Many times students - and even teachers! - need some help with making constructive comments on other's work. Here is a list adapted from an art site that you might find helpful.  What can you add to the list?

Guidelines for constructive criticism

Adapted from http://news.deviantart.com/article/21488/

• Look at everything – twice – before writing a comment, so that you have a good handle on what has been done and can make an intelligent comment.
• Be specific. “Good job” doesn’t give any information as to what in particular you liked. Give details for positive and negative comments.
• Keep the tone of your comment encouraging. Constructive criticism builds people up rather than knocking them down.
• Say what’s right with the work first. If you like something, say so. Knowing why people like it can still help because they know what they are doing right. If you really can’t see anything to praise, then question if you’re objective enough to give a truly constructive comment.
• Pick only one or maybe two things that could use improvement, even if there’s more than that wrong. It’s easier to improve slowly than cope with correcting an entire list of faults. When you comment on something you don’t like, suggest an alternative or a solution. Be careful how you phrase the criticism. It’s your opinion, it’s a suggestion, it might be helpful if…
• You should never flame someone’s work, no matter what. Flaming isn’t big and it isn’t clever and it’s never right, no matter what the target may or may not have done.

Articles

How To Leave Constructive Comments

by Stephany Springer

http://searchwarp.com/swa304759.htm

Teaching Commenting Skills

A blog post about elementary student commenting - but good information for all ages!

Giving Feedback

adapted from the Capella University Courseroom

• Plan your feedback, making notes first
• Direct comments strictly to the work and ideas, without personal comments
• Be specific. If something isn't working, describe why
• Suggest alternative ways to accomplish the goal
• Be liberal with praise for something you like
• Be diplomatic and honest at the same time
• Ask questions for clarity
• Acknowledge valid points of view
• Explain yourself.  Go beyond, "good point!" with short paragraphs