Teaching and Learning
Rubrics and eMarking
eMarking using MS Word
This resource guides you through the technical tasks of providing feedback within an MS Word
assignment. Note: The details below are for MS Word versions 2007 and 2010. The functionality is
primarily the same for older MS Word versions, although button locations have changed.
An MS Word document is the most common submission format for SCU assignments due to program
accessibility and ease of use by both students and staff. Meaningful feedback is clearly provided at
the point of discussion when using the Comments, Tracking, Text Highlight or Font Colour features.
Different marking feedback features can be used to suit the level of feedback required.
Providing assignment feedback
The student assignments have been downloaded to your computer and are ready for marking. Before
you start to provide feedback on the assignment ensure the correct User Name has been activated to
indicate to the students that the feedback is from you.
To activate correct User Name:
Click the Review tab on the Ribbon (located top of screen)
Click the actual Track Changes text to view dropdown options
Click Change User Name
Make author changes if required, click OK.
Tip: Keep the default settings to markup (edit) a document as users are familiar with these details,
such as using underline for text insertions etc. The default details are located under Change
Tracking Options
Change User Name (enter author details):
Track Change Options (keep default settings):
 Tip: For MS Word 2003 and earlier versions, Track Changes is located under the Tools tab.
Modified: 12-03-2014
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Providing comments
The Comments feature enables you to add a comment at the point of discussion.
To add a comment:
Open an assignment file in MS Word
Either place the cursor to the left of a single word or select and highlight the group of
text required
Click the Review tab, click the New Comment button to activate feature
Type the details in the red comment balloon located to the right of page text.
Tip: Mouseover the comment balloon to view the User Name, Date and Time when
the comment was made.
Providing feedback changes
The Tracking feature tracks all changes made to a document, including insertions, deletions
and formatting changes. All changes you have made will be highlighted to assist student
learning.
To start using Tracking:
Click the Review tab, click the Track Changes icon to activate feature. Activation is
indicated by the orange highlight button
As the purpose is to provide constructive feedback to assist student learning, ensure
both the original document and changes will be displayed to highlight changes made.
The default Display for Review tab setting should display the Final Showing Markup
option. If not, open the dropdown menu and select.
To insert text:
Move the cursor to the area of change
Type in the character or word/s to insert
As you type, the inserted characters are displayed in red and underlined
A vertical line is placed at the left margin of the change/s to help identify where
changes have been made.
Modified: 12-03-2014
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Teaching and Learning
Changes made below:
1. Inserted “ice” to change the word to “mice” instead of “mouse”
2. Inserted “at” to correct spelling to “devastated”.
To delete text and make formatting changes:
Move the cursor to the left of the text to be deleted. Click the Del key to delete the characters.
Tip: Another option is to move the cursor to the right of the text and use the BACK SPACE key
The deleted characters are highlighted in a red bordered balloon located to the right of page text. Note:
Each deleted character may also have a red strikethrough line
A vertical line is placed at the left margin of the change/s to help identify where changes have been made.
Changes made below:
3. Deleted the characters “ouse”
4. Formatting changes made and feedback Comment balloon inserted
5. Deleted the second “and” from last sentence.
Providing feedback with text highlight
The Text Highlight Colour feature enables you to highlight text as if you were using a highlighter pen on
paper. This feature helps you to clearly demonstrate similar issues throughout an assignment and will
save you time on repeating feedback comments.
To highlight text:
The highlight feature is located on the Home tab in the Font section
Click the Text Highlight Colour dropdown menu and select a colour
The feature is activated (button is now orange). Drag the highlighter over the text. Note: The
highlighter will stay activated
Include a comment with the first highlighted text to explain
Click the ESC key or Stop Highlighting menu option to deactivate.
Tip: Another option is to select the text first then use the highlight colour. Note: The highlighter
feature will not be activated. Click the Text Highlight Colour button again to activate feature (button
is now orange).
Modified: 12-03-2014
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Teaching and Learning

Tip: If you want to remove the highlight, select the text, click No Colour.
Text Highlight Colour button (deactivated):
Highlighter feature activated (button orange):
Providing feedback with font colour
The font colour of the text can be changed if you decide to type a comment within the page text.
To change font colour:
The font colour feature is located on the Home tab in the Font section. Note: The button has an “A
with a red colour bar underneath” and is located to the right of the Text Highlight Colour button in
the images above
Click the Font Colour dropdown menu and select a colour
Start typing or highlight word/s with new colour.
MS Word eMarking fast facts:
Any feedback changes made can be edited at anytime within the document
To delete a comment or tracked change: Right click on the balloon to delete the
comment or reject the change by right clicking on the text or deleting the changed
text
As many students name their file “assignment 1” without any author details, if
not already so, save assignments by student surname for easier file storage and
searching
Many academics provide feedback via tracked changes within the MS Word
assignment at the point of discussion and summary comments within the
Blackboard Grade Centre
More than one reviewer can make feedback changes identified by their User Name
MS Office Word Help, Support and Training (several versions): Search “track
changes”.
Modified: 12-03-2014
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For more information view Rubrics and eMarking