     | **Score 1-4 (Needs Improvement)**                                                                                           |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Thesis Clarity**       | *Clear, insightful thesis with a unique perspective.* <br> **Feedback**: “Strong thesis that guides your story with purpose.” | *Thesis is present and mostly clear but could be more specific or nuanced.* <br> **Feedback**: “Clear thesis, but consider adding depth or clarity.” | *Thesis is vague, unclear, or missing.* <br> **Feedback**: “Thesis needs to be more specific and provide direction for your essay.” |
| **Organization**         | *Logical, effective structure with smooth transitions between ideas and paragraphs.* <br> **Feedback**: “Excellent organization and flow.” | *Logical structure, but transitions may feel abrupt; some ideas could be better connected.* <br> **Feedback**: “Good structure; work on smoother transitions.” | *Lacks clear organization; difficult to follow due to disorganized or missing transitions.* <br> **Feedback**: “Reorganize ideas to improve flow.” |
| **Grammar & Mechanics**  | *Nearly flawless grammar, punctuation, and spelling, showing strong command of language.* <br> **Feedback**: “Very few, if any, errors—well-edited.” | *Minor grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors, but they do not distract from meaning.* <br> **Feedback**: “Minor errors—proofread carefully.” | *Frequent grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors that impede understanding.* <br> **Feedback**: “Frequent errors—focus on proofreading and editing.” |
| **Use of Evidence**      | *Thoughtfully selected evidence (e.g., quotes, examples) enhances thesis and narrative.* <br> **Feedback**: “Strong, relevant evidence supports your points well.” | *Evidence supports thesis but may lack specificity or impact.* <br> **Feedback**: “Evidence is good; consider adding more specific details.” | *Little or no use of relevant evidence to support the thesis.* <br> **Feedback**: “Needs more relevant examples or evidence to back up points.” |
| **Style**                | *Engaging, vivid language and varied sentence structure that enhance the narrative voice.* <br> **Feedback**: “Excellent style—your voice and word choice shine.” | *Clear language and some stylistic variety; occasionally engaging but could use more vivid detail.* <br> **Feedback**: “Good style; add more vivid details to strengthen narrative.” | *Language is flat, with limited stylistic variety; repetitive or awkward phrasing.* <br> **Feedback**: “Consider using more vivid language and variety in sentence structure.” |

---

Explanation of Scoring Scale:
**9-10 (Excellence)**: The essay shows a deep understanding of narrative elements, presenting a well-defined thesis, strong organization, few or no grammatical errors, insightful evidence, and an engaging style. Minor adjustments may enhance, but the essay is ready to publish or present.

**5-8 (Competence)**: The essay demonstrates general proficiency with narrative elements, although some areas could be improved. Organization is clear, and evidence is relevant, though the overall impact may lack polish. The essay is functional and readable, but some fine-tuning could bring out the narrative's full potential.

**1-4 (Needs Improvement)**: The essay struggles in several areas, such as thesis clarity, organization, grammar, evidence, or style. Significant adjustments are needed to achieve coherence and polish. The essay lacks clarity or focus and requires a thorough revision for improvement. 

---

Sample Feedback Phrases for Each Score Level:

**Thesis Clarity**  
- **9-10**: “Strong thesis that clearly sets the story’s direction and purpose.”  
- **5-8**: “Thesis is present but could use more specific detail or clarity.”  
- **1-4**: “Thesis lacks focus; clarify your main point to guide the narrative.”

**Organization**  
- **9-10**: “Excellent structure and flow. Each section transitions smoothly into the next.”  
- **5-8**: “Structure is good; some transitions need smoothing to connect ideas more clearly.”  
- **1-4**: “Hard to follow; try reorganizing the sequence of events for clearer progression.”

**Grammar & Mechanics**  
- **9-10**: “Almost error-free; very well proofread.”  
- **5-8**: “Minor errors; proofread carefully to catch small mistakes.”  
- **1-4**: “Frequent errors; careful editing is needed to improve readability.”

**Use of Evidence**  
- **9-10**: “Strong, well-chosen examples or quotes that enhance your story’s impact.”  
- **5-8**: “Examples are relevant but could be more specific to strengthen your points.”  
- **1-4**: “Lacks relevant examples; consider including details or quotes for support.”

**Style**  
- **9-10**: “Engaging style with vivid language that brings your story to life.”  
- **5-8**: “Good overall style; consider adding more descriptive language for effect.”  
- **1-4**: “Language is basic or repetitive; try using more varied, vivid language.”


### Examples:

######## Example-1

Score 2

The story starts with a young boy named Alex who was always fascinated by the stars. He would spend hours gazing at the night sky, wondering about the vastness of the universe. One day, he decided to build a telescope. It took him weeks of hard work, but he finally finished it. With his new telescope, Alex could see even more stars and planets. He was amazed by the beauty of the cosmos.

Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: The thesis is present but vague. It doesn't clearly state the main point of the story.
Organization: The organization is somewhat clear, but the transitions between ideas are abrupt.
Grammar & Mechanics: There are a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation that could be corrected with careful proofreading.
Use of Evidence: There is no use of evidence to support the thesis.
Style: The style is simple and lacks vivid language.
Overall Feedback: While the topic is interesting, the essay needs improvement in several areas. To strengthen the essay, consider developing a clearer thesis, using more descriptive language, and adding relevant details to support the main idea.

