Feedback is meant to help us grow as writers. It can be given in many different ways: verbally, written comments, positive/negative, etc. There are also different types of comments: judging comments (how well you do something), coaching comments (suggestions), reacting comments (reviever’s understanding of paper), and other comments (too vague/confusing). Throughout my academic career, I have always appreciated feedback from my teachers and peers regarding the work I was doing. A lot of the time they are able to open your eyes to a new perspective. However, other times it can be difficult to apply the feedback you get to your essay. Some people might just do exactly what the feedback says even if they don’t agree with it, but it’s important to remember that at the end of the day, you are the author and you make the final decisions. With that being said, you don’t need to take every suggestion that was given to you. Instead, you just need to decide if the comments relate to what you’re trying to accomplish.
Jilian Grauman developed a process to make feedback easier to understand and apply. Set goals, review feedback, acknowledge emotional responses, develop follow up questions, and act on your goals. She encourages the reader to partake in this method and reassures that feedback doesn’t have to be a scary thing. I often find myself being unsure what to do with comments I have received but after reading this article I learned that we just have to have an open mind. Feedback isn’t meant to be an attack on your skills but rather guidance on how to improve yourself. Taking advantage of feedback will only strengthen us.
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