Grading

The answer is no. Grading is the least rewarding part of my job. Dan Nexon puts it just right:

Still, when I try to describe what it is like to grade I often resort to metaphors involving large, brain-sucking monsters slowly gorging themselves on my consciousness and leaving in place the backwash of their bilious orifices.

As Dan notes, the situation is more tolerable in a seminar setting than in a large class. In a seminar setting, students develop ideas through discussion, and you get a sense of how a particular student’s thinking has developed. Also, as Dan points out, a great student essay is a gem and a joy.

However, I still enjoy all the other aspects of my job (writing lectures, delivering lectures, leading discussion, formulating syllabi, formulating assignments, talking to students) more than grading.