Evaluations

Make a claim about the merit of something

Why Evaluate?

Evaluations and reviews are so much a part of our lives that you might only notice them when they are assigned.

Product Reviews: as a good consumer you scour online resources on the latest SLR Camera before purchasing.

Arts Review: Check out any newspaper or magazine and you’ll see the latest Black Eyed Peas CD up for ‘evaulation’.

Social Satire: Tired of students who are always on their cellphone at social events? Mock them in a social satire.

Does this look common?

What to Evaluate

Already have been evaluating through Peer Review.

When you back up opinion with evidence, you actually get others to take you seriously!

Did you notice that with your argument essay?

Evaluations involve people debating matters of taste – which draws good sense and wit in the the mix.

“Persistence of Memory” – Salvador Dali

Write Evaluation on right side.

Write your Observation on left side.

- Objective objects - Things you notice

- Your opinion - If you know

background info, include that!

Video Evaluation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBENnHkmqdw&playnext=1&list=PL4B5D4AF297437246&feature=results_video

Necessary Ingredients

Established & Defined Criteria

Criteria: standards by which objects are measured. (What do you look for in a good running shoe? What makes a good movie?)

When readers agree with your criteria, you need to explain a little about them, when they don’t you have to defend them.

Offer Convincing Evidence

In the form of fats, statistics, examples, other reviews.

This is the link between evaluative claim and criteria.

Could include anything from numbers to harrowing tales of personal woe. (quantitative of qualitative)

Offer Useful Advice

Some evaluations are just for fun: consider all the hoopla arguments about sports rankings generate. (football fans?)

When done right, they also provide useful info:

Restaurants (Yelp!), Travel (Trip Advisor), Movies (Rotten Tomatoes), Product Reviews.

How to Measure Criteria?

How do you measure something like Jay-Z’s last recording, or a dance recital?

Do research on similar topics have been evaluated or discussed. Get familiar with critics on topics).

Examples: pg.119 (How to Write Anything) James Morris Explains why he believes American Television is often better than Hollywood films.

[take out book and read excerpt]

INGL3101 FILM FESTIVAL!So little did you know that your English classroom would become the host of

an International Film Festival and YOU would be the presenters. All seven continents will be represented in this "Festival".

The 15 minute presentation to our "international audience" will incorporate using a visual (point point, video clip, image), a quick review of at least 2 film reviews,

and your group's review/evaluation of the film. You can be as creative as you want. For example, you can even do a skit where you can "interview" one of the "actors/actresses" in the film, give handouts to class, or get class involved with a

game.

Describe what stands out as the single most compelling scene or incident in the film.

Identify what you see as the major premise or idea in the film and then discuss what you see as the ways in which that idea is developed.

Lastly, state what you see as the importance or relevance of the film. What do we learn, or fail to learn, from watching this film?

Finally, be creative and have fun!

Examples

City of God Trailer (Brazil):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioUE_5wpg_E

Antartica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlUg-6dv808

Africa (Blood Diamond):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2uXlxNZCs4