Written FeedbackAdapted from Susan Brookhart’s How to Give Effective Feedback

to Your Students Chapter Three

Providing Effective Written Feedback

“Writing good feedback requires an understanding that language does more than describe our world; it constructs our world.”

Written Feedback Examples

1. “ What did you think about when you chose that topic?”

2. “You won’t find much about carrier pigeons. That’s too narrow a topic. Pick something else.”

Providing Effective Written Feedback

Clarity

Specificity Tone

Clarity• Purpose: To maximize the chances

that students will understand the feedback.

Characteristics of Good Feedback Clarity

Characteristics of Bad Feedback Clarity

1. Using simple vocabulary and sentence structure.

1. Using big words and complicated sentences.

2. Writing or speaking on the student’s developmental level.

2. Writing to show what you know, not what the student needs.

3. Checking that the student understands the feedback.

3. Assuming the student understand the feedback.

Specificity• Purpose: to give guidance but not to do

the work for the students, as well as offer suggestions that are specific enough so the student knows what the next step to take.

Characteristics of Good Feedback Specificity

Characteristics of Bad Feedback Specificity

1. Using nouns and descriptive adjectives. 1. Using pronouns (this, that).

2. Describing concepts or criteria.2. Copyediting or correcting every error.

3. Describing learning strategies that may be useful.

3. Making vague suggestions (“Try harder”).

Tone• Purpose:

1. To communicate respect for the student as a learner.

2. To position the student as a agent (active, not passive).

3. To inspire thought, curiosity, or wondering. Characteristics of Good Feedback Tone

Characteristics of Bad Feedback Tone

1. Using words and phrases that assume the student is an active learner.

1. Using words and phrases that “lecture” or “boss”.

2. Asking questions.

2. Telling the student what to do-leaving nothing up to the student’s choice.

3. Sharing what you are wondering about.

3. Assuming that your feedback is the last word, the final expert opinion.

Providing Effective Written Feedback

ClaritySpecificity

Tone