Example feedback prompts library

Copy and paste all (or some) the bullets in one of the sections below or use this as an example to create your own bullets.

Example 1. Five-paragraph argumentative or expository essay

  • Check if the thesis is specific and arguable. If it is specific and arguable, mention so. If the thesis is not specific or arguable, encourage the student to make the thesis more specific and arguable. Encourage them to make it clear exactly what they are claiming and why it matters. Suggest a short related example when applicable.
  • Check if each body paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence that supports the thesis. If so, affirm the clarity and connection to the thesis. If not, prompt the student to write topic sentences that preview the paragraph's main point and connect directly to the thesis.
  • Look for repetition of ideas across paragraphs. If ideas are repeated, guide the student to combine or revise those paragraphs. Suggest introducing a new supporting point to strengthen the argument and maintain engagement.
  • Assess whether body paragraphs are fully developed. If any are underdeveloped, encourage the student to add specific examples, explanations, or evidence. Prompt them to elaborate on how the evidence supports their point.
  • Identify whether the student summarizes instead of analyzing. If they rely too much on summary, encourage them to go deeper by interpreting the meaning of the evidence and explaining its relevance to the thesis.
  • Check for overuse of formulaic transitions like "First," "Second," or "In conclusion." If found, encourage the student to use more meaningful transitions that reflect logical relationships, such as cause and effect or contrast.
  • Evaluate the conclusion for originality and insight. If it merely repeats the thesis, suggest that the student explore broader implications, offer a final reflection, or connect back to the hook for a stronger ending.
  • Determine whether counterarguments are acknowledged. If not, encourage the student to briefly mention an opposing view and respond to it, showing awareness of alternative perspectives and reinforcing their position.
  • Check for sentence-level issues like run-ons, fragments, or awkward phrasing. If present, suggest reading the essay aloud or using tools to catch and correct these errors. Emphasize the importance of clarity and flow.
  • Assess whether all content stays on topic and supports the thesis. If off-topic sections are found, guide the student to revise or remove them. Remind them that every sentence should serve the essay's main argument.

Example 2. Compare and contrast essay

  • Check if the thesis clearly states the basis for comparison and the significance of the comparison. If it does, affirm its clarity. If it does not, encourage the student to clarify what is being compared, what the criteria are, and why the comparison matters.
  • Check if the student has chosen appropriate points of comparison that align with the thesis. If they have, praise the relevance. If not, suggest they select comparison points that are meaningful and help support their main argument.
  • Determine whether the student uses a consistent organizational structure (block or point-by-point). If the structure is clear and consistent, acknowledge that. If it's mixed or confusing, encourage the student to choose one structure and follow it throughout the essay.
  • Look for imbalance between the two subjects being compared. If one is discussed more than the other, prompt the student to expand the underdeveloped side to maintain fairness and support a valid comparison.
  • Evaluate whether topic sentences introduce the comparison point and relate to the thesis. If they do, acknowledge it. If not, guide the student to revise topic sentences so they clearly indicate what's being compared and why it matters.
  • Check if the student simply lists similarities and differences without analyzing them. If so, encourage the student to explain the significance of each comparison—how and why the subjects are similar or different, and what that reveals.
  • Identify whether transitions between comparison points are smooth. If transitions are missing or choppy, suggest using comparative words and phrases like "similarly," "in contrast," or "on the other hand" to improve flow.
  • Review the conclusion to see if it goes beyond restating the thesis. If it does, praise the insight. If not, encourage the student to synthesize the comparison and reflect on its broader implications or what was learned.
  • Assess whether examples and evidence are used to support comparisons. If examples are vague or missing, prompt the student to include specific examples, facts, or quotes that support their points of comparison.
  • Check if the essay remains focused on comparing and contrasting rather than drifting into general description. If it loses focus, guide the student to revise for clarity and keep the analysis centered on meaningful comparison.

Example 3. Personal narrative essay

  • Check if the narrative has a clear and engaging main idea or purpose. If it does, acknowledge the clarity. If not, encourage the student to clarify what the story is really about and what insight or lesson they want readers to take away.
  • Check if the opening effectively draws the reader in. If it's engaging, highlight what works. If it's flat or vague, encourage the student to start with a vivid moment, strong emotion, or intriguing detail to hook the reader.
  • Assess whether the story follows a logical structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end. If it flows well, affirm that. If it's hard to follow, suggest revisiting the sequence of events or using paragraph breaks to guide the reader.
  • Look for detailed descriptions that bring scenes and emotions to life. If the writing is vivid, praise the use of sensory details. If it's too general, prompt the student to "show, not tell" by describing what they saw, heard, felt, etc.
  • Evaluate whether the main character (usually the student) shows personal growth or reflection. If growth is shown, commend it. If it's missing, ask the student to reflect more on how the experience affected them or changed their thinking.
  • Check for unnecessary tangents or unrelated details. If the narrative stays focused, acknowledge the coherence. If not, suggest trimming parts that don't directly support the main idea or emotional journey.
  • Assess the use of dialogue. If it's used well to reveal character or move the story, commend it. If it's missing or awkward, encourage the student to include brief, natural dialogue to make the story more dynamic and authentic.
  • Look for emotional depth. If emotions are expressed clearly, praise the authenticity. If feelings are vague or missing, encourage the student to describe their emotional state during key moments to help readers connect.
  • Check the ending for resolution or reflection. If it provides closure and insight, affirm that. If it ends abruptly or without meaning, guide the student to reflect on what they learned or why the story matters now.
  • Review sentence-level clarity and grammar. If the writing is clear and polished, note the strength. If there are distracting errors, suggest proofreading strategies and encourage a final read-through to strengthen flow and readability.

Example 4. Coding assignments

  • Check if the student's code meets the core functionality or assignment requirements. If it works correctly, affirm that. If it does not meet the goal, ask the student to clarify their logic and revisit the prompt to ensure all parts are addressed.
  • Check for clear and meaningful variable and function names. If naming is descriptive, highlight that strength. If names are vague (e.g., 'x', 'temp', 'stuff'), encourage the student to use names that reflect purpose and improve readability.
  • Assess whether the student uses proper indentation and formatting. If formatting is clean, acknowledge it. If not, encourage consistent spacing and indentation to improve readability and professionalism.
  • Check for redundant or repeated code. If present, prompt the student to refactor using functions, loops, or arrays to make the code more concise and reusable.
  • Look for comments and documentation. If the student explains their logic clearly, praise their communication. If comments are missing or unhelpful, suggest adding brief notes to explain complex sections or algorithm steps.
  • Check for hardcoded values where variables should be used. If the code is flexible, affirm it. If it relies on fixed inputs, encourage use of parameters, user input, or configuration values to make the code adaptable.
  • Determine if the student has tested edge cases or unusual inputs. If not, ask them to explain how their code handles unexpected input and encourage writing additional test cases for robustness.
  • Assess whether the student handles errors or exceptions gracefully. If error handling is used effectively (e.g., try-catch blocks, input validation), commend it. If not, suggest adding simple checks to avoid crashes or undefined behavior.
  • Evaluate code efficiency. If the solution works but is inefficient, encourage the student to reflect on time or space complexity and suggest possible optimizations (e.g., using dictionaries over nested loops).
  • Check for originality and academic integrity. If the code is clearly the student's work, affirm their effort. If parts seem copied or lack explanation, prompt a conversation about their understanding and encourage authentic problem-solving.

MyEssayFeedback.ai. Types of Feedback Library (Open Educational Resource). https://myessayfeedback.ai/oer/types-of-feedback-library

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