Decide the skill you will assess and share this information with the students. This will ensure the students know what you are looking for and will prevent comments becoming a source of confusion. Make sure the comments you make focus on the skills students are expecting you to judge.
Use pencil, a green pen or neutral color to make your comments. Do not mark in red; it is associated with blood and danger and will make your comments appear negative.
Read through the whole assessment quickly before writing any notes. This enables you to gain a sense of how successfully the student has completed the task. Notice patterns or repeated errors and direct your comments toward praising students for something they do well or need to work on for the next assessment.
Write questions that challenge errors instead of highlighting them as mistakes. Do not correct every spelling and grammar error or write too much on each page, this demoralizes students and takes up too much of your time.
Write specific comments in the margin and more general comments at the end of the assessment. Address the comments at the end of the assessment directly to the student and justify the grade you award. Ensure your tone is professional and avoid using sarcasm or jokes that may upset the student.