Evaluation Essay

· Present the subject of your evaluation: “the person, place, thing, event, or phenomenon that you are evaluating” (See: Allyn & Bacon Guide, p. 371).

· Show why evaluating your topic is problematic or controversial.

· Present your evaluation claim and your criteria (at least 3 criteria are required).

Your audience

· Intelligent and educated adults interested in your topic.

Your purpose

· Persuade your audience to see the value (or lack of value) of the claim you have selected.

Each body paragraph should

· State a criterion and defend it if necessary

· Show that the claim at the core of your paper meets or does not meet the criterion.

Treatment of alternative or opposing views

· Summarize objections to your criteria or your match

· Respond to these objections

Each reference to a source should follow the ICE method: (

· Introduce the source using an attributive tag (See: Allyn & Bacon Guide, p. 555)

· Quote the important information from that source

· Explain the significance of the information from the source

· Include a correct MLA in-text citation which is also referenced in the final Works Cited page

Your conclusion should

· Sum up your evaluation.

Important Information:

This paper is about an ISSUE, but you may refer to your process of understanding and evaluating the criteria you highlight using the personal pronoun “I.”

You may NOT use any of the following words or phrases in your essay: me, myself, we, us, in my opinion, I think, I believe.

Your paper is not about your reader, nor do you know your reader personally; therefore, the following words do not belong in your essay either: you, your, you’re, yourself.

*Figure 14.3 which illustrates the framework for an evaluation argument is on page 374 of your text.