Critical analysis examples of theories
The following sentences are examples of the phrases used to explain strengths and weaknesses.
Smith’s (2005) theory appears up to date, practical and applicable across many divergent settings.
Brown’s (2010) theory, although parsimonious and logical, lacks a sufficient body of evidence to support its propositions and predictions
Little scientific evidence has been presented to support the premises of this theory.
One of the limitations with this theory is that it does not explain why…
A significant strength of this model is that it takes into account …
The propositions of this model appear unambiguous and logical.
A key problem with this framework is the conceptual inconsistency between ….
The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of a concept:
Evaluating Concepts
Key variables or constructs identified | key variables or constructs omitted or missed |
Clear, well-defined, specific, precise | ambiguous, vague, ill-defined, overly general, imprecise, not sufficiently distinctive overinclusive, too broad, or narrowly defined |
Meaningful, useful | conceptually flawed |
Logical | contradictory |
Relevant | questionable relevance |
Up-to-date | out of date |
Critical analysis examples of concepts
Many researchers have used the concept of control in different ways.
There is little consensus about what constitutes automaticity.
Putting forth a very general definition of motivation means that it is possible that any behaviour could be included.
The concept of global education lacks clarity, is imprecisely defined and is overly complex.
Some have questioned the usefulness of resilience as a concept because it has been used so often and in so many contexts.
Research suggests that the concept of preoperative fasting is an outdated clinical approach.
The table below summarizes the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of an argument, viewpoint or idea:
Evaluating Arguments, Views or Ideas
Reasons and evidence provided support the argument | the reasons or evidence do not support the argument - overgeneralization |
Substantiated (supported) by factual evidence | insufficient substantiation (support) |
Evidence is relevant and believable | Based on peripheral or irrelevant evidence |
Unbiased: sufficient or important evidence or ideas included and considered. | biased: overlooks, omits, disregards, or is selective with important or relevant evidence or ideas. |
Evidence from reputable or authoritative sources | evidence relies on non reputable or unrecognized sources |
Balanced: considers opposing views | unbalanced: does not consider opposing views |
Clear, not confused, unambiguous | confused, ambiguous |
Logical, consistent | the reasons do not follow logically from and support the arguments; arguments or ideas are inconsistent |
Convincing | unconvincing |
Critical analysis examples of arguments, viewpoints or ideas
The validity of this argument is questionable as there is insufficient evidence to support it.
Many writers have challenged Jones’ claim on the grounds that …….
This argument fails to draw on the evidence of others in the field.
This explanation is incomplete because it does not explain why…
The key problem with this explanation is that ……
The existing accounts fail to resolve the contradiction between …
However, there is an inconsistency with this argument. The inconsistency lies in…
Although this argument has been proposed by some, it lacks justification.
However, the body of evidence showing that… contradicts this argument.
The table below provides the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of methodology.
An evaluation of a methodology usually involves a critical analysis of its main sections:
design; sampling (participants); measurement tools and materials; procedure
Evaluating a Methodology
Research design tests the hypotheses or research questions | research design is inappropriate for the hypotheses or research questions |
Valid and reliable method | dubious, questionable validity |
The method addresses potential sources of bias or measurement error. confounding variables were identified | insufficiently rigorous measurement error produces questionable or unreliable confounding variables not identified or addressed |
The method (sample, measurement tools, procedure) allows results to be generalized or transferred. Sampling was representative to enable generalization | generalizability of the results is limited due to an unrepresentative sample: small sample size or limited sample range |
Sampling of cohort was representative to enable generalization sampling of phenomena under investigation sufficiently wide and representative sampling response rate was sufficiently high | limited generalizability of results due to unrepresentative sample: small sample size or limited sample range of cohort or phenomena under investigation sampling response rate was too low |
Measurement tool(s) / instrument(s), appropriate, reliable and valid measurements were accurate | inappropriate measurement tools; incomplete or ambiguous scale items inaccurate measurement reliability statistics from previous research for measurement tool not reported measurement instrument items are ambiguous, unclear, contradictory |
Procedure reliable and valid | Measurement error from administration of the measurement tool(s) |
Method was clearly explained and sufficiently detailed to allow replication | Explanation of the methodology (or parts of it, for example the Procedure) is unclear, confused, imprecise, ambiguous, inconsistent or contradictory |
Critical analysis examples of a methodology
The unrepresentativeness of the sample makes these results misleading.
