Academic Writing Evaluation

Choose a situation, event, or item and evaluate it using the following formula: X is (or is not) a good example of Y because it has (or does not have) features A, B, C, and so on... You can use any of the following suggestions to write your evaluative argument, or you can choose a topic of your own: •Evaluate any world leader with respect to their foreign or domestic policies. •Choose a famous person from any field (business, labor, sports, academics, the arts) and evaluate that person's value as a role model. •Choose a recent film and evaluate it in terms of what it hopes to achieve. That is, don't evaluate X as simply a good movie, but as a good example of a particular type of film: comedy, action/adventure, thriller, science fiction, romance, epic, children's film, and so on. •Consider a particular social or political dilemma and evaluate one approach being taken to resolve it. You might examine a foreign policy decision, a social policy decision, or an ethical problem. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to evaluate an existing and controversial policy. Don't just describe the situation without evaluating it, and don't feel obligated to offer an alternative solution. For any topic you select, you will have to define a set of criteria for the subject you have chosen and then apply them, presenting evidence to convince your readers that your subject either meets or falls short of the criteria. One possible format for your argument: •Introduce the issue - Why is evaluating X problematic? •Present your own claims, stating criteria as necessary. •State criterion 1. •Show that X meets criterion 1. •State criterion 2. •Show that X meets criterion 2. •State criterion 3. •Show that X meets criterion 3. •Summarize opposing views. •Refute the opposing views - perhaps conceding some of them. •Sum up your evaluation. OR You can introduce opposing views and refute them where you see they best fit instead of lumping them together at the end of the paper. However you decide to set up your paper, be sure to do the following: • Offer an arguable (controversial) claim. • Explain to your readers in a paragraph or so why you think your argument is important. (Why, in other words, is your argument controversial? What are its implications or possible applications?) • Define a term or concept (the Y of your argument) by establishing at least two or three criteria. If necessary, you will need to defend your criteria. At least one criterion should be at least somewhat original. • The criteria should be both necessary and sufficient for defining the Y. • Match the criteria you've established for the Y term against the controversial concept you are assessing (the X term of your argument). . This “criteria match” is the crux of your thesis. • Provide sufficient grounds (evidence) that your X term does (or does not) possess the criteria established. • Provide as necessary sufficient backing (chains of reasons and evidence) that show true Y's have features A, B, and C. • Defend your criteria against counterarguments (in other words, carefully consider conditions of rebuttal and the need for qualification). ______________________________________________________ Remember you must use at least one outside source, citing it parenthetically within the text and include it on a Works Cited page (using MLA style). Your paper must be 1,200 – 1,500 words (not including the Works Cited). 5 points will be counted off for each of the following: •Failure to format paper properly •Failure to use 12-point Times/Times New Roman font •Less than 1,200 words of text