Because the Nissan has the lowest initial price, it receives the most favorable judgment. The evidence is found on the price tag. Each car is compared by way of a single criterion: cost.
When we evaluate informally (passing judgments during the course of conversation, for instance), we typically assume that our criteria are self-evident and require no explanation. However, in written evaluation, it is often necessary that we clarify and define our criteria in order to make a persuasive evaluative argument.
Although we frequently find ourselves needing to use abstract criteria like "feasibility" or "effectiveness," we also must avoid using criteria that are overly vague or personal and difficult to support with evidence. As evaluators, we must steer clear of criteria that are matters of taste, belief, or personal preference. For example, the "best" lamp might simply be the one that you think looks prettiest in your home. If you depend on a criterion like "pretty in my home," and neglect to use more common, shared criteria like "brightness," "cost," and "weight," you are probably relying on a criterion that is too specific to your own personal preferences. To make "pretty in my home" an effective criterion, you would need to explain what "pretty in my home" means and how it might relate to other people's value systems. (For example: "Lamp A is attractive because it is an unoffensive style and color that would be appropriate for many people's decorating tastes.")
When you make judgments, it is important that you use criteria that are appropriate to the type of object, person, policy, etc. that you are examining. If you are evaluating Steven Spielburg's film, Schindler's List , for instance, it is unfair to criticize it because it isn't a knee-slapper. Because "Schindler's List" is a drama and not a comedy, using the criterion of "humor" is inappropriate.
Once you have established criteria for your evaluation of a subject, it is necessary to decide which of these criteria are most important. For example, if you are evaluating a Mexican restaurant and you have arrived at several criteria (variety of items on the menu, spiciness of the food, size of the portions, decor, and service), you need to decide which of these criteria are most critical to your evaluation. If the size of the portions is good, but the service is bad, can you give the restaurant a good rating? What about if the decor is attractive, but the food is bland? Once you have placed your criteria in a hierarchy of importance, it is much easier to make decisions like these.
When we evaluate, we must consider the audience we hope to influence with our judgments. This is particularly true when we decide which criteria are informing (and should inform) these judgments.
After establishing some criteria for your evaluation, it is important to ask yourself whether or not your audience is likely to accept those criteria. It is crucial that they do accept the criteria if, in turn, you expect them to accept the supporting judgments and overall claim or judgment built on them.
Related Information: Explaining and Defending Criteria
In deciding which criteria will be effective in your evaluation is determining which criteria your audience considers important. For example, if you are writing a review of a Mexican restaurant to an audience comprised mainly of senior citizens from the midwest, it is unlikely that "large portions" and "fiery green chile" will be the criteria most important to them. They might be more concerned, rather, with "quality of service" or "availability of heart smart menu items." Trying to anticipate and address your audience's values is an indispensable step in writing a persuasive evaluative argument.
Related Information: Understanding Audience Criteria
Laura Thomas - Composition Lecturer Your background experience influences the criteria that you use in evaluation. If you know a lot about something, you will have a good idea of what criteria should govern your judgments. On the other hand, it's hard if you don't know enough about what you're judging. Sometimes you have to research first in order to come up with useful criteria. For example, I recently went shopping for a new pair of skis for the first time in fifteen years. When I began shopping, I realized that I didn't even know what questions to ask anymore. The last time I had bought skis, you judged them according to whether they had a foam core or a wood core. But I had no idea what the important considerations were anymore.
Evidence consists of the specifics you use to reach your conclusion or judgment. For example, if you judge that "La Cocina's green chile is superb" on the basis of the criterion, "Good green chile is so fiery that you can barely eat it," you might offer evidence like the following:
"I drank an entire pitcher of water on my own during the course of the meal."
"Though my friend wouldn't admit that the chile was challenging for him, I saw beads of sweat form on his brow."
Related Information: Example Text
In the following paragraph, evidence appears in italics. Note that the reference to the New York Times backs up the evidence offered in the previous sentence:
Since killer whales have small lymphatic systems, they catch infections more easily when held captive ( Obee 23 ). The orca from the movie "Free Willy," Keiko, developed a skin disorder because the water he was living in was not cold enough. This infection was a result of the combination of tank conditions and the animal's immune system, according to a New York Times article .
Evidence for academic evaluations is usually of two types: concrete detail and analytic detail. Analytic detail comes from critical thinking about abstract elements of the thing being evaluated. It will also include quotations from experts. Concrete detail comes from sense perceptions and measurements--facts about color, speed, size, texture, smell, taste, and so on. Concrete details are more likely to support concrete criteria (as opposed to abstract criteria) used in judging objects. Analytic detail will more often support abstract criteria (as opposed to concrete criteria), like the criterion "feasibility," discussed in the section on criteria. Analytic detail also appears most often in academic evaluations of solutions to problems, although such solutions can also sometimes be evaluated according to concrete criteria.
Good evidence ranges from personal experience to interviews with experts to published sources. The kind of evidence that works best for you will depend on your audience and often on the writing assignment you have been given.
When you choose evidence to support the judgments you are making in an evaluation, it will be important to consider what type of evaluation you are being asked to do. If, for instance, you are being asked to review a play you have attended, your evidence will most likely consist primarily of your own observations. However, if your assignment asks you to compare and contrast two potential national health care policies (toward deciding which is the better one), your evidence will need to be more statistical, more dependent on reputable sources, and more directed toward possible effects or outcomes of your judgment.
