FEEDBACK SUGGESTIONS FOR BEGINNING POETS
A. GENERAL DO'S AND DON'TS FOR FEEDBACK
The Golden Rule of Feedback is "Give feedback to writers the way you would like to have feedback given to you.
- Do not criticize the poet, but rather give feedback on the poem.
- Be helpful. Make constructive suggestions.
- Be specific when you make suggestions.
- Don't make remarks that are sarcastic, cute or belittling.
- Don't ridicule.
- Use "I" messages such as "I feel..." or "I thought... or Consider trying...."
- Don't say that the poem is perfect or that nothing could be improved.
- Be sincere.
- Remember that no response is the same as silence to a writer.
- Don't make assumptions about the writer or his/her background.
- Never never NEVER rewrite the poem for the poet.
B. WEAKNESSES TO LOOK FOR WHEN GIVING FEEDBACK
These are only suggested flaws to look for in a poem. Not every poem will have all these flaws.
- incorrect spelling and grammar
- lack of punctuation
- telling not showing
- lack of title
- author intrusion
- mixture of styles, rhymed and unrhymed
- inconsistent use of capitals and no capitals to begin lines
- poor organization
- cliches
- overuse of ing verbs
- ambiguity
- lack of stanza breaks
- vagueness and obscure references
- use of passive rather than active verbs
- use of mediocre adverbs and adjectives
- ineffective use of repetition of lines or words
- no subject for an action
- verbosity or long-windedness
- overuse of words that need to be looked up in the dictionary
- repetition of words that mean the same thing
C. GENERAL PROCEDURES
1. Read the instructions for the Feedback Model
2. Use this model when responding to your colleagues’ poems.
D. FEEDBACK INSTRUCTIONS
- Read the poem over carefully. Try reading it aloud as well.
- Address the poet directly by name.
- Write one or two positive things that you liked about the poem. Be specific or quote the lines.
- Try to suggest one way the poem could be improved. Be specific. Be constructive.
- Conclude with a positive statement to the poet.
E. SAMPLE POEM FOR FEEDBACK
A BEAUTIFUL POEM
“1 It’s such a beautifal day today!!
2 The sun is shinning
3 I think I is ready
4 To participation in funning.
5 Everywhere the songbirds
6 are sing, sing, singing
7 their dear little heads off
8 perhaps they are robins
9 tedy bear, teddy bear
10 trun around round rond
11 teddy bear, teddy bear
12 jump upside down in he ground
13 I see a blue poodle
14 trotting down the street
15 I wonder if he’s related
16 to the collie across the street
17 The sun’s gone under the thunderclods
18 It’s suddenly starting to rain
19 Suddenly I’m ever do depressed
20 Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
Yma Goodwriter
F. FEEDBACK MODEL
Dear Yma:
I liked the way you’ve described nature in this poem. You’ve used good details to such as
the sun shining (line 2) and the birds singing (line 5 and 6). You’ve made nice use of
contrast by the transition of the sunny day to the thunderstorm (line 17).
I felt that the poem could be improved by more careful editing of spelling mistakes such as
in line 1 "It’s such a beautifal day today!!" or in line 9 "tedy bear, teddy bear"
I think you have made a good start to this poem and I look forward to seeing what you do
with it.
Poetess
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