Writing an Evaluation Composition Prof. Schofer

Evaluation Writing You set the criteria which you are judging--in this case, the criteria for the film. You state your judgment of the item to be evaluated and defend your judgment using evidence in relation to the item being evaluated. In this case, the evidence will come from the class film, referring to elements such as cinematography, directing choices, and acting choices.

Ways to Organize an Evaluation: 1st Option 1.Describe what you’re evaluating 2.State your judgment early on as a thesis with clear explanation in the introduction. 3.Provide reasons and evidence for each criterion. For example, analyze the acting and the reasons/evidence for your analysis in one body paragraph; then analyze the script or dialogue in the next paragraph. You give examples along the way. 4.Acknowledge other opinions or objections (rebuttal) in a separate paragraph. 5.Restate your overall judgment.

Ways to Organize an Evaluation: 2nd Option 1.Explain your criteria for evaluating the item (the film). For example, reference the directing choices, film score and cinematography in the introduction. Your thesis will give a general indication that this film met/did not meet these criteria, but there will not be lengthy description. 2.Describe what you’re evaluating, briefly. 3.Evaluate the item (film) against each of your criteria, one at a time. Each criterion might take a full paragraph in the body. 4.Within each paragraph, while analyzing each criterion, consider other viewpoints or objections. 5.State your overall judgment at the end.

Some Pointers on Evaluation Writing Use logical reasons based on concrete evidence to support your opinion. For example, point to specific scenes, dialogue or other elements in the film. Know the item you are evaluating. This may mean repeated viewing of the film or reading outside information about the film (such as awards history or background of the film-making process). Additional research (in this case, about things such as the director, actors, or screenplay) can really strengthen an evaluation. Remember to consider what other viewpoints are or might be.