The presence of unmeasured variables in this study limits the interpretation of the results.
Other, unmeasured confounding variables may be influencing this association.
The interpretation of the data requires caution because the effect of confounding variables was not taken into account.
The insufficient control of several response biases in this study means the results are likely to be unreliable.
Although this correlational study shows association between the variables, it does not establish a causal relationship.
Taken together, the methodological shortcomings of this study suggest the need for serious caution in the meaningful interpretation of the study’s results.
The table below provides the criteria for judging the strengths and weaknesses of research results and conclusions:
Evaluating the Results and Conclusions
Chose and used appropriate statistics | inappropriate choice or use of statistics |
Results interpreted correctly or accurately | incorrect interpretation of results the results have been over-interpreted For example: correlation measures have been incorrectly interpreted to suggest causation rather than association |
All results were explained, including inconsistent or misleading results | inconsistent or misleading results not explained |
Alternative explanations for results were considered | unbalanced explanations: alternative explanations for results not explored |
Significance of all results were considered | incomplete consideration of results |
Results considered according to consistency with other research or viewpoints Results are conclusive because they have been replicated by other studies | consistency of results with other research not considered results are suggestive rather than conclusive because they have not been replicated by other studies |
Results add significantly to existing understanding or knowledge | results do not significantly add to existing understanding knowledge |
Limitations of the research design or method are acknowledged | limitations of the research design or method not considered |
Results were clearly explained, sufficiently detailed, consistent | results were unclear, insufficiently detailed, inconsistent, confusing, ambiguous, contradictory |
Conclusions were consistent with and supported by the results | conclusions were not consistent with or not supported by the results |
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“It is well worth the time to break down the question into its different elements.” Kathleen McMillan & Jonathan Weyers, How to Write Essays & Assignments
When you get an essay question, how do you make sure you are answering it how your tutor wants? There is a hidden code in most questions that gives you a clue about the approach you should be taking...
Here is a typical essay question:
Analyse the impact of the employability agenda on the undergraduate student experience.
Let's decode it...
Did you know that analyse means something different to discuss or evaluate ? In academic writing these have very specific and unique meanings - which you need to make sure you are aware of before you start your essay planning. For example:
Examine critically so as to bring out the essential elements; describe in detail; describe the various parts of something and explain how they work together, or whether they work together.
It is almost impossible to remember the different meanings, so download our Glossary of Instruction Words for Essay Questions to keep your own reminder of the most common ones.
Don't get thrown by other regularly used phrases such as "with reference to relevant literature" or "critically evaluate" and "critically analyse" (rather than simply "evaluate" or "analyse"). All your writing should refer to relevant literature and all writing should have an element of criticality at university level. These are just redundant phrases/words and only there as a gentle reminder.
Many students think this is the easy bit - but you can easily mistake the focus for the subject and vice versa. The subject is the general topic of the essay and the instruction word is usually referring to something you must do to that topic .
Usually, the subject is something you have had a lecture about or there are chapters about in your key texts.
There will be many aspects of the subject/topic that you will not need to include in your essay, which is why it is important to recognise and stick to the focus as shown in the next box.
Every essay has and needs a focus . If you were to write everything about a topic, even about a particular aspect of a topic, you could write a book and not an essay! The focus gives you direction about the scope of the essay. It usually does one of two things:
This could be something there were a few slides about in your lecture or a subheading in your key text.
I have to make up my own title.
If you have been asked to come up with your own title, write one like the ones described here. Include at least an instruction, a subject and a focus and it will make planning and writing the essay so much easier. The main difference would be that you write it as a description rather than a question i.e.:
An analysis of the impact of the employability agenda on the undergraduate student experience.
If you have been given assignment criteria, the question often still contains the information you need to break it down into the components on this page. For example, look at the criteria below. There are still instruction words, subjects and focus/constraints.
An understanding of learning theories is important to being an effective teacher. In this assignment you will select two learning theories and explain why they would help you in your own teaching context. You will then reflect on an experience from your teaching practice when this was, or could have been, put into practice.
Select two learning theories , referring to published literature, explain why they are relevant to your own teaching context.
Reflect on an experience from your teaching practice .
Explain why a knowledge of a learning theory was or would have been useful in the circumstances .
Think of each criterion therefore as a mini essay.