Comparison and contrast is the process of positioning an item or concept being evaluated among other like items or concepts. We are all familiar with this technique as it's used in the marketing of products: soft drink "taste tests," comparisons of laundry detergent effectiveness, and the like. It is a way of determining the value of something in relation to comparable things. For example, if you have made the judgment that "La Cocina's green chile is superb" and you have offered evidence of the spiciness and the flavor of the chile, you might also use comparison by giving your audience a scale on which to base judgment: "La Cocina's chile is even more fiery and flavorful than Manuel's, which is by no means a walk in the park."
In this case, the writer compares limestone with wood to show that limestone is a better building material. Although this comparison could be developed much more, it still begins to point out the relative merits of limestone. Concrete is a feasible substitute for wood as a building material. Concrete comes from a rock called limestone. Limestone is found all over the United States. By using limestone instead of wood, the dependence on dwindling forest reserves would decrease. There are more sedimentary rocks than there are forests left in this country, and they are more evenly distributed. For this reason, it is quite possible to switch from wood to concrete as the primary building material for residential construction.
Comparing and contrasting rarely means placing the item or concept being evaluated in relation to another item or concept that is obviously grossly inferior. For instance, if you are attempting to demonstrate the value of a Cannondale mountain bike, it would be foolish to compare it with a Huffy. However, it would be useful to compare it with a Klein, arguably a similar bicycle. In this type of maneuver, you are not comparing good with bad; rather, you are deciding which bike is better and which bike is worse. In order to determine relative worth in this way, you will need to be very careful in defining the criteria you are using to make the comparison.
In order to make comparison and contrast function well in evaluation, it is necessary to be attentive to: 1) focusing on the item or concept under consideration and 2) the use of evidence in comparison and contrast. When using comparison and contrast, writers must remember that they are using comparable items or concepts only as a way of demonstrating the worth of the main item or concept under consideration. It is easy to lose focus when using this technique, because of the temptation to evaluate two (or more) items or concepts rather than just the one under consideration. It is important to remember that judgments made on the basis of comparison and contrast need to be supported with evidence. It is not enough to assert that "La Cocina's chile is even more fiery and flavorful than Manuel's." It will be necessary to support this judgment with evidence, showing in what ways La Cocina's chile is more flavorful: "Manuel's chile relies heavily on a tomato base, giving it an Italian flavor. La Cocina follows a more traditional recipe which uses little tomato and instead flavors the chile with shredded pork, a dash of vinegar, and a bit of red chile to give it a piquant taste."
A variety of writing assignments call for evaluation. Bearing in mind the various approaches that might be demanded by those particular assignments, this section offers some general strategies for formulating a written evaluation.
Sometimes your topic for evaluation will be dictated by the writing assignment you have been given. Other times, though, you will be required to choose your own topic. Common sense tells you that it is best to choose something about which you already have a base knowledge. For instance, if you are a skier, you might want to evaluate a particular model of skis. In addition, it is best to choose something that is tangible, observable, and/or researchable. For example, if you chose a topic like "methods of sustainable management of forests," you would know that there would be research to support your evaluation. Likewise, if you chose to evaluate a film like Pulp Fiction , you could rent the video and watch it several times in order to get the evidence you needed. However, you would have fewer options if you were to choose an abstract concept like "loyalty" or "faith." When evaluating, it is usually best to steer clear of abstractions like these as much as possible.
Once you have chosen a topic, you might begin your evaluation by thinking about what you already know about the topic. In doing this, you will be coming up with possible judgments to include in your evaluation. Begin with a tentative overall judgment or claim. Then decide what supporting judgments you might make to back that claim. Keep in mind that your judgments will likely change as you collect evidence for your evaluation.
Start by making an overall judgment on the topic in question, based on what you already know. For instance, if you were writing an evaluation of sustainable management practices in forestry, your tentative overall judgment might be: "Sustainable management is a viable way of dealing with deforestation in old growth forests."
With a tentative overall judgment in mind, you can begin to brainstorm judgments (or reasons) that could support your overall judgment by asking the question, "Why?" For example, asking "Why?" of the tentative overall judgment "Sustainable management is a viable way of dealing with deforestation in old growth forests" might yield the following supporting judgments:
When brainstorming possible judgments this early in the writing process, it is necessary to keep an open mind as you enter into the stage in which you collect evidence. Once you have done observations, analysis, or research, you might find that you are unable to advance your tentative overall judgment. Or you might find that some of the supporting judgments you came up with are not true or are not supportable. Your findings might also point you toward other judgments you can make in addition to the ones you are already making.
To prepare to organize and write your evaluation, it is important to clearly define the criteria you are using to make your judgments. These criteria govern the direction of the evaluation and provide structure and justification for the judgments you make.
We often work backwards from the judgments we make, discovering what criteria we are using on the basis of what our judgments look like. For instance, our tentative judgments about sustainable management practices are as follows:
If we were to analyze these judgments, asking ourselves why we made them, we would see that we used the following criteria: wellbeing of the logging industry, conservation of resources, wellbeing of the environment, and cost.
Once you have identified the criteria informing your initial judgments, you will want to determine what other criteria should be included in your evaluation. For example, in addition to the criteria you've already come up with (wellbeing of the logging industry, conservation of resources, wellbeing of the environment, and cost), you might include the criterion of preservation of the old growth forests.
