---
title: "Inline Grading with Annotate PDF"
canonical: "https://helpcentre.macewan.ca/space/ETS/2601091075/Inline%20Grading%20with%20Annotate%20PDF"
format: markdown
---
**AUDIENCE: ****FACULTY**** | ****STAFF**
Annotate PDF allows commenting directly on student submissions. The advantage to Annotate PDF is that it keeps student work and instructor feedback within mêskanâs, eliminating the need to download, copy, and upload files. Using Annotate PDF, student submissions cannot be lost or returned to the wrong student. It is similar in concept to the *Comment* feature in Word, but it may take a little time to get used to the functionality of Annotate PDF.
> ℹ️ For Annotate PDF to work, students must submit in PDF format only. This handout assumes knowledge of how to create a writing assignment in mêskanâs.
## Creating the Assignment
While creating a writing assignment, select** File submission** in the **Submission type** section.
To prevent students from typing directly into Moodle, deselect **Online text**. Work typed directly into mêskanâs cannot be marked up in Annotate PDF.
In the **Feedback types** section of the Assignment page, select **Annotate PDF**. Selecting **Feedback Comments** gives a separate text box where comments can be made beside the students’ work when grading. (This is recommended, but it is not necessary.)
## Grading in Annotate PDF
To grade the submissions, navigate to the assignment and click **Grade**.
### Navigation
Use these arrows to move from page to page within the assignment. (This is easy to forget.)
### Annotate PDF Menus
To use any of these tools, click on the icon, then click on the object. Click on the Trash icon to delete the selected item.
**Text paper** - lets the user add a comment.
**Yellow box** - gives the option to add a background colour to the comment. (Green for positive feedback, yellow for minor problems, etc.) After you complete the comment and click away, the comment will minimize this speech bubble shape. It is generally easier to place comments above or below each other than side by side. To read a comment, hover over it to make it expand.
**Hand** - for moving the page around on the screen.
**Arrow** - selecting an object, changing or deleting.
**Pen**(script text) - best used with a writing tablet or with a very skillful mouse hand. To edit or delete this type of comment, each pen stroke must be selected and deleted separately. Ctrl + Z / Command + Z does not work.
**Line** - draws a straight line between two points.
**Rectangle/oval **- draws around the text.
**Highlighter** - highlights but only with horizontal lines.
**Annotation colour** –choose the colour of ink for all the shapes in this menu. Choose the colour before making the shape.
**Stamp** - choose between positive or negative imagery, such as check marks and happy faces.
**Stamp selection** – Choose your stamp, then click where on the student’s work you want the stamp to appear.
## Two Recommendations
- It is strongly recommended to use a practice assignment before using this functionality for real; it’s a bit quirky for the grader, and it’s best for both students and instructors to have a dry run before any real marks are on the line.
- Used in combination with the Moodle gradebook and either the Rubric or Marking Guide functionality, grading efficiency can be *greatly* improved. It is worth the investment of time to learn about these features.
## A Comforting Thought
mêskanâs saves a separate version of the document after it has been marked up; the student’s original work remains unaffected.
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