[Echo-chan713]

We were required to cover our books (almost like as if it was the rules/law of the school, but the book still looked like crap.

Well you can scribble on the paper cover part of the textbook as long a it doesn't bleed through to the actual cover like sharpies, sharpies no bleed works on then but just the basic permanent marker, it'll bleed through depending on how much time/pressure on that one spot.