In deciding which criteria are most important to include in your evaluation, it is necessary to consider the criteria your audience is likely to find important. Let's say we are directing our evaluation of sustainable management methods toward an audience of loggers. If we look at our list of criteria--wellbeing of the logging industry, conservation of resources, wellbeing of the environment, cost, and preservation of the old growth forests--we might decide that wellbeing of the logging industry and cost are the criteria most important to loggers. At this point, we would also want to identify additional criteria the audience might expect us to address: perhaps feasibility, labor requirements, and efficiency.
Once you have developed a long list of possible criteria for judging your subject (in this case, sustainable management methods), you will need to narrow the list, since it is impractical and ineffective to use of all possible criteria in your essay. To decide which criteria to address, determine which are least dispensable, both to you and to your audience. Your own criteria were: wellbeing of the logging industry, conservation of resources, wellbeing of the environment, cost, and preservation of the old growth forests. Those you anticipated for your audience were: feasibility, labor requirements, and efficiency. In the written evaluation, you might choose to address those criteria most important to your audience, with a couple of your own included. For example, your list of indispensable criteria might look like this: wellbeing of the logging industry, cost, labor requirements, efficiency, conservation of resources, and preservation of the old growth forests.
Stephen Reid, English Professor Warrants (to use a term from argumentation) come on the scene when we ask why a given criterion should be used or should be acceptable in evaluating the particular text, product, or performance in question. When we ask WHY a particular criterion should be important (let's say, strong performance in an automobile engine, quickly moving plot in a murder mystery, outgoing personality in a teacher), we are getting at the assumptions (i.e., the warrant) behind why the data is relevant to the claim of value we are about to make. Strong performance in an automobile engine might be a positive criterion in an urban, industrialized environment, where traveling at highway speeds on American interstates is important. But we might disagree about whether strong performance (accompanied by lower mileage) might be important in a rural European environment where gas costs are several dollars a litre. Similarly, an outgoing personality for a teacher might be an important standard of judgment or criterion in a teacher-centered classroom, but we could imagine another kind of decentered class where interpersonal skills are more important than teacher personality. By QUESTIONING the validity and appropriateness of a given criterion in a particular situation, we are probing for the ASSUMPTIONS or WARRANTS we are making in using that criterion in that particular situation. Thus, criteria are important, but it is often equally important for writers to discuss the assumptions that they are making in choosing the major criteria in their evaluations.
Once you have established the central criteria you will use in our evaluation, you will investigate your subject in terms of these criteria. In order to investigate the subject of sustainable management methods, you would more than likely have to research whether these methods stand up to the criteria you have established: wellbeing of the logging industry, cost, labor requirements, time efficiency, conservation of resources, and preservation of the old growth forests. However, library research is only one of the techniques evaluators use. Depending on the type of evaluation being made, the evaluator might use such methods as observation, field research, and analysis.
The best place to start looking for evidence is with the knowledge you already possess. To do this, you might try brainstorming, clustering, or freewriting ideas.
When you are evaluating policies, issues, or products, you will usually need to conduct library research to find the evidence your evaluation requires. It is always a good idea to check journals, databases, and bibliographies relevant to your subject when you begin research. It is also helpful to speak with a reference librarian about how to get started.
When you are asked to evaluate a performance, event, place, object, or person, one of the best methods available is simple observation. What makes observation not so simple is the need to focus on criteria you have developed ahead of time. If, for instance, you are reviewing a student production of Hamlet , you will want to review your list of criteria (perhaps quality of acting, costumes, faithfulness to the text, set design, lighting, and length of time before intermission) before attending the play. During or after the play, you will want to take as many notes as possible, keeping these criteria in mind.
To expand your evaluation beyond your personal perspective or the perspective of your sources, you might conduct your own field research . Typical field research techniques include interviewing, taking a survey, administering a questionnaire, and conducting an experiment. These methods can help you support your judgment and can sometimes help you determine whether or not your judgment is valid.
When you are asked to evaluate a text, analysis is often the technique you will use in collecting evidence. If you are analyzing an argument, you might use the Toulmin Method. Other texts might not require such a structured analysis but might be better addressed by more general critical reading strategies.
After developing a list of indispensable criteria, you will need to "test" the subject according to these criteria. At this point, it will probably be necessary to collect evidence (through research, analysis, or observation) to determine, for example, whether sustainable management methods would hold up to the criteria you have established: wellbeing of the logging industry, cost, labor requirements, efficiency, conservation of resources, and preservation of the old growth forests. One way of recording the results of this "test" is by putting your notes in a three-column log.
One of the best ways to organize your information in preparation for writing is to construct an informal outline of sorts. Outlines might be arranged according to criteria, comparison and contrast, chronological order, or causal analysis. They also might follow what Robert K. Miller and Suzanne S. Webb refer to in their book, Motives for Writing (2nd ed.) as "the pattern of classical oration for evaluations" (286). In addition to deciding on a general structure for your evaluation, it will be necessary to determine the most appropriate placement for your overall claim or judgment.
Writers can state their final position at the beginning or the end of an essay. The same is true of the overall claim or judgment in a written evaluation.
When you place your overall claim or judgment at the end of your written evaluation, you are able to build up to it and to demonstrate how your evaluative argument (evidence, explanation of criteria, etc.) has led to that judgment.
