Here are the worst types of essay feedback you will get at uni

Those of us who do arts subjects are no strangers to feedback forms. We get them after essays, presentations, exams, tutor meetings and even seminars to evaluate our experiences.

Let’s be honest for a second though, nine times out of ten feedback is completely fucking useless.

This issue has become so pressing that most education candidates in the recent student election (remember those?) mentioned it as a major problem in need of correction.

The level of feedback is ludicrous. Most comments are vague, some say nothing at all and others are outright insulting.

Office hours are basically one hour a week and if you’re busy you will never get advice for anything.

Here are the different types of feedback you will get:

No comments Nadia

These markers think showing you a script completely devoid of comments is actually the best criticism you can get. In reality they are teachers who cannot be bothered to properly correct an essay.

The solitary tick would indicate nothing on this page is wrong. Therefore, how are you supposed to improve from this?

Without proper comments nothing can be absorbed from this experience, this essay was pointless and you have learned nothing.

Two words Tom

These markers think your essay is great. So great they literally have nothing more to add rather than “good”.

It creates the impression your essay is so close to perfection in every single aspect that nothing can be critiqued. There is no room for improvement despite the 2:1 mark. In some ways this is even more infuriating than having no comments.

Vague Victoria

??? What does this mean

These markers perpetually highlight how little they understand your essay.

How is it helpful to tell us you don’t know what stuff means? You need to tell us why things are vague, why you don’t understand. This comment would be much more helpful than just branding students’ work as meaningless.

Harsh Harry

Historically irrelevant

Your last point is just Daft!

I have no idea what is going on here

Are you crazy??

These markers are just dicks. Not only are they stupidly vague and minimalist with comments, but most of what they say is insulting.

Saying people are “daft” is not constructive criticism. Instead of thinking of inventive ways to tell people their essay is shite, why not try to help them make it not shite?

Bland statement Ben

Needs more analysis

The expression above is the most hated phrase in the entire arts department. Whenever anyone receives this comment everyone responds in the same way.

“How?”

How does it need more analysis? You can analyse stuff all day and night but what specifically needs more? It’s absolutely infuriating.

Legendary Larry

These markers are better because they know when to have a laugh. Most of the marks consist of some form of witty banter.

Although not directly constructive, humorous comments can be more memorable, meaning in the next piece of work the same mistake is less likely to be repeated.