Students frequently receive dissertation feedback that is vague ("needs more depth"), contradictory, or so general that it is impossible to act on. The quality of supervisor feedback is partly determined by the quality of what you send — and by how clearly you communicate what kind of feedback you need.
The Problem With Most Draft Submission Emails
The typical email: "Hi, please find attached my literature review draft. Please review and let me know what you think." This gives your supervisor no context, no timeline indication, and no sense of what specific questions you have. You will receive vague feedback in return — because vague input generates vague output.
How to Structure Your Submission Email
A strong draft submission email has five components:
- What you are submitting: "I am attaching a draft of Chapter 2 (Literature Review), approximately 4,200 words."
- Where you are in the process: "I have completed thematic sections on transformational leadership and employee engagement. The conceptual framework section at the end is still rough."
- Three specific questions: "I would appreciate your feedback particularly on: (1) whether the research gap argument on p. 8 is convincingly argued; (2) whether the conceptual framework diagram is positioned correctly in relation to the theoretical review; (3) whether I need to include a section on contingency theory or whether my current coverage is sufficient."
- Your timeline: "I am hoping to finalise this chapter by [date] and would appreciate any feedback before then if possible."
- Acknowledgement of the burden: A brief, genuine acknowledgement that you appreciate their time.
How to Act on Feedback
When you receive feedback, process it in three stages: (1) Categorise: Is this feedback about structure, argument, evidence, or expression? (2) Prioritise: Which issues, if unaddressed, would cause the chapter to fail? Fix these first. (3) Track changes: Keep a record of what feedback you received and what you changed in response. Some supervisors expect a "response to feedback" document that shows you have engaged with each point.
When Feedback Is Contradictory
If one supervisor suggests adding more theory while another says the theory is too extensive, you have a genuine dilemma. The honest answer is to raise this directly: "I received feedback suggesting both [X] and [Y] — I am uncertain how to reconcile these. Could we discuss which direction to prioritise?" This shows academic maturity, not weakness.
When Feedback Is Insufficient
If your supervisor consistently provides minimal or unhelpful feedback, document every meeting and email, keep copies of all drafts, and consider supplementing with an independent academic tutor who can provide detailed, expert-level feedback on your chapters between supervisor meetings.