Writers of academic evaluations normally don't need to keep readers in suspense about their judgments. By stating the overall claim or judgment early in the paper, writers help readers both to see the structure of the essay and to accept the evidence as convincing proof of the judgment. (Writers of evaluations should remember, of course, that there is no rule against stating the overall claim or judgment at both the beginning and the end of the essay.)
The following is an example from Stephen Reid's The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers (4th ed.), showing how a writer might arrange an evaluation according to criteria:
Introductory paragraphs: information about the restaurant (location, hours, prices), general description of Chinese restaurants today, and overall claim : The Hunan Dynasty is reliable, a good value, and versatile.
Criterion # 1/Judgment: Good restaurants should have an attractive setting and atmosphere/Hunan Dynasty is attractive.
Criterion # 2/Judgment: Good restaurants should give strong priority to service/ Hunan Dynasty has, despite an occasional glitch, expert service.
Criterion # 3/Judgment: Restaurants that serve modestly priced food should have quality main dishes/ Main dishes at Hunan Dynasty are generally good but not often memorable. (Note: The most important criterion--the quality of the main dishes--is saved for last.)
Concluding paragraphs: Hunan Dynasty is a top-flight neighborhood restaurant (338).
Sometimes comparison and contrast is not merely a strategy used in part [italics] of an evaluation, but is the strategy governing the organization of the entire essay. The following are examples from Stephen Reid's The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers (4th ed.), showing two ways that a writer might organize an evaluation according to comparison and contrast.
Introductory paragraph(s)
Thesis [or overall claim/judgment]: Although several friends recommended the Yakitori, we preferred the Unicorn for its more authentic atmosphere, courteous service, and well-prepared food. [Notice that the criteria are stated in this thesis.]
Authentic atmosphere: Yakitori vs. Unicorn
Courteous service: Yakitori vs. Unicorn
Well-prepared food: Yakitori vs. Unicorn
Concluding paragraph(s) (Reid 339)
The Yakitori : atmosphere, service, and food
The Unicorn : atmosphere, service, and food as compared to the Yakitori
Concluding paragraph(s) (Reid 339).
Writers often follow chronological order when evaluating or reviewing events or performances. This method of organization allows the writer to evaluate portions of the event or performance in the order in which it happens.
When using analysis to evaluate places, objects, events, or policies, writers often focus on causes or effects. The following is an example from Stephen Reid's The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers (4th ed.), showing how one writer organizes an evaluation of a Goya painting by discussing its effects on the viewer.
Criterion #1/Judgment: The iconography, or use of symbols, contributes to the powerful effect of this picture on the viewer.
Evidence : The church as a symbol of hopefulness contrasts with the cruelty of the execution. The spire on the church emphasizes for the viewer how powerless the Church is to save the victims.
Criterion #2/Judgment: The use of light contributes to the powerful effect of the picture on the viewer.
Evidence : The light casts an intense glow on the scene, and its glaring, lurid, and artificial qualities create the same effect on the viewer that modern art sometimes does.
Criterion #3/Judgment: The composition or use of formal devices contributes to the powerful effect of the picture on the viewer.
Evidence : The diagonal lines scissors the picture into spaces that give the viewer a claustrophobic feeling. The corpse is foreshortened, so that it looks as though the dead man is bidding the viewer welcome (Reid 340).
Robert K. Miller and Suzanne S. Webb, in their book, Motives for Writing (2nd ed.) discuss what they call "the pattern of classical oration for evaluations," which incorporates opposing evaluations as well as supporting reasons and judgments. This pattern is as follows:
Present your subject. (This discussion includes any background information, description, acknowledgement of weaknesses, and so forth.)
State your criteria. (If your criteria are controversial, be sure to justify them.)
Make your judgment. (State it as clearly and emphatically as possible.)
Give your reasons. (Be sure to present good evidence for each reason.)
Refute opposing evaluations. (Let your reader know you have given thoughtful consideration to opposing views, since such views exist.)
State your conclusion. (You may restate or summarize your judgment.) (Miller and Webb 286-7)
The following is a portion of an outline for an evaluation, organized by way of supporting judgments or reasons. Notice that this pattern would need to be repeated (using criteria other than the fieriness of the green chile) in order to constitute a complete evaluation proving that "Although La Cocina is not without its faults, it is the best Mexican restaurant in town."
Intro Paragraph Leading to Overall Judgment: "Although La Cocina is not without its faults, it is the best Mexican restaurant in town."
Supporting Judgment: "La Cocina's green chile is superb."
Criterion used to make this judgment: "Good green chile is so fiery that you can barely eat it."
Evidence in support of this judgment: "I drank an entire pitcher of water on my own during the course of the meal" or "Though my friend wouldn't admit that the chile was challenging for him, I saw beads of sweat form on his brow."
Supporting Judgment made by way of Comparison and Contrast: "La Cocina's chile is even more fiery and flavorful than Manuel's, which is by no means a walk in the park itself."
Evidence in support of this judgment: "Manuel's chile relies heavily on a tomato base, giving it an Italian flavor. La Cocina follows a more traditional recipe which uses little tomato, and instead flavors the chile with shredded pork, a dash of vinegar, and a bit of red chile to give it a piquant taste."
