Feedback Pedagogy

Transform feedback from judgment to learning opportunity.

Feedback Philosophy

Feedback vs Evaluation

Evaluation	Feedback
Judges quality	Improves quality
Backward-looking	Forward-looking
"This is wrong"	"Here's how to improve"
Grade	Growth

Effective Feedback Is...

• Specific: Points to exact moments, not vague impressions
• Actionable: Gives clear next steps
• Timely: Close enough to remember context
• Balanced: Acknowledges strengths and growth areas
• Goal-referenced: Tied to learning objectives

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Written Feedback Framework

The Feedback Sandwich (Use Sparingly)

Strength → Growth Area → Encouragement

Better: Targeted feedback that addresses what matters most.

The 3-2-1 Model

3 things done well (specific examples)
2 areas for development (with suggestions)
1 question to consider (promotes reflection)

Feedback Comment Types

Type	Purpose	Example
Praise	Reinforce effective choices	"Your thesis clearly states your argument and previews your main points"
Explanation	Clarify why something matters	"Topic sentences help readers follow your logic"
Suggestion	Offer concrete improvement	"Try adding a transition here to connect these ideas"
Question	Prompt deeper thinking	"What evidence would strengthen this claim?"
Reader response	Share authentic reaction	"I got lost here—what's the main point?"

Prioritization

Don't mark everything. Focus on:

1. Higher-order concerns first

   • Thesis/argument
   • Organization/structure
   • Evidence/support
   • Analysis/development

2. Then lower-order concerns

   • Sentence clarity
   • Word choice
   • Grammar/mechanics
   • Formatting

Comment Placement

Location	Use For
Marginal	Specific, local issues
End note	Big-picture patterns, priorities
Rubric	Systematic criteria assessment

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Rubric Design

Rubric Types

Type	Description	Best For
Holistic	Single score, overall quality	Quick assessment, writing portfolios
Analytic	Separate scores per criterion	Detailed feedback, skill isolation
Single-point	Criteria list, no levels	Flexibility, avoiding "teaching to rubric"

Analytic Rubric Template

## [Assignment Name] Rubric

| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|-----------|---------------|----------|----------------|---------------|
| Thesis | Clear, arguable, specific thesis that addresses prompt | Thesis present and mostly clear | Thesis unclear or too broad | No identifiable thesis |
| Evidence | Multiple relevant, well-integrated sources | Adequate evidence with some integration issues | Limited or poorly integrated evidence | Little to no evidence |
| Analysis | Sophisticated analysis connecting evidence to argument | Analysis present but could be deeper | Summary more than analysis | Minimal analysis |
| Organization | Clear structure with effective transitions | Mostly organized with some rough transitions | Disorganized or hard to follow | No discernible structure |
| Mechanics | Nearly error-free | Few errors that don't impede meaning | Errors sometimes impede meaning | Errors significantly impede meaning |

**Total: ___/20**

Single-Point Rubric Template

## [Assignment Name] Single-Point Rubric

| Areas for Growth | Criterion (Proficient) | Areas of Strength |
|------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
| [Space for feedback] | Clear thesis that takes a position | [Space for feedback] |
| [Space for feedback] | Evidence supports all major claims | [Space for feedback] |
| [Space for feedback] | Analysis explains how evidence proves thesis | [Space for feedback] |
| [Space for feedback] | Logical organization with transitions | [Space for feedback] |
| [Space for feedback] | Appropriate academic style | [Space for feedback] |

Rubric Design Principles

• Align criteria with learning objectives
• Use observable, measurable language
• Avoid vague terms ("good," "adequate")
• Include descriptors at each level
• Share rubric with students BEFORE assignment

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Peer Review Facilitation

Preparing Students

1. Model feedback using examples
2. Practice on anonymous samples
3. Provide structured protocols
4. Establish community norms

Peer Review Protocol

## Peer Review Guide

**Reader**: [Name]
**Writer**: [Name]

### First Read (Big Picture)
Read the whole piece without stopping. Note your overall impression.

- What is the main argument?
- What worked well?
- What confused you?

### Second Read (Detailed)
Answer these questions with specific examples:

1. **Thesis**: Can you identify the thesis? Is it arguable?
2. **Structure**: Does the organization make sense? Where did you get lost?
3. **Evidence**: Which evidence is most convincing? Where do you need more?
4. **Analysis**: Where could the writer dig deeper?

### Feedback Summary
- One thing that's working well:
- One thing to prioritize in revision:
- One question for the writer:

Peer Review Norms

Readers should:

• Be specific (cite examples)
• Ask questions
• Suggest, don't command
• Focus on the writing, not the writer

Writers should:

• Listen without defending
• Ask clarifying questions
• Take notes
• Decide what feedback to use

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Verbal Feedback (Conferences)

Conference Structure

1. Open: "What do you want me to focus on?"
2. Listen: Let student identify concerns
3. Prioritize: "Let's focus on X because..."
4. Demonstrate: Model revision strategy
5. Apply: Have student try it
6. Close: "What's your next step?"

Questioning Techniques

Instead of...	Try...
"This is unclear"	"What do you mean here?"
"Add more detail"	"What else could you tell me about this?"
"This doesn't make sense"	"Walk me through your thinking here"
"You need a thesis"	"What's the main point you want readers to take away?"

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Efficiency Strategies

For Large Classes

• Use rubrics consistently
• Create comment banks for common issues
• Audio/video feedback (often faster than writing)
• Peer review for formative feedback
• Focus grading on selected criteria
• Grade samples, not everything

Comment Bank Examples

THESIS ISSUES:
- "Your thesis tells me what the paper is about but doesn't take a position. 
   Try: 'Although X, Y because Z.'"
- "This thesis is too broad. Can you narrow to a specific aspect?"

EVIDENCE ISSUES:
- "Good evidence, but I need your analysis. What does this quote prove?"
- "This claim needs support. What source could back this up?"

ORGANIZATION:
- "Nice paragraph, but it might fit better after [section]. See what you think."
- "I need a transition here to understand how we got from A to B."

Audio/Video Feedback

Benefits:

• Faster than writing (often 2-3x)
• Conveys tone better
• Feels more personal
• Can screencast while scrolling

Tips:

• Keep under 5 minutes
• Start with overview, then specifics
• Reference specific locations
• End with priorities

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Growth Mindset Language

Fixed Mindset	Growth Mindset
"You're not good at this"	"This skill takes practice"
"This is wrong"	"This doesn't quite work yet"
"You don't understand"	"Let's work on understanding"
"Smart students get this"	"This is challenging for everyone"

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References

• references/rubric-templates.md - Ready-to-use rubrics
• references/comment-bank.md - Reusable feedback comments
• references/peer-review-protocols.md - Peer review activities