Welcome to the world of a CS2 TA, where grading midterms is just another day at the office. Let's dive into the behind-the-scenes of this often-overlooked role.

Imagine you're a student, staring at your computer screen, the weight of a CS2 midterm looming over you. You've poured hours into studying, and now it's time to put your knowledge to the test.

On the other side of the screen, a TA is diligently grading those exams, meticulously evaluating each student's work.

But what exactly does a TA do? What are their responsibilities in this grading process?

TAs are responsible for grading assignments and quizzes submitted by students. They access these submissions through the course management system, such as Canvas.

They navigate through a sea of student submissions, carefully reviewing each one, ensuring accuracy and fairness.

If a student submits a new version of an assignment or quiz after the TA has already graded the original submission, the TA will be notified and can access the new submission.

This means TAs are constantly on the lookout for updated submissions, ensuring that the most recent work is graded.

But the life of a TA isn't always smooth sailing. They face unique challenges that can make their job even more demanding.

TAs may not always receive solutions and rubrics from professors, making it difficult to grade assignments accurately and fairly.

"I think the first step, before you do something like talking to the dean/department head, is to ask your professor if you can go over a grading rubric and key with them or a TA." - Reddit user, 2018

Creating solutions and rubrics can be time-consuming, and TAs may need to negotiate additional compensation for this work.

"If you're being paid to grade this exam, then you should be operating at a level much, much higher than the level of the students taking it." - Academia Stack Exchange user, 2018

After all the grading is done, the final step is posting the grades. This is a crucial moment for both students and TAs.

With a click of a button, the TA releases the results, impacting the lives of countless students.

For some students, it's a sigh of relief, a confirmation of their hard work. For others, it might be a moment of disappointment, a reminder of the challenges they face.

The life of a CS2 TA is a complex one, filled with responsibility, challenges, and a sense of fulfillment. They play a vital role in the academic journey of countless students, ensuring that their hard work is recognized and their progress is measured.