Recently, I’ve written about dealing with feedback on your paper, specifically negative feedback. As much as we can work on the way we handle negative feedback, it’s a two-way street. Just like learning to receive feedback, giving feedback that is constructive and valuable is also a skill that can be honed. Here are 6 tips to get started!
1. Check whether your expectations match
Before you start, make sure you and the author agree on what you will focus your feedback on. Does the author expect comments on the structure of the text? On paragraph cohesion? On whether the arguments are logical? Or on comma usage?
If you haven’t received any specific requests, ask them, ‘What would you like me to focus on?’ And if the author isn’t sure, first look at structure, and only at the next feedback round at style and spelling.
2. Admit when you don’t understand something
You won’t look stupid when you say you can’t follow a certain sentence or paragraph. One of the challenges of writing is understanding that not everyone knows and thinks the same. To create a clear text, the author must know where they might lose their audience. Therefore, knowing when a transition or concept needs to be made more explicit is very helpful.
3. Also mention what you like
If you notice something that works well, explicitly say so. This not only builds trust and confidence, but it’s also simply helpful for the author to know what they don’t have to worry about. Here, just as with criticism, honesty is important.
4. Be specific on how the author could improve the text
Don’t only flag up where there is a problem, but also mention how it could be solved. Don’t only write ‘confusing´ or ‘unclear´ next to the text. Instead, explain, ´I’m wondering whether this concept needs to be clarified. Now, it suddenly appears in the last sentence. I suggest adding a sentence explaining the role of this concept.´
If you feel something is wrong, but you can’t put your finger on what it is exactly, simply say so. ‘I think this sentence doesn’t flow quite right, but I don’t know exactly where the problem lies.’
5. Focus on the experience of the reader.
Critical comments can be less abrasive if you don’t address your comments to the author directly. Instead of writing, ‘You are jumping between topics, which makes your text confusing,’ write ‘I’m worried readers might find this part confusing. I think first discussing topic A and then topic B would help here.’
6. Don’t simply rewrite the whole text
Refrain from changing too much in the text itself. Giving suggestions for rephrasing whole sentences and paragraphs is absolutely fine, but always explain what you did and why you did it. Giving feedback on a text is not the same as editing a text. The author has to have the possibility to consider your comments and then decide whether to either accept your suggestion or not.