How to create a new element in jQuery:
var unreadMarker = $('<a>', { "class": "unread-marker" });
OR
var unreadMarker = $('<a class="unread-marker"></a>');
How to insert element:
a.after(b) ==> <a> <b>
a.insertAfer(b) ==> <b> <a>
a.append(b) ==> <a> xx yy b </a>
a.prepend(b) ==> <a> b xx yy </a>