No matter what subject you are studying, at some point you will be asked to ‘analyse’ in an essay. This essay question covers a multitude of topics, from English to Medicine so learning how to analyse in an essay correctly will save you a lot of time and upset in the long run. The word ‘analyse’ will often be entwined with phrases like ‘Critical Analysis’ and ‘Using Supporting literature’. These phrases go hand in hand, and there will always be an element of critical analysis within analysis and supporting literature will almost always be used.
The act of analysing should always begin by breaking down your subject into its principal parts. Break down each contributing factor and think about how it contributes to the overall point you are trying to prove. Do this in a draft form at first, think about all your contributing elements and then think how you may be able to analyse them in a way that flows nicely together and forms natural links. Marks are often lost when ideas jump around and don’t seem fluid within an essay. Using signposting throughout your essay can help the flow seem more natural.
It is essential that you look at the arguments both for and against your question. Think about how the contributing factors can either support or go against your point and demonstrate this. You may find it easier to use your earlier separation of contributing factors and break them into three groups – for, against and both.
The key here is to try to link these together and prove that despite a contributing factor going against your argument, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that your argument is correct (or not!). Remember to stay on topic and always relate it back to answering the essay question.
Ask yourself: What point am I trying to make and why am I trying to make it? Is it a beneficial use of words? Could I be more succinct or does the idea need developing more? There is no point having great ideas in your head if you do not translate these to the screen.
You will need to support your analysis throughout with academic literature; the best sources you can get will be in the form of peer-reviewed journals and books. You will need to find literature that supports what you are saying but also find some that goes against what you are saying and the key to scoring high points is linking these together.
There is a world of literature out there to search, finding sources should be easy enough to do, although a lot of time will be spent here reading this supporting documentation and learning from it. It is here your learning will develop into the field you are writing on.
Make sure to keep your sources as recent and relevant as possible. By searching through literature databases like this also helps you to find gaps in the literature which create excellent opportunities for further research. Mentioning a gap in literature is almost always required in research to demonstrate why the research paper is necessary.
A common error and slip up where marks are lost is in providing a descriptive analysis and not a critical one. Avoid merely describing the contributing factors to what you are analysing and then supporting this by describing the literature. You must not merely state what has already been written by others; you must find what has been written by others and work out how this supports or goes against what you are trying to say and apply it. This may be in the form of a framework or theory or it may be primary or secondary research. Either way, the point is not to DESCRIBE the contributing literature and make sure you are APPLYING it in an ANALYTICAL way.
Some helpful phrases to ensure your work is analytical may look like this:
Analysing in an essay will come more naturally once you have done it a few times. It will get easier, but rarely gets less time-consuming. Not factoring in the time it takes to search through literature is a common mishap with these essays and whilst the word count is sometimes shorter, do not be fooled into thinking this means less time should be allocated to writing it! Thinking deeply and really pulling apart your subject will help you in your overall learning and is where the top marks await you!
05 July, 2020
14 minutes read
Author: Elizabeth Brown
Many people prefer to check reviews on the movie or book before watching or reading it. The summary information and honest point of view on the subject matter are usually included in an evaluation essay. You just need to analyze both sides of the chosen criterion through thorough research, analysis of your thesis, and examination of your own values. To write a good evaluation essay, you should forget about your feelings and create an objective overview of the topic. That way, you will reveal the truth about the real worth of the particular subject matter.
So, what is an evaluation essay? The answer to this question you will find out in this post.
An evaluation paper is a kind of essay in which you express your argumentative point of view on various topics. As a form of literary thinking, it is based on much more than just a quick judgment about a person, place, or object. The common standards of evaluation writing, such as clearance, objectivity, and coherence, are to be followed throughout the text. These standards help identify how well a subject meets up or falls short of the ideal. No wonder this kind of essay is widely used for scientific purposes when the comparison of two inventions or technologies is required. In an evaluation essay, all the arguments are delivered objectively, while your personal opinion is stated at the very end as a summary.
On the Internet, you can find lots of reviews with one sentence only: “This essay is fine.” Does it look informative to you? Can you rely on this kind of feedback? Let’s be honest, such a review can hardly provide you with a clear understanding of whether the subject is worth your attention or not. The main feature of an evaluation essay is that it contains details and evidence to support your point of view. Instead of discussing every observation, you just need to underpin your point of view with examples that will make your paper look convincing.