######## Example-2 

Score 3

The summer I turned thirteen, I went on a camping trip with my family. We hiked deep into the woods, and I felt a sense of adventure I'd never experienced before. As the sun began to set, we pitched our tent and gathered around the campfire. We told stories, roasted marshmallows, and sang songs. The stars twinkled above us, and I felt a sense of peace and wonder.

Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: The thesis is present but could be more specific.
Organization: The organization is somewhat clear, but the transitions between ideas could be smoother.
Grammar & Mechanics: There are a few minor errors in grammar and punctuation.
Use of Evidence: There is no use of evidence to support the thesis.
Style: The style is simple and lacks vivid language.
Overall Feedback: While the essay has a clear topic, it could be improved by adding more specific details and using more vivid language. A stronger thesis statement would also help to guide the narrative.

########  Example-3

Score 6

The summer I turned thirteen, I embarked on a journey that would forever change my perspective. My family and I took a road trip across the country, visiting national parks and historical sites. While the grandeur of the Grand Canyon and the serenity of Yosemite were awe-inspiring, it was the simple moments along the way that truly resonated with me. Late-night conversations with my siblings under the vast expanse of stars, sharing laughter and dreams, created a bond that time cannot diminish. These shared experiences, forged in the crucible of travel, have shaped who I am today, instilling in me a sense of wonder and a love for exploration.

Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: Your thesis is clear and sets up the main idea of your essay. However, you could consider making it more specific by highlighting a particular experience or emotion that shaped you.
Organization: The essay is well-organized, and the transitions between ideas are smooth.
Grammar & Mechanics: There are a few minor grammatical errors that could be corrected with careful proofreading.
Use of Evidence: You effectively use personal anecdotes to support your thesis. However, you could consider incorporating more sensory details to enhance the reader's experience.
Style: Your writing style is clear and concise. To elevate your writing, consider using more vivid language and varied sentence structure.
Overall Feedback: This is a well-written essay with a clear thesis and good organization. By addressing the suggestions above, you can further enhance the impact of your narrative.

########  Example-4 

Score 4

I went to the beach last summer. It was fun. I built sandcastles and swam in the ocean. I also ate ice cream. I got a sunburn, but it was still a good time.

Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: Your thesis is vague and does not provide a clear direction for your essay.
Organization: The essay lacks a clear organizational structure. The ideas are presented in a random order, making it difficult to follow.
Grammar & Mechanics: There are several grammatical errors, including sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
Use of Evidence: The essay lacks specific details and evidence to support the main idea.
Style: The writing style is simplistic and lacks variety.
Overall Feedback: This essay needs significant improvement. To strengthen your writing, focus on developing a clear thesis, organizing your ideas logically, and using vivid language to describe your experiences.

########  Example-5

Score: 9


Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: Your thesis is clear and insightful. It effectively introduces the central idea of the essay.
Organization: Your essay is well-organized, with a logical flow of ideas. The transitions between sentences are smooth and seamless.
Grammar & Mechanics: Your writing is nearly flawless, with excellent grammar and punctuation.
Use of Evidence: The evidence you provide is relevant and well-chosen. It effectively supports your thesis.
Style: Your writing style is engaging and vivid. You use strong language and imagery to create a powerful effect.
Overall, this is an excellent essay. Your writing is insightful, well-organized, and engaging.

########  Example-6

Score: 10

Feedback:

Thesis Clarity: Your thesis is exceptionally clear and thought-provoking. It immediately captures the reader's attention.
Organization: The organization of your essay is impeccable. The paragraphs flow seamlessly, and the transitions are smooth.
Grammar & Mechanics: Your writing is error-free, demonstrating a strong command of language.
Use of Evidence: The evidence you provide is relevant, specific, and well-integrated into the essay. It enhances the overall impact of your writing.
Style: Your writing style is captivating and evocative. You use vivid language and imagery to create a powerful and memorable narrative.
This is an exceptional essay. Your writing is insightful, well-organized, and beautifully written. It is a pleasure to read.


### Essay:

<COPY PASTE THE ESSAYS BELOW TO SEE THE RESULTS>

Poorly written essay

The story was about a girl named Emily who lived in a small town. She liked to play with her friends and eat ice cream. One day, she went to the park and saw a dog. The dog was cute and fluffy. Emily wanted to pet the dog, but she was afraid. The dog barked at her, and Emily ran away. She never saw the dog again.

Average essay

The summer sun beat down on my sun-kissed skin as I lay sprawled out on the beach, the salty air carrying the rhythmic crash of the waves. The world seemed to slow down, worries melting away with the ice cream dripping down my hand. I closed my eyes, the warmth of the sand seeping through my towel, and let the sound of the ocean lull me into a state of tranquility. As the sun began its descent, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, I knew I had found my perfect summer day.

Excellent essay

The quiet hum of the library filled the air as I delved into a world of words, each page a portal to a new adventure. The scent of aged paper mingled with the soft glow of lamplight, casting a warm and inviting ambiance. Lost in the labyrinth of thoughts, I found solace in the company of literary giants, their wisdom seeping into my soul. Here, in this sanctuary of knowledge, I discovered the power of language, the magic of storytelling, and the beauty of the human experience.