Evaluative writing aims to give an opinion or point of view about a topic. This essay is similar in concept to the persuasive essay but intended to present a more balanced argument. It should begin with a synopsis of the article in the issue, followed by a point-of-view backed by examples and evidence presented in a complete, well-structured argument.
The main objective of writing an evaluation essay can be to confirm the quality of a product, book, movie, or service. An assessment should not be an expression of the writer’s opinion. Facts must support each thesis. As a result, each evaluation point has to be justified by valid arguments. In the end, such an essay has to convince the reader of the adequacy of the presented facts and explanations. Based on the given facts, the readers can easily form their attitude to the discussed topic.
In our article, we will explain how to write evaluation essay, where to start, and what to include in the main part. In addition, we have prepared several examples for you to illustrate the theoretical background.
Having Troubles Starting an Essay?
Before writing the task, the students often get stuck because they do not know where to begin. Our article writing services have prepared clear instructions to help you get started with your essay immediately.
• Pick the relevant topic
This step is universal for any writing. If you have the opportunity to pick a theme, then opt for the topic closest to your likes and beliefs. Alternatively, you can choose one where you already have some experience.
• Make a statement
An essay is your communication with the reader. At the beginning of any conversation, you must impose the evaluative thesis and make a statement. A thesis is your main belief. It should be clear and simple. Do not overload the statement with complex inflections.
• Determine the product evaluation criteria
Choose a variety of criteria to keep your writing interesting. The criteria you select will differ based on what you are analyzing. A technological invention, for example, would be assessed using completely different standards than a book or a movie.
• Prepare valid arguments
An example should accompany every argument. It can be a historical, scientific, artistic, or real-life experience. Break the proof into stages, each of which will be an independent argument or a continuation of the previous one.
• Make a draft, think over a structure, and prepare a clear plan
Although an evaluative essay is a creative work, it has a defined structure equal for all texts. The writing structure involves putting forward a certain thesis at the beginning and then proving it with arguments or facts in the form of logical statements, quotations, or a discussion of relevant facts.
• Check and rewrite if needed
After completing the first draft, you must read the writing once again. Sometimes, it is necessary to rewrite it several times to achieve a perfect result.
I’m Ready with the Topic — How to Create an Ideal Structure?
As we briefly noted above, the structure of the work involves putting forward a certain thesis at the beginning and then proving it with arguments in the form of logical statements, quotations, or a declaration of relevant facts. In the end, you should write a summary of your arguments and conclude your assessment.
The structure essay example includes the following paragraphs:
• Introduction. This is the first body paragraph with the outline of the thesis
• Body Paragraphs with the arguments
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First argument
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Second argument
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Third argument
• Summary
The “introduction” and “conclusion” are situated in the beginning and at the end of the writing correspondingly. They should not be written very elaborately. The first paragraph of the text brings the reader to the problem. The writer doesn’t need to tell much in the introduction. One or two paragraphs will be enough. In conclusion, students summarize everything that was said previously in the essay. It is important that the summary is up to a point and does not arise “out of nowhere”.
An essay always contains a thesis. It is the main idea and the position of the author. The thesis will be at the beginning of the essay if the author already has a point of view on this issue. In rare cases, depending on the task, you can indicate it in conclusion. In this case, the author comes to it due to reasoning. Any thesis must be supported by several arguments. Arguments, in turn, should be illustrated with two or three examples presented in the main body.
The Greatest Attention to the Main Part
The main body requires the most attention, especially when drawing up a plan. In our case, we state the evaluation in the introduction and then prove it in the subsequent paragraphs. It is recommended that the thesis is backed with two arguments. One will be unconvincing, and more than two might probably overload the text. In some cases, the writer is free to introduce the quantity of the arguments, but maintaining the correct structure, conciseness, and figurativeness of the text is important.
The main part must be built according to the laws of logic. It is required to move from simple to complex gradually and use the method of induction and deduction. You may combine the introduced theses in a logical sequence. As a result, one thought will follow another. You can build a thorough plan. Add the text to it and finalize your essay. Before you begin writing, prove the general structure. Firstly, consider whether the theses are in a logical sequence. Subsequently, prove that your arguments are convincing enough.
Evaluative Writing Examples to Get the Maximum out of Your Writing
After we have provided you with the information regarding the theoretical part, we suggest moving on to practice and illustrations of our explanations. Let’s consider how to evaluate things in the essay on the topic “Dangerous Video Games”.
There are several approaches to starting an essay. The most common is the standard one. The author states the main point of the writing and tells the readers what thesis should be evaluated.