If you have an outline to follow, writing a draft of a written evaluation is simple. Stephen Reid, in his Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers , recommends that writers maintain focus on both the audience they are addressing and the central criteria they want to include. Such a focus will help writers remember what their audience expects and values and what is most important in constructing an effective and persuasive evaluation.
In his Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers , 4th ed., Stephen Reid offers some helpful tips for revising written evaluations. These guidelines are reproduced here and grouped as follows:
Criteria are standards of value . They contain categories and judgments, as in "good fuel economy," "good reliability," or "powerful use of light and shade in painting." Some categories, such as "price," have clearly implied judgments ("low price"), but make sure that your criteria refer implicitly or explicitly to a standard of value.
Examine your criteria from your audience's point of view. Which criteria are most important in evaluating your subject? Will your readers agree that the criteria you select are indeed the most important ones? Will changing the order in which you present your criteria make your evaluation more convincing? (Reid 342)
Include both positive and negative evaluations of your subject. If all of your judgments are positive, your evaluation will sound like an advertisement. If all of your judgments are negative, your readers may think you are too critical (Reid 342).
Be sure to include supporting evidence for each criterion. Without any data or support, your evaluation will be just an opinion that will not persuade your reader.
If you need additional evidence to persuade your readers, [go back to the "Collecting" stage of this process] (Reid 343).
Avoid overgeneralizing your claims. If you are evaluating only three software programs, you cannot say that Lotus 1-2-3 is the best business program around. You can say only that it is the best among the group or the best in the particular class that you measured (Reid 343).
Unless your goal is humor or irony, compare subjects that belong in the same class. Comparing a Yugo to a BMW is absurd because they are not similar cars in terms of cost, design, or purpose (Reid 343).
If you are citing other people's data or quoting sources, check to make sure your summaries and data are accurate (Reid 343).
Signal the major divisions in your evaluation to your reader using clear transitions, key words, and paragraph hooks. At the beginning of new paragraphs or sections of your essay, let your reader know where you are going.
Revise sentences for directness and clarity.
Edit your evaluation for correct spelling, appropriate word choice, punctuation, usage, and grammar (343).
Nesbitt, Laurel, Kathy Northcut, & Kate Kiefer. (1997). Academic Evaluations. Writing@CSU . Colorado State University. https://writing.colostate.edu/guides/guide.cfm?guideid=47
Tips for crafting an effective evaluative essay that stands out.
Writing an evaluative essay can be a challenging yet rewarding task. It requires a critical analysis of a subject, such as a piece of literature, a movie, or a restaurant, and a thoughtful evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of writing an evaluative essay step by step, providing you with valuable tips and techniques to help you craft a well-structured and insightful piece of writing.
Before you begin writing your evaluative essay, it is essential to understand the purpose of the assignment. An evaluative essay aims to assess the quality, value, or significance of a subject based on specific criteria. Your goal is to provide a reasoned judgment, supported by evidence and examples, to persuade your audience of your perspective on the subject. By following our step-by-step guide, you will learn how to effectively analyze the subject, develop your arguments, and present your evaluation in a clear and convincing manner.
The key to writing a successful evaluative essay lies in your ability to balance critical analysis with a fair and objective assessment. You should strive to provide a nuanced evaluation that considers multiple perspectives and avoids bias. Throughout this guide, we will discuss strategies for conducting research, selecting criteria for evaluation, organizing your essay, and revising your work to ensure that your writing is coherent and persuasive. By following these tips and techniques, you will be well-equipped to write an evaluative essay that demonstrates your analytical skills and critical thinking abilities.
An evaluative essay is a type of writing that aims to provide an analysis or judgment of a particular subject based on specific criteria. In this form of essay, the writer evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of a subject, such as a book, movie, restaurant, or performance, and provides their opinion on its quality, relevance, or value.
The evaluative essay requires the writer to critically assess the subject, offering arguments supported by evidence, examples, and reasoning. It goes beyond simple description and requires the writer to make judgments and draw conclusions based on their evaluation.
When writing an evaluative essay, it is crucial to establish clear criteria for evaluation, provide evidence to support each evaluation, and present a balanced analysis that considers both positive and negative aspects of the subject. The goal is not only to express personal opinions but also to provide a thoughtful and well-supported evaluation that can be informative to the reader.
An evaluative essay serves the important purpose of analyzing, judging, and critiquing a particular subject matter or topic. The main goal of this type of essay is to provide a thoughtful evaluation and assessment of the chosen subject, offering insights, arguments, and recommendations based on careful analysis and critical thinking.
Through an evaluative essay, the writer aims to present a well-reasoned and balanced opinion on the subject, taking into account various perspectives, evidence, and criteria. This type of essay allows the writer to convey their thoughts, judgments, and recommendations in a systematic and organized manner, guiding the reader through a logical evaluation process.
By exploring the purpose of the essay, writers can understand the significance of offering a comprehensive evaluation, providing valuable insights and perspectives that can enhance the reader’s understanding of the topic. With a clear sense of purpose, evaluative essays can effectively convey critical analysis, informed judgments, and meaningful conclusions to engage and inform the audience.
When writing an evaluative essay, the first step is to select a topic that you are passionate about or interested in. Choose a subject that you have some knowledge of and that you can evaluate objectively. Consider selecting a topic that is relevant to your field of study or current events.
