Things to keep in mind when grading:

• Transparency.
• Fairness.
• Explanation. Use grading as a teaching opportunity (by giving counter-examples, etc.).

Each TA focus group will be given four (4) questions, and 3 answers to each. Each TA will then grade these 3 papers with four questions each in the stipulated time. After the time passes, the TA moderator will discuss the recommendations and best-practices of grading, specifying the traps set in each question for the TAs.

The aim of this session is the following:

• Get TAs to handle situations when the key is given, and not given
• Not to take too much time in the grading process itself
• Not to test the TAs' technical knowledge, but to test their grading skills

#### Questions 1 and 2

These questions will be either multiple choice, or having numerical answers. The TAs will be given the correct answer, but the answer sheets will also have space to show working to get the answer.

Sample question:
Given an electrical circuit, find the effective resistance between points A and B

Sample question:
Given a pulley-and-weight system, find the tension on a particular string

Sample question:
Given a system of linear equations (2 variables, 2 equations), find values of x and y

#### Questions 3 and 4

These questions will require long answers, and students will be expected to explain concepts in their answers. The challenge for the TAs is to create their own answer keys, perhaps by going through each answer, and then start grading.

Sample question
Give one of the standard mathematical paradoxes, e.g.

(1)
$$-6 = -6 -6 + 25/4 = -6 + 25/4 4 - 10 + 25/4 = 9 - 15 + 25/4 (2 - 5/2)^2 = (3 - 5/2)^2 2 - 5/2 = 3 - 5/2 2 = 3$$

And ask them to explain how it does not make sense.

Sample question
Given a standard pn junction diode in a black box with two terminals (one connected to the p side and one connected to the n side), explain how to use a digital multimeter to determine which terminal connects to the p side and which terminal connects to the n side. Hint: Consider the resistance of pn junction diodes.

Sample question
??

#### List of tricky situations

1. In a computation based question
• No working shown, small mistake in value
• Working shown, small mistake in value
1. In a long-form question