8 Pages Movie Evaluation/Review
Alkhaldi
1020assignment3evaluationessay.docAssignment Sheet Movie Evaluation This assignment will require you to choose a film and evaluate it based on criteria that you select and define. The essay is designed to further develop your critical thinking and argument skills and to give you practice in applying them to a different area. To complete this assignment, you need to: 1) CHOOSE a film as your subject. It is a good idea to choose a film that you can view more than once and on more than one occasion. Do Not choose your favorite film of all time--you will live to regret this decision. 2) VIEW the film at least once, paying attention to the genre, plot, characters, special effects, etc. (criteria for evaluation). 3) DRAFT a basic summary of the plot/storyline of the film. (View the film again as necessary.) 4) SELECT the specific criteria by which you would like to evaluate this film. (View the film again as necessary.) 5) VIEW the film again looking carefully for specific evidence that relates to your selected criteria. Take notes. 6) ORGANIZE your thoughts and notes to develop an overall judgement of the film, based on your criteria and evidence. 7) RESEARCH to find at least two professional reviews of your film--if possible, one that agrees with your overall judgement, and one that does not. 8) CONSTRUCT a clear, well developed essay that describes the film, states your judgement, and supports your judgement with specific evidence from the film as well as the professional reviews. Your essay should be detailed in evaluation and evidence. Be specific and persuasive. All sources of information--including the film itself--must be appropriately documented in MLA format.
A Brief Guide to Writing Evaluation Essays
Many of the features of evaluations are the same as those found in a cause and effect 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 can be used to describe a work process. We evaluate employees and employers; we evaluate the success of particular programs in government or education.
Features
1. An adequately described subject. The writer should describe the subject of the essay in some detail, according to what he or she thinks the reader should know. Writers usually provide only enough information to allow their readers to accept their judgment. The emphasis, therefore, is on the authoritative voice of the writer. But if you were going to evaluate a book, your reader would need to know the author, the date of publication, what it was about, etc.
2. A judgment. The writer must assert him or herself by making a definitive judgment. This judgment should be the writer's thesis sentence. All other paragraphs should seek to prove the thesis, even if a writer must give a balanced appraisal by anticipating objections .
3. A convincing argument. After you state your judgment, present an argument based on reasonable criteria. "Reasonable criteria" means using standards that are generally used to describe something. For instance, if you are evaluating a mystery novel but using the criteria used to judge a self-help book, you might have difficulty. Writers should also provide evidence to make their argument. If you state that the mystery novel has a plot that is unlikely, then you must give several examples directly from the novel and tell why they are unlikely. Evidence should include description, examples, facts, statistics, and testimony of others. A writer may also chose to make comparisons when writing an evaluation. For instance, the mystery novel could be compared to an Agatha Christie novel to help clarify its strengths and weaknesses.
4. An impartial, reasonable tone. Some writers go out of their way to avoid an impartial or reasonable tone, especially when evaluating a movie, and sometimes it is desirable to allow the importance of your topic to be reflected in your tone. In business, however, it is usually best to be impartial. If you are evaluating a worker's performance, for instance, you don't want to be flippant or cute. Remember, the tone reflects on the writer--not the person being evaluated.
5. A clear pattern of organization. As with other types of essays, it is best to make it clear where you are going. Start with a tight introduction, working from general to specific. Your judgment should be your thesis sentence and should lead into your argument.
Copyright 1988 Jennifer Jordan-Henley
