This PowerPoint is ©2014 by This PowerPoint is ©2014 by Robin L. Simmons..

All Rights Reserved.All Rights Reserved.

The Comment The Comment SandwichSandwich

A Strategy for Giving A Strategy for Giving Constructive FeedbackConstructive Feedback

The Typical Formula for SuccessThe Typical Formula for SuccessStep 1:Step 1: Earn a college degree. Earn a college degree.

Step 2:Step 2: Begin an Begin an entry-level entry-level position, where you position, where you will be will be overworked overworked and and unappreciated unappreciated until you until you

have “paid your dues.”have “paid your dues.”

Step 3:Step 3: Realize that you must Realize that you must distinguish distinguish yourself from the crowd if you want yourself from the crowd if you want

professional success.professional success.

Step 4:Step 4: Agree to lead. Become the supervisor, Agree to lead. Become the supervisor, notnot the the supervisedsupervised..

Step 5:Step 5: Reap the benefits of more Reap the benefits of more responsibility.responsibility.

Bosses must Bosses must evaluateevaluate their their employees. Good bosses use the employees. Good bosses use the

comment sandwichcomment sandwich .. .. ..

The Comment SandwichThe Comment Sandwich

StartStart with a with a complimentcompliment, , the first slice of bread.the first slice of bread.

Next, gently Next, gently criticizecriticize the most the most important thing you want fixedimportant thing you want fixed—the —the meatmeat of the problem.of the problem.

EndEnd with another with another complimentcompliment, soft like bread , soft like bread to to cushioncushion the the blowblow..

What type of boss would What type of boss would youyou prefer? prefer? One who One who cannotcannot say anything say anything nicenice … …

Argh! Can’t you do

anything right?

Argh! Can’t you do

anything right?

Remind me again why I hired you.

Remind me again why I hired you.

Your performance is a big thumbs

down!

Your performance is a big thumbs

down!

Or a boss who recognizes Or a boss who recognizes youryour valuevalue and wants and wants youyou to to improve?improve?

I really appreciate

when you go that extra

mile for us!

I really appreciate

when you go that extra

mile for us!

I would appreciate

it, though, if you arrived

on time.

I would appreciate

it, though, if you arrived

on time.

You are a real asset to this organization. Keep up the good work!

You are a real asset to this organization. Keep up the good work!

Now Now youyou get to be the get to be the boss!boss!

• Read the essays of Read the essays of threethree people. people.

• Write a Write a comment comment sandwichsandwich for for each each essay essay you read.you read.

• The quality of the The quality of the comment sandwiches comment sandwiches you writeyou write will will determine your grade determine your grade for this assignment.for this assignment.

EffectiveEffective comment sandwiches comment sandwiches have these characteristics:have these characteristics:

• All sentences in the sandwich are All sentences in the sandwich are completecomplete..

• A compliment or a criticism will offer a A compliment or a criticism will offer a specific examplespecific example..

• The compliment or criticism is The compliment or criticism is honesthonest but takes the writer’s but takes the writer’s feelingsfeelings into into considerationconsideration..

• The sandwich is 75 - 100 words long.The sandwich is 75 - 100 words long.

Before you start reading other Before you start reading other students’ papers, let’s do a students’ papers, let’s do a

little little preparation …preparation …

At the top of your draft writeAt the top of your draft write“Yes, you can write on my “Yes, you can write on my

essay”essay”oror

“No, please do not write on my “No, please do not write on my essay.”essay.”

Remember that if you Remember that if you wantwant good feedback from good feedback from peerspeers, ,

you have to you have to givegive good good feedback feedback yourselfyourself!!

Read this example:Read this example:

Cool title! Some spelling errors, though. Love the story in your introduction!

Cool title! Some spelling errors, though. Love the story in your introduction!

Read this example:Read this example:

You are the greatest writer I have ever read! The problems I found are too small and insignificant to mention. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a book contract by the end of the semester! You are really that good!

Read this example:Read this example:

Your mother might like this essay, but I can’t say the same! You are rambling in a disjointed and annoying manner. I would tell you to shut up if I were listening to you tell this story. You might be better than me in math class, but you cannot write!

Read this example:Read this example:

I love the story in your introduction. I had the exact same thing happen to me at Publix, so I immediately related to what you had to say. You need to look at your word choice, though. Remember that they’re means they are. You need their instead. Otherwise, you have great details. I love the description of the smelly old guy in the checkout line!

Things to Things to complimentcompliment or or criticizecriticize in your colleagues’ essays:in your colleagues’ essays:

• TitleTitle• HeadingHeading• IntroductionIntroduction• Thesis statementThesis statement• OriginalityOriginality• DetailsDetails• Page formatPage format• ConclusionConclusion

• Sentence errorsSentence errors• Word choiceWord choice• Concrete languageConcrete language• TransitionsTransitions• Sentence lengthSentence length• Paragraph lengthParagraph length• ClarityClarity• HumorHumor

The End.The End.