Authored by Rich Kingsford, Software Development Manager and Adjunct Instructor
#cryForHelp
I was first asked to adjunct a class in 2012 – I was very excited. For about 5 minutes…until I discovered adjuncting involved mountains of grading. Especially essay grading (blech!). But the non-whiny part of me really wants to build my students’ writing and logic skills…
Sound familiar? Today is your lucky day – I’m going to share some hotstrings with you. I’ll even throw in some other simple macros. After we’re done, you’re going to wish you could buy me a meal through DoorDash.
Intro to hotstrings
A hotstring is when you type in a short string (series of letters – or a word) and the string gets replaced with whatever other string you’d like.
Here’s my ‘mycell’ one:
I love to set up hotstrings (and other macros) for grading statements. Here are some grading hotstrings I recently used for a Finance class in my MBA program:
- Q1. Must mention EBIT volatility
- Q3. K-wacc = 9.41%
- Q4. NPV: $7.99. PI: 1.7. IRR: 22.6%
You could make hotstrings like “q1, q2, or q3” and then the hotstring would erase your one string and replace it with another string. Hint: a string is just a series of letters, like ‘asdf’ or ‘dog.’
To use hotstrings, you first need to create a macro and then run your macro. A macro is a set of instructions that tell your computer to run a process (e.g. replace ‘this string’ with ‘that string’). My favorite hotstring or macro tool for Windows is Autohotkey. For Macs, see how to setup hotstrings on a Mac.
Your first hotstring (using Autohotkey)
If you’d like to make your first Autohotkey script, here are some instructions:
- Install Autohotkey
2. Copy the two lines below
::Vaguee::Some arguments are a little too general. It’s good for the arguments to be brief, but they should be specific, insightful, and well defended.
::Unclearr::Some readability problems here. Please reference the guidelines on this clear writing resource: https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/writing/10-tips-for-writing-clear-concise-sentences.htm
3. Open Notepad
4. Paste the two lines and save the file as whateverYouWant.ahk
5. Double-click the Autohotkey file to make it run
6. Type ‘vaguee’ (did it replace the word with your grading statement?)
Cool huh?
“Why did you spell ‘Vaguee’ and ‘Unclearr’ like that?”
- So it wouldn’t mess me up when I type normally.
- Remember Jim’s prank on Dwight in The Office? If not, here’s a youtube video on the topic. Go ahead and watch it… I’ll wait.
So… you actually use these?
I do! Especially when grading essays.
Except I often use another method, that’s far easier to setup. I just copy/paste whatever grading statements I want for the assignment and then just erase the irrelevant ones. So if a paper was perfect, I’d erase all of them. When I’m feeling especially motivated, I’d copy/paste the student’s statement right before my feedback.
A quick example:
“Here’s a dumb sentence a student write.” Some grammar/sentence structure issues throughout. Suggest using GMAT practice exams to study up on proper grammar. http://www.majortests.com/gmat/sentence_correction.php
I use this method for my finance papers. I’ll paste my statements again here:
- Q1. Must mention EBIT volatility
- Q3. K-wacc = 9.41%
- Q4. NPV: $7.99. PI: 1.7. IRR: 22.6%
For essays, I used these grading statements (I used my second macro 👆 to navigate these):
The response contains too many details describing abstract concepts. Be brief in describing concepts and do so only when explaining your response to the prompt question.
Slightly breaches the length limit. Specificity, thoroughness, clarity, and insightfulness are good, but should be done within the limit.
A few too many facts from the case without original thought. The focus should be on original insights in the context of case facts. Case facts can also be used to illustrate or explain your thinking.
Argument fails to adequately address the question
Insufficient detail on some responses. Arguments should be specific, insightful, and well defended.
Some grammar/sentence structure issues throughout. Suggest using GMAT practice exams to study up on proper grammar. http://www.majortests.com/gmat/sentence_correction.php
Please include the questions as topic headers in future assignments
Very good arguments. Well articulated. I had a hard time finding flaws in this essay.
Use topic headers. These help give the reader context and make it so he or she can interpret the content as fast and effortlessly as possible.
Some arguments are a little too general. It’s good for the arguments to be brief, but they should be specific, insightful, and well defended.
Some readability problems here. Please reference the guidelines on this clear writing resource: https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/writing/10-tips-for-writing-clear-concise-sentences.html
Conclusion
I joked around in my intro, but I truly believe the best teachers preserve their energy and apply it to the highest priority activities. Rarely is grading papers my highest priority activity… I’ll admit to some laziness and desire to minimize the time I spend grading papers, but I also care about my students and want, very deeply, to strengthen their logic and writing muscles. Macros and hotstrings are fun and help me with all of this.