Final answer:
Specific and clear comments are preferred in the comments block on performance reports. These comments provide detailed feedback on what is good or needs revision and offer a specific strategy for improvement. This clarity assists in the writer's development and enhances the report's effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
When filling out the comments block on performance reports, it is preferred to use a style that is specific and clear. Vague comments fail to offer concrete guidance as they do not pinpoint the specific strengths or weaknesses of the writing, nor do they provide actionable suggestions for improvement. Somewhat helpful comments, while indicating a specific area of the writing that requires attention, still fall short of providing detailed guidance. Specific and clear comments, on the other hand, go into detail about why an aspect of the writing works well or needs refinement and offer a direct revision strategy or example that the writer can employ, thereby facilitating meaningful improvement.
For instance, instead of the vague direction to "Revise this sentence," a specific and clear comment would be, "This sentence could convey a stronger argument if you provided statistical evidence of the trend mentioned." This not only tells the writer exactly what needs to be revised but also how to approach the revision, enhancing the overall performance report.