ENG4UE
“We all need people who will give us feedback. that’s how we improve.”
— Bill Gates
ASKING FOR FEEDBACK
I believe that feedback is essential for growth and improvement in any field, not just English. It enables us to view our work from new perspectives and identify areas where we can further develop our skills. As Bill Gates once said, “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” This quote emphasizes the crucial role that constructive feedback plays in helping us reach our potential. Without it, we might miss important details or find ourselves unable to make significant progress. However, by actively seeking feedback, I am able to learn from others' insights and make adjustments that ultimately strengthen my work.
Throughout the first part of the semester, making feedback a priority has been central to my success in this course and my overall learning process. In class, I took full advantage of every opportunity to discuss my work with both Ms. Oliver and my peers. These moments provided clarity on any lingering questions I had and allowed me to receive immediate feedback. This helped me to identify and address any weaknesses in my writing early on, giving me time to make meaningful revisions. For example, while working on a personal response essay, I shared a draft with my classmates and was able to spot areas where my argument wasn’t as clear as I’d intended, thanks to their feedback.
In most cases, I proactively sought feedback both in and outside of class. After class, I often approached Ms. Oliver to ask for her advice on how to strengthen my work, and she would provide valuable insights on structuring my ideas more effectively. Additionally, if I had specific questions about a certain section, I’d discuss them with her to ensure I was meeting the assignment’s requirements. I also reached out to my peers frequently, asking them to review parts of my writing that I felt less confident about. For example, in the “This I Believe” essay, I shared my initial draft with a friend, who pointed out that my writing could be more concise as well as any additional errors I had made.
Overall, actively seeking feedback has allowed me to continuously refine my skills and gain confidence in my work. I’ve noticed that having feedback not only improves the quality of my assignments but also helps me approach future tasks with a more critical eye. By involving others in my learning process, I can continue growing in areas I might not have noticed on my own.
Term 2 Update:
This term, I’ve made significant progress in seeking feedback, which has been a cornerstone of my improvement as a writer and learner. Compared to earlier in the year, I’ve consistently and actively sought feedback not only from Ms. Oliver and classmates but also from peers outside of class. This approach has expanded my perspective and helped me improve my work in ways I hadn’t imagined.
In class, I made it a habit to ask peers such as Anren, Pranshu, and Philip for feedback on assignments like my essay and personal responses. Their insights often pointed out areas I needed to clarify or expand on, such as tightening my arguments or strengthening my transitions. Outside of class, I reached out to friends in the US and even Europe to get their opinions. This gave me a much wider perspective, as they often approached my work with fresh eyes and unique insights shaped by their own experiences and learning environments. For example, while working on my Beartown essay, a friend from Europe suggested ways to make my writing more concise while still preserving its impact, which greatly enhanced the final draft.
I also consistently sought advice from Ms. Oliver, both in and outside of class. Whether it was clarifying assignment expectations or improving the structure of my arguments, her guidance was instrumental in helping me identify and address weaknesses in my work. This process of revising and improving based on feedback allowed me to grow more confident in my abilities and produce work that I’m genuinely proud of.
Actively seeking feedback has not only improved the quality of my assignments but has also taught me how to approach future tasks critcally. Overall, the consistent effort I’ve made in seeking feedback has allowed me to make great progress this term, both as a student and as a writer.