Feedback Strategies

Whenever someone asks me to read over their essay or story, I sometimes struggle with the best way to criticize and comment on their work.  I never want to seem overly critical or word things in ways that are unhelpful.  Usually, I focus on improvement as opposed to pointing out what is wrong; I try not to say that something is incorrect, but simply suggest another way in which the point could be more clear.

Be A Mirror suggested different ways to offer feedback while indulging the growth mindset.  It was informative, giving alternate ways of offering commentary as opposed to correcting someone.  It focused on helping with the specific assignment as well as making sure to give feedback that the person could also use later on.  I try to do this whenever I am asked to give feedback, but I sometimes find myself praising their effort as opposed to giving good feedback.


Criticizing Praise was different from other articles I have read, because it suggested that praise is a form of patronization instead of a respectful commentary.  Praise is a reward that can have harsh effects, like making the person disinterested in the assignment.  It is a judgement, which is not constructive like feedback is.  This article really points out how praise is ineffective and even harmful to a person’s distinction of their abilities correlated to effort.  In the future, I will focus on offering less praise and trying to give more constructive feedback.

Feedback Oprah from Imgflip


Articles:
Be A Mirror by Gravity Goldberg at Literacy Worldwide
Criticizing Praise by Valerie Strauss from the Washington Post

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