Tip: It’s important to choose a topic that is specific enough to be manageable within the scope of your essay, but also broad enough to provide room for analysis and evaluation.
Before you begin writing your evaluative essay, it’s important to clearly identify the criteria you will use to evaluate the subject or topic. Criteria are the standards or measures by which you will judge the quality, effectiveness, or value of the subject. These criteria will help you stay focused and provide a framework for your evaluation.
Tip: Consider the purpose of your evaluation and what you want to achieve with your essay. Think about what aspects of the subject are most important to you and your audience. Are you evaluating based on performance, quality, relevance, originality, or a combination of factors?
Make sure your criteria are specific, measurable, and relevant to the subject at hand. Avoid using vague or subjective criteria that can lead to ambiguous evaluation results. Your criteria should be clear and easy to understand, guiding you through the evaluation process and helping you make informed judgments.
For example, if you are evaluating a book, your criteria might include plot development, character development, writing style, and overall impact on the reader. Each criterion should be clearly defined and supported with specific examples from the book.
When writing an evaluative essay, it is important to have a clear structure to effectively present your analysis and conclusions. Here is a basic structure you can follow:
Begin your essay with an introduction that provides background information on the subject and a thesis statement that presents your evaluation criteria. | |
The main body of your essay should consist of paragraphs that each focus on a specific aspect of the subject. Provide evidence, examples, and analysis to support your evaluation. | |
Dedicate a section of your essay to discussing the criteria you are using to evaluate the subject. Explain why these criteria are important and how they contribute to your overall evaluation. | |
In this section, critically analyze the subject based on your criteria. Discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and reach a well-supported evaluation of its overall effectiveness. | |
Conclude your essay by summarizing your evaluation and reiterating your main points. Provide a final thought or recommendation based on your findings. |
By following this structured approach, you can ensure that your evaluative essay is well-organized and effectively communicates your analysis and evaluation of the subject.
When writing an evaluative essay, it is crucial to organize your thoughts effectively to ensure a coherent and structured piece. Here are some tips to help you streamline your ideas:
By organizing your thoughts effectively, you can create a well-structured evaluative essay that is easy to follow and compelling to read.
When writing an evaluative essay, it is crucial to capture the reader’s attention right from the beginning. You can achieve this by starting with a compelling introduction that highlights the importance of the topic you are evaluating. Consider using a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact, or a relevant quote to pique the reader’s interest.
Another effective way to captivate the reader is to provide a brief overview of the subject you will be evaluating. This will give the reader a sense of what to expect and why your evaluation is valuable. Make sure to create a strong thesis statement that clearly states your evaluation and your overall stance on the subject.
Moreover, using vivid language and descriptive imagery can help create a lasting impression on the reader. By painting a vivid picture of the subject you will be evaluating, you can draw the reader in and make them eager to learn more about your evaluation.
Overall, capturing the reader’s attention in the introduction is essential to setting the tone for your evaluative essay and engaging your audience from the start.
When developing the body paragraphs of your evaluative essay, it is crucial to follow a clear and structured approach. Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect or criterion that you are evaluating. Start by introducing the criterion you will be discussing and provide a brief explanation of why it is important in the evaluation process. Next, present your evaluation of that criterion based on the evidence you have gathered.
Support your evaluation with specific examples, details, and evidence from your research or personal experience. Make sure to analyze and interpret the evidence you present to demonstrate how it supports your evaluation. Use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader through your argument and ensure a cohesive flow between paragraphs.
Furthermore, consider addressing any counterarguments or opposing viewpoints in your body paragraphs. Acknowledging alternative perspectives can strengthen your evaluation by demonstrating that you have considered multiple angles and still maintain your position.
Finally, conclude each body paragraph by summarizing your main points and reiterating the significance of the criterion in the overall evaluation. This will help reinforce your argument and provide a smooth transition to the next paragraph.
How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, unlock success with a comprehensive business research paper example guide, unlock your writing potential with writers college – transform your passion into profession, “unlocking the secrets of academic success – navigating the world of research papers in college”, master the art of sociological expression – elevate your writing skills in sociology.
This is the first of four chapter about Evaluative Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.
– Introduce the concept of evaluative essay types
– Discuss the recognition of evaluative essay questions
– Provide examples to help guide the reader
Chapter 1: What is an academic evaluative essay?
Chapter 2: How can I produce an effective evaluative essay?
Chapter 3: How is an evaluative academic essay structured?
Chapter 4: What is an example evaluative essay?
There are many different types of essay that you may be asked to write during your time as an academic, and one of the most common and perhaps useful is the evaluative essay . This short four-chapter reader therefore focuses firstly on the purpose of an evaluation , which in the broadest and simplest sense is the consideration of the positive or negative aspects about an item, theme or topic and the formation of a value judgement and opinion about that issue.
In daily life, perhaps the most common forms of evaluations are found in reviews of products and services such as restaurants, electronics or movies. When reviewing a restaurant for example, the reviewer may judge the friendliness of the staff, the speed of service or the quality of the food, considering also how these factors compare with other restaurants so as to form an overall positive or negative opinion on the item being reviewed. However, reviews such as this may be quite subjective , requiring emotive language or vocabulary that would be considered inappropriate in an academic setting. While the purpose of an evaluative essay in an academic context is to also present value judgements, these opinions should be based on well- researched and considered reasoning that relies upon academic sources to inform and persuade the reader in an objective and scientific way.
