The Language of Response

? Try to find the positive you can build on in the piece of writing you are responding to.  This is considerably more difficult than finding fault with it.  It is of much more use to the writer to help him or her identify the strengths in the piece that can be worked with rather than when isn’t working.

? Express any feedback or response that you give in terms of yourself the reader and the effect the piece had on you, rather than making sweeping generalizations or judgments.  Compare the effect of “The beginning of your paper has nothing to do with the rest of it.”  to “I didn’t understand the connection between your introduction and the rest of your paper.” The first puts the writer on the defensive, whereas the second invites the writer to think about the connection and how it could be shown better.

? Be specific in your response--tell the reader exactly which lines or phrases affected you.  Tell the reader what you remember of the piece--avoid general praise like “good paper”.

? Give suggestions, not commands.  Begin by saying something like “You might want to try putting more dialogue into this scene” rather than “Put more dialogue here.”

? Show the writer that you are listening.  It isn’t enough to be listening; you need to let the reader see that you are listening.  Eye contact helps, as does your visible reaction to the story.  It isn’t easy to read your work out in front of others.  Show the writer that you are paying attention.

? Respond.  The worst response is no response.  React to the piece as it’s being read.  A laugh at a joke tells the writer more than volumes of written feedback.