How to start an evaluation essay? What needs to be preconsidered? Every evaluation essay consists of three structural elements – criteria, judgement, and evidence. Let’s get deeper into details.
The criteria that you choose should evaluate a person or subject through the prism of their ideal version. What can their best features be? For instance, you would expect an interesting plot and professional acting from a movie. Once you have specific benchmarks in mind, they can be used to evaluate these points.
The judgement aspect is used to estimate whether or not the benchmarks have been met. For instance, you can start a movie evaluation from judging whether it aligns with the specific benchmark. Does it offer the quality acting you expect? Does it have gaps in the plot? These are only some of the possible options to consider.
Remember that you must develop clues to advocate your judgements. For instance, if you make the judgement that the movie quality does not meet your expectations, you should be ready to provide evidence. Without eligible evidence, your evaluation essay won’t look convincing.
When structuring your evaluation essay, it is crucial to address a different criterion in each paragraph. In that paragraph, you should reflect on each criterion, make the relevant judgements and provide supporting proofs.
With this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to write an evaluation essay. Here are the major steps to be taken:
Review, revise and rewrite. When a draft is completed, you will read over your work and make some changes if needed. You should be ready to rewrite your paper several times to get it just right.
Here, you will find a well-written evaluation essay example that you can use for yourself:
An evaluation essay is widely associated with a review paper. This is a common mistake many students make. Although the two types of paper have some similarities, there are more differences that set them apart. You can take a look at those differences in the table below.
|
|
|
Analysis | The topic is examined thoroughly. | Evaluation of a product or service is provided. |
Depth of analysis | You get engaged in in-depth analysis. | You do not need to conduct profound scientific research. |
Evidence | Adequate supporting evidence aims to increase the quality of the evaluation essay. You should provide only credible and scholarly evidence. | You don’t need academic evidence throughout the appraisal process. |
Opinion | You provide an unbiased view on the subject. | You provide unbiased information by relying on personal consideration that analyzes the subject. |
Benchmarks | You use predefined criteria that evaluate the subject matter. | You express opinions that do not follow particular criteria. |
Scope | You cover a broader scope by evaluating a particular topic and searching for adequate data that can critique the particular subject. | You cover a narrower scope by providing views focused on the particular subject. |
Thesis statement | You provide a central claim as the essay’s thesis . | You do not need a thesis statement. |
Structure | You follow the standard essay structure splitting the paper into sections. | You do not have to follow any specific structure in review writing. |
References | You include the works cited page. | You do not have to include the works cited page. |
Following the quick tips below, you will find it easier to write an effective evaluation argument essay:
Since there are many people and objects you are able to assess, an evaluation essay can be written on a wide range of topics. To evaluate something, you will need to compare it with an example within a subject you have chosen. Some possible evaluation essay topics can be found below:
Note that our company provides academic writing help. You can buy an essay written from scratch by our essay writer .
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Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]
Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]
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Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.
An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.
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When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.
You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.
The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.
At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.
In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.
At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.
Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.
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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.
There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.
The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:
The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.
Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:
The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:
This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.
Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:
You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.
Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .
Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.
Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.
The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.
The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.
In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.
Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.
This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.
Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.
A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.
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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.
No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.
Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.
The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.
If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.
An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.
At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).
Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.
The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .
The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.
In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/
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Evaluation Essay
17 min read
Published on: Mar 24, 2023
Last updated on: Jul 24, 2024
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Writing an evaluation essay can be a daunting task. It's not easy to summarize your thoughts and feelings about a book, movie, or product into a cohesive, well-written paper.
Even if you're a great writer, the thought of writing an evaluation essay can be intimidating. You want to make sure that you say everything you want to say in a clear and concise way.
We've written this detailed guide on how to write an evaluation essay. By following our tips and tricks, you'll be able to write a great paper that will show off your critical thinking skills.
So continue reading to learn what an evaluation essay is and how you can master the art of of writing yourself!
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Looking for evaluation essay meaning? Here is an easy meaning for you.
An evaluation essay is a type of writing which involves providing an opinion on a particular subject. This can be done in different ways and differs from all other types of essays as it requires the writer to pass judgment on their topic rather than give a fact-based report or dissertation.
The most common types of evaluation essays are critical analysis and interpretive essays. In both types, the writer evaluates a particular subject based on their own opinion or perspective and then explains why they feel that way.
The goal of an evaluation essay is to present both sides of an issue objectively and provide readers with enough information so that they can form their own opinions.
