WRITING AN EVALUATION

ENG 111, College Composition I

An Evaluation:• Is a value judgment about a person, place,

event, thing.• Is supported by clear criteria and specific

evidence.• Persuades others to accept your judgment.• Has clear criteria = aspects being judged.• Can use standards = established measures.• Uses specific evidence = description,

statistics, expert opinion, testimony, examples, personal experience.

Key Features

• A concise description of the subject.• Clearly defined criteria.• A knowledgeable discussion of the subject.• A balanced and fair assessment.• Well-supported reasons.

Types of Evaluations• Evaluate a commercial product or service.– Toyota Prius– Shakespeare Ugly Stick– Verizon Wireless

• Evaluate a work of art or an artist.– The Flower Carrier by Diego Rivera

• Evaluate a performance or event. – The Lord of the Rings trilogy

• Compare and Contrast two topics– Toyota Prius vs. Honda Civic Hybrid

Guidelines for Writing an Evaluation

• Choose something to evaluate.• Consider the rhetorical situation.– Purpose– Audience– Stance– Media/Design

Guidelines for Writing an Evaluation• Generate ideas and text.– Explore what you already know.– Find at least three sources that evaluate your

topic (See External Links).– Identify criteria.– Use evidence, such as description, statistics,

expert opinion, testimony, examples, and personal experience to evaluate the criteria.

– Make judgments about the criteria and about the topic overall.

– Anticipate other opinions.– Identify and support your reasons.

Prewriting Assignments

• Complete General Discussion Board #4.• Complete Journal Response #4.• Complete Prewriting Worksheet #4.

Ways of Organizing an EvaluationStart with your subject: page 132

• Describe what you are evaluating.• State your judgment.• Discuss at least 3 criteria, providing evidence

and reasons for each.• Acknowledge objections and other opinions.• Restate your judgment.

Ways of Organizing an EvaluationStart with your criteria: page 132

• Identify criteria for evaluation.• Describe what you’re evaluating.• Evaluate 3 criteria, providing evidence and

addressing objections and opinions.• State your overall judgment.

Ways of Organizing an EvaluationAnalysis by Criteria

• Introduction—Describe topic• Criterion #1—Judgment plus

evidence/reasons/objections• Criterion #2—Judgment plus

evidence/reasons/objections• Criterion #3—Judgment plus

evidence/reasons/objections• Conclusion—State overall judgment

Ways of Organizing an Evaluation

Block Comparison and Contrast• Introduction—Describe topics.• Topic #1– Discuss 3 criteria—judgment, evidence,

objections.• Topic #2– Discuss 3 criteria—judgment, evidence,

objections.• Conclusion—State overall judgment.

Ways of Organizing an EvaluationAlternating Comparison and Contrast

• Introduction—Describe topics.• Criterion #1– Topic #1—Judgment, evidence, objections– Topic #2—Judgment, evidence, objections

• Criterion #2– Topic #1—Judgment, evidence, objections– Topic #2—Judgment, evidence, objections

• Criterion #3– Topic #1—Judgment, evidence, objections– Topic #2—Judgment, evidence, objections

• Conclusion—State overall judgment

The Finishing Touches

• Add a catchy title.• Add your header.• Consider matters of design.– Typeface– Headings in the body– Visuals

• Follow Format for Writing Assignments.

Citing Sources

• Cite sources in the text using internal citations.

• List sources at the end under Works Cited.• Use alphabetical order and hanging indent.• Follow MLA format on pages 428-467.

NOTE: At least two sources are required.

Revising for the Second Draft

• Submit the first draft– Post in Group File Exchange

• Participate in Writing Partners Forum #4.• Revise the paper according to feedback.• Post the second draft to the instructor as an

attachment in the BB link for the essay.

Revising for the Final Draft• Post the second draft to the instructor as an

attachment in BB.• The instructor will post the paper back to you

with comments for corrections and improvements.

• Refer to the indicated pages in the text.• Revise the paper according to the feedback.• Email the final draft to the instructor as an

email attachment.

QUESTIONS?