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TRANSCRIPT: It’s not uncommon for feedback to include jargon or terms that make little sense to the person who is receiving it. In academic contexts, for example, tutors might use discipline-specific terms that are second nature to them, but that are confusing to students. If you come across terms you don’t understand, a useful first step might be to consult a dictionary.
But keep in mind that some common feedback words, like “synthesise” or “evaluate,” might have specific meanings in academic contexts that aren’t fully captured in a general dictionary definition. In addition, some feedback words might differ in meaning across different academic disciplines. For example, “evaluate” in a psychology assignment might mean something different than in a mathematics assignment. If you’re unsure, refer to discipline-specific resources to get a clearer understanding of the terminology used. There might be handbooks, websites, guidelines, or even AI tools, for instance that explain these terms in the specific context of your discipline. If you can ask the person who gave you the feedback, then that’s a good idea, but try talking to your peers, too. They may have encountered the same feedback before, and can perhaps help explain what the terminology means in practice.
Another common issue for students is that their feedback uses familiar words but in unclear or unfamiliar ways. You might understand what the words mean, but still not fully grasp what the feedback is asking you to do. For example, suppose you’re told your writing lacks clarity. You know what ‘clarity’ is, but what does the comment mean?: Does it mean your ideas weren’t organised well? Or maybe it’s pointing to a problem with your choice of words? Figuring out which interpretation is correct might mean looking closely at your work and assessing for yourself whether each interpretation seems valid. Maybe a friend or family member could even help give you a second opinion on this.
In summary, making sense of feedback terminology can often involve recognising the context and subject in which those terms were used, using resources like dictionaries, AI tools, your peers, and testing out different interpretations of the language against your work. Most importantly of all, don’t let a confusing word or phrase discourage you from turning this valuable advice into fuel for your improvement!
Practice Activity
Practice Activity
