Whether this is your first year or you are further along in your university journey, handling criticism is something we all struggle with. Whether it is negative feedback from a teacher or critiques from your social circle, you can always use criticism to your advantage and I am going to help you do just this.
What is criticism?
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, criticism is the action of unfavourably evaluating an event, piece, action or person, whilst a critique is described as the ‘art of analysing or evaluating works of literature’. Both of these definitions seem to say more or less the same thing, however, you will agree that the latter has more positive connotations. Now hold this thought.
Criticism, as most of us have been taught in primary school, can also be either constructive or destructive, one helping us move forward and the other pushing us back. But how do we tell them apart? Well, ask yourself the following questions: Does the person giving me this ‘critique’ have any reason to be destructive? Do they have my best interests at heart? Do they value my work and effort? Have they taken the time to construct their opinion carefully? Can I apply this critique in the future? If the answer to two or more of these questions is yes, then the critique you are receiving is constructive and can be built upon. However, if the answer is mostly no, then the critique is likely to be destructive and the best thing you can do is simply ignore it and move on.
Destructive Criticism
A good way of thinking about this is going back to the first two definitions. The former entails an automatic negative response whilst the second suggests that the person doing the criticising values the object which they are engaging with, and has also taken the time to look at all its angles. Think of yourself and what you produce as a piece of ‘literature’; something that can be read and analysed but only truly understood when observed patiently and in depth. If the person criticising has not taken the time to ‘read’ you accordingly, then you should not waste any time ‘reading’ their criticism either.
Now, it is hard to simply erase negative comments, but I have a three step guide to help make this easier
1. Take a step back
If you have received a piece of criticism on social media, take some time away from it.This can range from an hour to maybe even a week, as long as you need to digest the comment and consider its intention. If you have received destructive criticism from one of your friends, take some time away from them. Cool down, consider, and analyse the situation. Are they going through something? Or are they not a very good friend?
2.Address it
If the platform for criticism has been social media, you can skip this and go straight to step number 3. However, if criticism has come from a friend and it is really bothering you, it is worth bringing up in a conversation. Sit your friend down and talk about it; if your friendship is worth it it will be easily resolved.
3. Ask for a second opinion
If the comment is still bothering you, talk to somebody who you know well and who appreciates you truly. Ask them if the criticism you have received has some truth in it, or if it is completely destructive. Nine times out of 10 your loved ones will know exactly how to turn the comment around and make it constructive, or will simply reject it, giving you the reassurance you need.
Academic Constructive Criticism
Personally, this is the type of criticism I struggle with the most. As a perfectionist, receiving negative feedback from tutors was the hardest reality shock as a first year, but I have come up with a few ways to make it hurt less and even help you in your future essays.
1.Read through it carefully
Normally when we get a grade back, all we focus on is the number out of 20 and whether it is higher or lower than the rest of our classmates, yet this will get us nowhere. Go straight to your feedback and take time to understand what your tutor is getting at. Sometimes it may feel harsher than others but don’t let this distract you from their core points for improvement, they will be explained somewhere.
2.Go to office hours
Peronsally, I find written feedback to come across as more aggressive and negative, and it is sometimes quite hard to decipher (sometimes the core points are VERY well hidden). But that is what office hours are for! Seeing your tutor face to face will make the negative feedback seem less harsh and impersonal, plus a conversation with your tutor will point you in the right direction and rebuild your confidence for your next essay.
3.Write it down in your own words
As mentioned, written feedback can seem extra negative and hard to decipher, so rewrite it! Once you have found the key points for improvement, rewrite them in your own (not so negative) words for future use. This will make you feel a bit better about these points for improvement and will make them more attractive to go back to.
4.Use It!
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your grades improve and nothing can guarantee improvement more than applying feedback (especially if it is going to be marked by the same tutor). Read through your rewritten points and make sure that these mistakes are nowhere near your next essay.
5.Some things are simply subjective
Especially if you are studying a humanities degree, some things are simply subjective. It is very frustrating to see your grades vary greatly from tutor to tutor, but sometimes this is unavoidable. Different questions and different debates will be supported or rejected by certain people and that is okay. Usually, this will not bring your marks down too much and will still provide some general feedback points that you can use, but you cannot predict which thinkers your tutor believes to be ‘crucial’, or what points they would have rather have seen within your argument.
So, don’t be too harsh on yourself and really look at your feedback with a critical eye.
Social Constructive Criticism
A great part of university is that you get to meet a large variety of people from completely different backgrounds, particularly here in St Andrews. Yet these different backgrounds can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, or different perspectives on friendships, dating, going out, studying, etc. For instance, you and your friends may disagree on certain boundaries, especially when it comes to what information you share or how much advice you should give. These types of disagreements often lead to constructive criticism that can strengthen your relationship and teach you a lot about how different people and cultures act. And for I think there are only two pieces of advice you should bear in mind:
1. Listen
Pay attention to your friends’ concerns. They may not tell you directly, but you may be able to tell that they feel uncomfortable in certain conversations and that this affects their mood throughout the day. Or, if they directly tell you that something you do bothers them, be considerate and careful not to brush it off as a cultural difference.
2. Share
Make sure that you are communicating. If anything is bothering you, say it! Anything can be communicated without the need for confrontation if it is said with respect and consideration. Who knows – this may be the perfect chance for your friend to share too and strengthen your relationship!
Hence, the main tips I would like for you to take away from this article are:
- Not all criticism is constructive.
- Not all negative feedback is completely negative.
- Communication is key.