Recognising an Evaluative Essay Question
Before even considering the writing process, the first aspect a student may find useful when attempting to write an academic assignment is the determination of which essay type they’ve been set. To know whether you’ve been asked to write an evaluative essay , check first whether the essay question explicitly refers to evaluating, critiquing or analysing a topic. As is shown in the examples below, questions such as these clearly require the writer’s value judgements:
However, some questions may avoid evaluative language such as ‘evaluate’ or ‘analyse’ and instead simply present an opinion that the writer should respond to:
Despite differences in how these four questions are presented, it still remains clear in all instances that the writer’s responsibility is to decide what the positive and negative impacts of the issues of global warming or foreign AID in Africa are. However, this evaluative nature is quite obscured in in the following two example questions, even though they still require the same essay type :
It’s important to understand that there is some variation in academia as to how we can present the concepts of positive or negative, with the words ‘help’ and ‘hinder’ as seen in example (A) being one option. It’s useful to pay attention to this type of language to determine if you’re being asked to present differing perspectives or arguments on a topic. If such perspectives are required, you’ll likely be expected to form an objective opinion about that topic too.
Although not always the case, often the construction ‘to what extent’ as seen in example (B) requires the careful consideration of whether or not something is true or how true that aspect is. In example (B), a student must consider not only how AID has been used in Africa positively or negatively, but also determine how much of a significant impact those scenarios have had before determining whether the argument that AID has been effective or not is accurate.
Now that you’ve been introduced to the basic aims and expectations of an evaluative essay , the next step is to think about how to begin writing this assignment type. Continue on to Chapter 2 to learn about researching and writing an effective evaluative essay.
To reference this reader:
Academic Marker (2022) Evaluative Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/essay-writing/essay-types/evaluative-essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).
Once you’ve completed all four chapters about evaluative essays , you might also wish to download our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets to test your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .
Our evaluative essays academic reader (including all four chapters from this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.
Gain unlimited access to our evaluative essays beginner worksheet, with activities and answer keys designed to check a basic understanding of this reader’s chapters.
To check a confident understanding of this reader’s chapters, click on the button below to download our evaluative essays intermediate worksheet with activities and answer keys.
Our evaluative essays advanced worksheet with activities and answer keys has been created to check a sophisticated understanding of this reader’s chapters.
To save yourself 5 Marks , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our evaluative essays readers and worksheets. The All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter on this topic, as well as our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets in one handy PDF.
Click on the button below to gain unlimited access to our Evaluative Essays teacher’s PowerPoint, which should include everything you’d need to successfully introduce this topic.
Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Globalization — Globalization: An Evaluation of its Economic Implications
About this sample
Words: 450 |
Published: Aug 1, 2024
Words: 450 | Page: 1 | 3 min read
Let us write you an essay from scratch
Get high-quality help
Dr. Heisenberg
Verified writer
+ 120 experts online
By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email
No need to pay just yet!
4 pages / 1665 words
1 pages / 495 words
2 pages / 760 words
1 pages / 890 words
Remember! This is just a sample.
You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.
121 writers online
Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled
The impact of globalization on employment is a multifaceted phenomenon that has brought about significant changes in the world of work. As economies and societies become increasingly interconnected, the dynamics of employment [...]
Hurrell, A., & Woods, N. (1995). Globalization and Inequality. The Millennium Debate: International Studies, 23(4), 443-464.Financial Times Magazine. (2019). Defining Globalization: A Comprehensive Look. Retrieved from Wolf, M. [...]
Globalization is a multifaceted phenomenon that has reshaped the world in numerous ways. It refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of the world's markets and businesses. This process has accelerated in [...]
The phenomenon of globalization has exerted a profound influence on countries around the world, and China stands as a prime example of a nation that has been significantly impacted by this global trend. Globalization in China [...]
In popular discourse, globalization is often synonymous with internationalization, referring to the growing interconnectedness and interdependence of people and institutions throughout the world. Although these terms have [...]
I’d like to begin with explaining the term Globalization with help of the definitions as follows: Globalization refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society, [...]
By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.
Where do you want us to send this sample?
By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.
Be careful. This essay is not unique
This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before
Download this Sample
Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts
Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.
Please check your inbox.
We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!
We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
An evaluation essay is a piece of writing that aims to assess the value or quality of a particular subject or phenomenon. It involves analyzing a topic, presenting your judgment or opinion on it, and providing evidence or examples to support your claims. This type of essay requires critical thinking, research, and effective communication skills ...
How to write an Evaluation Essay. There are two secrets to writing a strong evaluation essay. The first is to aim for objective analysis before forming an opinion. The second is to use an evaluation criteria. Aim to Appear Objective before giving an Evaluation Argument. Your evaluation will eventually need an argument.
Evaluation Essay Structure. The four different ways to format and organize the evaluation essay are as follows. 1. Chronological Structure. It is a sequential organization that could be used for evaluating historical or current events.
An evaluation essay outline covers at least five structured paragraphs. The first is an introductory paragraph followed by three or more body paragraphs, and finally, an essay conclusion . Below is an evaluation paper outline example under the topic of practicing vaping.
