Panel 1: In
the title panel of this Sunday-style colour comic, Barbara is looking
cynical as she glances sidelong at the title page of an essay, which
reads, "Draft 1 (Pending Your Detailed Review)." "West of Bathurst" and
"by Kari Maaren" are written on the title page in red pen.
Panel 2: Barbara sits in her university office, talking to a student, a young blonde woman.
Student: So I brought my paper with me. Could you look over it and tell me if I'm going to do okay?
Barbara: I'll check your thesis, but I can't pre-mark the paper.
Panel 3:
Student: No, I understand, but could you just read it over and tell me if it's heading for an "A"?
Barbara: That's pre-marking. I can't pre-mark it.
Panel 4:
Student: Yeah, absolutely, except I just need you to make sure it's good before I hand it in.
Barbara: I have over two hundred students; I can't pre-mark all their work. I'll look at your thesis.
Panel 5:
Student: But that's not enough. I'm not asking you to pre-mark it; I'm just asking you to read it and give it a mark.
Barbara: That's pre-marking. I can't pre-mark it. I can't mark your paper before I mark your paper because that's pre-marking.
Panel 6: They stare at each other.
Panel 7:
Student: So anyway, if you could pre-mark my paper--
Barbara [reaches towards her desk]: You'll need to excuse me while I stab myself in the eye with this stapler.
Alt-Text: When these conversations happen via e-mail, they can continue for DAYS.
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