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 EvaluateYou will evaluate your peer’s work when we do Peer Reviews on your essays this month. When you back up opinion with evidence, you actually get others to take you seriously!

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 EvidenceIn 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 AdviceSome 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]

Structure of Essay Introduction leading to evaluative claim (Thesis) including….. Criteria of evaluation stated + defended (Thesis) BODY of Essay:

Subject measured by first criterion + evidence Subject measured by second criterion + evidence Subject measured by third criterion + evidence

Conclusion – restate Thesis and tie it up!

Meet Me in Mayaguez!First Essay will be written for scholarly audience visiting Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Think of it like an academic’s “Tripadvisor” magazine essay. Find local restaurants, stores, places of interest, beaches, zoo, parks, places that aren’t often advertised.Write an Evaluation essay, MLA Style, min 500 words, works cited (if referencing outside material), DUE: OCT 31st