When a student turns in a paper with no name,
you can ususally just shuffle that paper to the end of
the stack and then grade everyone else's paper first and
input their grades first and thus the no-name paper will
belong to the only blank spot on your grade sheet.
But if you get two no-name papers then you end up
having to do investigative work that takes up your
valuable time that you could have invested doing
something more fun and enjoyable.
There are a couple ways to minimize this sort of thing
that you might want to try:
1. Include a statement in your syllabus that if
a student turns in a paper or test with no name you have
the right to dock them 5% on that paper. While you
really don't want to do this, (it creates bad will), the
mere fact that you include the statement in your
syllabus will help make sure that students put their
name on their papers.
2. Just before the last question on a test,
include the sentence "Did you put your name on this
test?" By sandwiching the question between two
questions you get their attention. Or for a more
clever approach you can include the sentence, "Did you
put your name on this test?" as one of the wrong answers
in a multiple choice test.
3. In the written instructions for the exam,
include "Put your name on this test" as the last
instruction prior to beginning the test.
4. If you are giving a signed test, and the
students are writing what you sign, then write your
basic instructions on the board (or include in your
overhead projection) "Put your name on your paper" at
the top of the list, and then again at the bottom of the
list. Example:
Quiz Instructions:
Put your name on your paper.
Put today's date.
Put the quiz number: ____
Number 1 to 20.
Did you put your name???