Patent ID: 7760195

Claim:
A method for facilitating grading, comprising (a) receiving, at a writing instrument, an identification of a total number of available points input using one or more data entry devices of the writing instrument; (b) thereafter, (i) receiving, at the writing instrument, a first set of one or more indications, input using one or more data entry devices of the writing instrument, to subtract a point, (ii) calculating, via a processing device of the writing instrument after each indication to subtract a point of the first set of one or more indications is received, a grade using division based on the identified total number of available points and the number of indications of the first set of one or more indications, and (iii) displaying, after each calculation following receipt of an indication to subtract a point of the first set of one or more indications, the grade calculated by that calculation; (c) thereafter, receiving, at the writing instrument, an indication to reset input using one or more data entry devices of the writing instrument; (d) after receiving the indication to reset, (i) receiving, at the writing instrument, a second set of one or more indications, input using one or more data entry devices of the writing instrument, to subtract a point, and (ii) calculating, via a processing device of the writing instrument after each indication to subtract a point of the second set of one or more indications is received, a grade using division based on the identified total number of available points and the number of indications of the second set of one or more indications, and (iii) displaying, after each calculation following receipt of an indication to subtract a point of the second set of one or more indications, the grade calculated by that calculation.