CASE STUDYTexas A&M University

Streamlining Writing Assignments for Better Outcomes at Texas A&M University

MJ Vickers, a Sociology professor at Texas A&M University, teaches courses like Statistics for Sociology and Methods of Sociological Research to classes of 30–35 students. With no teaching assistants and a heavy course load, MJ needed a way to ease the grading burden while still delivering high-quality feedback that would help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills.

Key Takeaways

50% reduction in grading time

pencil outline on blue background

2x more feedback provided to students

Professor giving presentation in lecture hall at university. Participants listening to lecture and making notes.

Situation

Before Packback Deep Dives, MJ found grading to be inefficient and overwhelming, especially without support from teaching assistants
  • Grading a single paper took up to 20 minutes, largely due to manual grammar correction and feedback.
  • Despite a robust LMS, it lacked tools to support writing development or ease MJ’s grading workload.
  • Post-pandemic, MJ observed a noticeable decline in student writing quality and comprehension, which added to her frustration.

Action

In Fall 2023, MJ implemented Packback Deep Dives to automate lower-order feedback tasks and allow her to focus on content-level insights.
  • Deep Dives provided real-time AI feedback on grammar, spelling, and structure before MJ even saw the assignment.
  • MJ used the custom rubric tool to quickly assign scores and deliver detailed, targeted comments.
  • The platform’s AI content and plagiarism detection tools offered additional peace of mind in maintaining academic integrity.

Result

Deep Dives transformed MJ’s grading workflow and helped elevate student writing outcomes.
  • Grading time was cut in half, from 20 minutes to just 10 minutes per paper.
  • Students received more frequent and detailed feedback, which helped them improve both writing quality and confidence.
  • MJ was able to assign more writing without increasing her workload, knowing Deep Dives would provide consistent, instructional support.
  • The platform’s AI tools allowed MJ to focus on students’ ideas—not just mechanics—leading to stronger, more thoughtful submissions.
RESULTS

Real Impact,

Real Voices

Packback Deep Dives has been a lifesaver. It cut my grading time in half and gave me the space to focus on what really matters—helping students grow as writers. It’s the first tool I’ve used that truly supports both the student and the instructor.

MJ Vickers Texas A&M University
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