An evaluation essay is a composition that offers value judgments about a particular subject according to a set of criteria. Also called evaluative writing, evaluative essay or report, and critical evaluation essay . An evaluation essay or report is a type of argument that provides evidence to justify a writer's opinions about a subject.
1. Developing a thesis statement for an evaluation essay: A strong thesis statement should clearly state the criteria that will be used to evaluate the subject. It should also provide a clear indication of the writer's stance on the subject, whether it is positive, negative, or neutral. 2. Tips for writing a powerful evaluation essay:
An evaluation essay is an essay where the writer presents an opinion or viewpoint on a topic and then provides a well-reasoned argument and plenty of supporting evidence to back up that opinion. You are probably more familiar with the evaluation essay than you realize, because you have encountered the format outside of the academic world.
Evaluative essays call for the writer to assess a subject in light of specific and explicit criteria and to make a judgment based on the assessment. Task: This assignment evaluates a campus resource. Write an Evaluation Essay. For this essay, you will choose a clear topic, give a reason for the evaluation, use description and categorization ...
An evaluation essay is a type of essay that requires you to judge the quality of a subject based on some ideal criteria that act as a point of comparison. We guide you through writing one with examples.
An evaluation is centered on a judgment. You can point out both its weaknesses and strengths. It is important that any judgment be balanced and fair. This is why it's important to select your criteria before starting your evaluation. Seldom is something all good or all bad, and your audience knows this.
In an evaluation essay, the evaluative thesis statement contains the first key element: the overall judgment. One may recall that the judgment is the writer's overall opinion of the topic being ...
An evaluation essay is widely associated with a review paper. This is a common mistake many students make. Although the two types of paper have some similarities, there are more differences that set them apart.
Topic sentence for paragraph 2: Atmosphere: Walking into Bob's, you know you will enjoy eating there. Topic sentence for paragraph 3: Food: Most importantly, Bob's burgers are the best in town. Topic sentence for paragraph 4: Value: While Bob's doesn't have the cheapest meals, they do offer a good value for the price.
An evaluation essay aims to validate the quality (or lack thereof) of a specific item, product, business, service, program, book, movie, etc. Every evaluation will contain some opinion, but to be done correctly, the evaluation should read differently than it is opinionated. A good evaluation will be fact-based, unbiased, and reasonable.
If an evaluation essay does not have criteria by which you are judging something, an actual judgment on whatever it is you are evaluating and plenty of evidence to support your judgment, then readers of your evaluation will ask, "So what? What was the point of me reading this?". This is not the goal.
This type of essay requires evaluation on two levels. First of all, it demands that we use evaluation in order to determine that there is a legitimate problem. And secondly, it demands that we take more than one policy or solution into consideration to determine which will be the most feasible, viable, or effective one, given that problem. ...
The evaluation essay should also include evidence and examples to support the writer's judgment and provide a well-rounded assessment of the subject. Overall, the evaluation essay requires critical thinking, analysis, and effective communication skills. It is an opportunity for the writer to express their opinion and evaluation of a subject ...
Evaluation essay thesis statement follows the introduction paragraph. It informs readers of what to expect from reading this essay and how it could affect your thinking about a certain matter. 4. Draft the Main Body of the Essay. The main body of an essay is the lengthiest part of the essay. It contains three paragraphs, but you can add more ...
essay, although the writer is not showing a causal relationship. Evaluative essays seek to prompt readers to examine their own values and to perhaps accept the view of the writer. In this sense, evaluation is more like argumentation. Evaluation can be used in book and movie reviews or it
An evaluative essay aims to assess the quality, value, or significance of a subject based on specific criteria. Your goal is to provide a reasoned judgment, supported by evidence and examples, to persuade your audience of your perspective on the subject. By following our step-by-step guide, you will learn how to effectively analyze the subject ...
There are many different types of essay that you may be asked to write during your time as an academic, and one of the most common and perhaps useful is the evaluative essay.This short four-chapter reader therefore focuses firstly on the purpose of an evaluation, which in the broadest and simplest sense is the consideration of the positive or negative aspects about an item, theme or topic and ...
EVALUATION ESSAYS . The purpose of an evaluation essay is to present an opinion or viewpoint on a subject or body of work. It should firstly provide a summary of the article in question, then using a thorough, well structured argument the writer presents a point-of-view supported with examples and evidence. By nature this essay bears many ...
13.3.1 Introduction. In the introduction of your evaluative essay, you should clearly state the following: - what you are evaluating (the subject - like Citizen Kane or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) - the purpose of your evaluation - what criteria you are evaluating your subject on (plot, characterization, cinematography etc.)
Person2: 3 Scientific evaluation: 3 3. Person 3: 4 Scientific evaluation: 4 4. Person 4: 4 Scientific evaluation: 5 5. Person 5: 5 Scientific evaluation: 5 Argument: 6 Own opinion 6 Conclusion 8 Reference list 9 Introduction There are many mental disorders in psychology that people are diagnosed with often and in some cases tend to become severe.
Globalization, the integration of economies and societies worldwide, has been a subject of intense debate in recent years. While some argue that globalization has brought numerous economic benefits, others contend that it has led to negative consequences.
This course focuses on the importance of incorporating and considering elements of character in the evaluation of application essays and in the advising of applicants. The basics: Intended audience: Secondary counselors who advise students on writing college application essays, postsecondary admission professionals who review college application essays.Cost: $50 for members, $100 for ...