Evaluating

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Evaluating
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Image

• Look at the image on the cover of the Evaluating
  Unit and answer the following questions
• What does this image say about decision making?
• How does the image guide the viewers eye to its
  focal point?
• What details contribute to the overall impression
  of the image?

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Evaluating

• Evaluating means judging based on criteria
• You do this when
• You recommend a restaurant, a movie, or a store
• When you write an evaluation you must think
  clearly
• You should have
• Criteria to judge your subject
• Evidence to back up the judgments
• You should zero in on the subject and communicate
  a detailed opinion

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Possible Topics

• Sports team
• A film
• A book
• A product
• A music artist
• A body of research

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Assignment

• Read Fiskes essay on pages 171 173
• Answer the questions on 174 (1 8)

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Day 2 Activity

• Read Nguyens essay on 174 177
• Answer questions on 177 (1 7)

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Day 3 College Brochure Evaluation

• Sit in groups of four
• Go through the college brochures in the bag
• Fill in evaluation sheet
• Choose a brochure to evaluate
• This will be the basis for your essay
• You will need to visit the colleges website and
  obtain details as necessary for your paper

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Day 4 Learning by Writing

• You now have your subject to evaluate
• Now you must
• Develop and communicate your assessment of the
  college through the brochure and extra
  information
• Then you must convince your readers that the
  judgment is reasonable

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To Write

• The college, through its brochure, is the subject
• Find all important information in the brochure
• Analyze this information
• Get more support
• Why is the information in the brochure important
• What is added or expanded on the colleges
  website
• What do the college guides in the library and
  bookstore say about the college?
• Does it coincide with the brochure?

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To Write

• Criteria
• You will create most of this yourself
• Consider
• If the brochure is black and white or color
• The statistics given in the brochure
• The job placement rates for graduates of various
  programs
• What current and former students of the college
  have to say
• What professors have to say and what
  awards/publications they have won/achieved

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To Write

• Comparing and contrasting
• Compare this colleges brochure to the other
  information you have found
• Similarities?
• Differences?
• Often the brochure is the first thing a student
  sees when they request information from a college
• Why is the information given considered important?

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To Write

• Define your subject
• May want to use an extended definition
• Expand upon the colleges objectives, mission
  statement, goals, and expectations
• Develop a judgment, based on research and
  criteria, that your readers can utilize in making
  their own choices

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Day 5 Writing the Paper

• Most difficult part
• Making your criteria clear to the reader of the
  essay
• How to do this
• Begin with your judgment or decision
• Movie critics do this all the time by summarizing
  the plot then stating whether they liked it or
  not

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Writing the Paper

• To make sure that they do not just summarize,
  most critics
• Also state what they liked and did not like, then
  hit you with a thesis
• Example
• Critic liked setting and special effects
• Critic Did Not Like character development
• Thesis Saw II was not realistic, but is worth
  seeing if you like special effects and exotic
  settings.

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Writing the Paper

• You should explain each criterion and examine it
  in turn in your essay
• The Thesis
• Must answer
• What is the purpose of your evaluation?
• What main point do you wish to make?
• Must summarize main point
• Topic and Judgment
• Campus performance of Lobby Hero
• Like the characters and the problems the plot
  brought up
• Thesis
• Chosen to showcase the talents of the actors,
  Lobby Hero also brings up ethical problems in a
  delightful play.

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Writing the Paper

• Make a chart that looks like this for criteria

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Writing the Paper

• Organization
• Option 1
• Begin with a direct statement
• Based on durability, cost, weatherproof design,
  and comfort the LL Bean backpack is an ideal
  campus backpack.
• Thesis - supporting evidence - revisit thesis
• Option 2
• Begin with an essential question
• How good of a film is Coach Carter?
• Opening question - Supporting Evidence -
  Overall Judgement

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Day 6 Revising the Thesis

• Working Thesis
• Chosen to showcase the talents of the actors,
  Lobby Hero also brings up ethical problems in a
  delightful play.
• Revised Thesis
• This years senior showcase play, Lobby Hero,
  spotlights outstanding performances and raises
  timely ethical issues.

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Day 6 Pitfalls

• Be Fair
• Do not make your judegemnts too extreme unless
  the subject really warrants it
• A reviewer can dislike some aspects of a movie
  and still recommend it
• Revise
• See example on page 183
• Why did the author revise this way?
• Be precise in evaluation and communication of all
  criteria
• Note Bring two different colors of highlighter
  to class tomorrow

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Day 7 Peer Review

• Exchange rough drafts
• Highlight each judgment or opinion with one color
• Reread and highlight all evidence with a
  different color
• Answer the following
• Are the judgments followed by or related to
  evidence that supports the claim?
• Do the judgments or support need modified in some
  way?
• Is more support needed?
• Are the judgments sound and concise?

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Citing the Book

• Four year colleges 2004. (2004). Thompson
  Learning. Petersons, New Jersey.