Green Pens

Greetings again. I hope you’ve had a good week.

I’ve been doing some back-to-school shopping. Earlier this week I bought a new book on a subject I’m teaching.  Today I bought new issues of science magazines to use as examples in classes. And last week I bought some green pens.

Green pens? Why green pens?

When grading students’ writing, I like to write comments in green ink. Red ink sometimes seems harsh and angry, at least to American students. Black ink or blue ink may not show up enough. Green ink tends to be easy to see—and, at least to American eyes, it seems positive and constructive.

Even when giving word-processed feedback—for example, writing comments in Track Changes—I try to “grade in green ink”. In other words, I try to word my suggestions in a kind and helpful way.

I also try to use such an approach as a peer reviewer. Although I generally submit my comments through an online system, I like to “write them in green pen”. Authors work hard on their papers and deserve my respect. And if I offer suggestions gently, authors might be more likely to accept them.

A few years ago, one of my graduate students accepted a teaching job. He told me that in preparation for the first day of class, he bought a box of green pens. I hope that whatever kind of work they are doing, many of my former students are “using green pens”.

Wishing you a good week— Barbara