Besides, you can build an introduction as a dialogue. Such a beginning stimulates the reader as a participant. The main recommendations are not to overuse the appeals and not to turn the introduction into a stream of thoughts with rhetorical questions. Alternatively, you can apply more creative approaches. A well-chosen quote immediately attracts the reader’s attention, but it is not recommended to use proverbs and clichés.
Introduction example: Video games are currently the most loved kind of entertainment. You must have played more than once, too, right? Companies that create such products earn much and are continually investing in research to make virtual reality appear genuine. Their games have become increasingly complex and appeal to a diverse clientele. Despite the fun that video games may provide to children and teens, who are the primary target consumers of game development businesses, engaging in video games at such a young age can have negative consequences.
Why Games are Dangerous: Arguments for Your Assessment
In the main part, we will explain our point expressed in the introductory evaluative thesis example.
Main Body example: Several factors may be used to assess the harm caused by video games. The most evident is their detrimental effects on players’ health. Though proponents of video gaming argue that the shooters enhance reflexes and boost focus and muscle coordination, the children who spend much time playing games face negative consequences. There is also a chance that the frequent players may lose their sight. One of the leading causes of impaired vision among teenagers is spending hours in front of a monitor.
Furthermore, abandoning healthy physical activity in favor of games may be an obesity risk factor. Playing video games at a tender age might impact one’s mental health. This results in a problem with addiction and improper behavior.
Individuals who spend most of their time on video games may be unable to separate reality and fantasy. Video games frequently provide simplified and conditional representations of settings and relationships. Gamers utilize these models and learn how to interact with their surroundings. Consequently, they lack abilities that would be learned through real-life experience rather than simulation.
When All Is Said and Done
The last paragraph should conclude your opinion and leave a vivid mark on the reader’s memory. A good conclusion connects all the elements of reasoning into one whole and extracts the most important idea that makes the text complete unity. Here is a possible example for ending your essay. This is the moment of truth. If everything that was discussed previously is easily combined into a whole by the conclusion at the end, then the essay is perfect.
Conclusion example: Video games are an inappropriate source of entertainment for children and teens. Such evaluation is based on various negative effects caused by excessive video gaming.
Young gamers who spend an unreasonable amount of time playing video games are more likely to lose sight and gain weight. They tend to be more aggressive than children who don’t spend so much time playing. Furthermore, video gaming may lead to severe addiction, as proven by recent reports on fatalities among devoted video gamers. This information collection adds to the bad perception of video games as a harmful hobby for children and teens.
Evaluation Essay Ideas — In Case You Have to Come Up With One
The essay topic should be appealing to you and your audience. It will inspire and aid in generating talking points when working on it. We have collected a list of interesting vectors and relevant criteria for evaluation essay to save you time searching for a topic.
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Journal paper. Pay attention to its methodological quality, clarity, and length. Assess literature review quality and evaluate the applicability of results to actual life.
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Novel. Plot intricacy, moral or social worth, and relevance to real life are recommended rating factors.
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Textbook. The simplicity of explanations, connection to a curriculum, practical approach, and range of material are recommended assessment factors.
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Work of art. Suggested criteria are effects on art theory, social message, composition quality, and complexity.
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Podcast or a lecture. Consider speaker clarity, audience involvement, the validity of the topic, and monetary worth.
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Scientific theory. The criteria include valuable input to knowledge, its effect on ordinary people’s lives, and conflicts and inconsistencies with other ideas.
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Film. Storyline, actors, the moral or social worth of the message, and the development of characters are to be assessed.
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Popular scientists. Recommendations for the evaluation include an influence on human health and contribution to education debates with other scientists.
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Play. Criteria for evaluation include storyline complexity, acting quality, and relation to current life.
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Hotel. Flexibility, cleanliness, surroundings, breakfast quality, quiet neighborhood, Wi-Fi, and parking can be evaluated.
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Restaurant. Menu selection, taste, service quality, cleanliness, price, and surroundings are something that you can describe.
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Vehicle. The writer can consider price, comfort, safety, and reputation.
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House. Suggested evaluation criteria are location, construction safety and quality, neighborhood, and infrastructure.
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Doctor. The student may include such factors as equipment quality, value for money, feedback, knowledge, and experience.
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Course. The assessment points are teachers, practical application, guidance, and price.
In essay writing, no one obliges you to express only positive beliefs. The content may well include a negative component. However, it is crucial to use reasoned arguments rather than simply stating that you are in opposition.