Evaluations are meant to be unbiased and should not contain any opinionated statements. They must instead only focus on facts because this will help ensure that they won't come off as personally biased, which would make them unreliable for the intended audience.
Why are evaluative essays assigned to the students?
The purpose of evaluating essays is to determine the quality and effectiveness of a student's writing. Evaluation helps instructors determine if students have achieved mastery level
Additionally, evaluation allows teachers to assess a student's ability to organize and present their thoughts in an effective and meaningful way.
How can you write the best evaluation essay? To do this you must be aware of its characteristics.
There are five characteristics of an evaluative essay:
Before beginning to learn how to write an evaluation essay, it is must to get educated about its elements. So the four elements of evaluation essay are mentioned below along with a brief details...
An evaluation essay should start by clearly establishing the subject that is being evaluated. This could be a product, service, person, experience, or even an event. It is also important to explain why you have chosen this particular subject and what purpose it serves.
Consider these questions and make sure to provide clear answers.
The criteria you use in your evaluation will depend on what you are evaluating and for whom you are writing the evaluation. It is best to provide clear and specific criteria that you can use to judge the quality of the item or service being evaluated.
This is usually based on certain factors such as quality, effectiveness, value, and/or suitability. It is important to provide a clear definition of these criteria so that readers are able to follow your analysis.
Now it is the time to judge whether or not the standards have been achieved. Returning to our hotel example, you might start by assessing whether or not the establishment offers excellent accommodations. Is it sufficient? Or does it fall short of your high expectations? You may then move on to the other criteria.
In order to effectively evaluate the subject, it is important to gather evidence in support of your evaluation. The evidence gathered should help to explain why the criteria are relevant and why the subject is being evaluated in a certain way.
If you reach the conclusion that the quality of food does not meet expectations, be ready to provide proof for why this is so.
It's common for each paragraph in an essay to address a different topic. In that paragraph, you should thoroughly explain the criterion, make relevant judgments, and provide supporting evidence.
Some students have a misconception about how to write an evaluation paper. They think that it is the same as writing a review, but in reality, there are many differences between the two types of papers.
Although these two types of papers do have some similarities, there are also a number of differences between them that set them apart.
Below are the key differences between these two.
|
| |
| The topic is thoroughly analyzed and in depth. | The topic is discussed generally and without any depth. |
| For the most part, it is unbiased. | It could be based on the writer's personal opinion. |
| The writer must use pre-defined criteria. | The writer does not need any set criteria. |
| The essay must have substantial evidence to back the claims. | It is a personal view and does not need any evidence. |
| Citing and referencing the sources are important. | No references are generally required. |
Understanding the evaluation essay format and creating an outline is important.
The essay format is based on the 5-paragraph structure that contains one introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and one conclusion paragraph.
Here is how to make an outline of your evaluation essay.
Each paragraph will follow the following structure.
It is important that you add all these things into your essay so that your evaluation presents and explains a complete idea.
This outline will be helpful for you when you write your evaluation essay. Follow it carefully, and you will have your essay done in no time.
If you need more help, check out this outline template.
Evaluation Essay Outline Template
Here are the essential steps to start your evaluation essay.
1. Choose the Essay Topic Idea
When you have to write an evaluation essay, the topic must be something that will give your opinion credibility and allow for a thorough analysis of what it is about.
When choosing topics for critical evaluation essays, one should be familiar with the subject matter. Also, the quality of writing skills necessary when composing evaluative essays about particular subjects.
Therefore, choose a topic that is engaging for both you and your readers.
2. Develop the Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is a crucial element of an evaluative essay and should make it easy to evaluate the paper's arguments.
It must provide clear direction for where your evaluation stands on specific criteria so that you can distinguish between examples with differing levels of quality.
You need to be careful in citing only relevant information while supporting your points.
3. Think about the Criteria for Your Essay
Once you have chosen the topic of your evaluation essay, it is important to consider what criteria will be used to evaluate the subject.
How easy or difficult is it to explain your chosen topic or theme? If it is difficult, then you should divide it into multiple points that would help make this step easier.
Criteria should be objective and relevant. They must also be measurable so that the right kind of evidence can be collected.
4. Research and Gather Supporting Evidence
Your opinion on a topic is not valid unless you have the support of physical or logical evidence.
You need to be able to back up your statements with facts that will allow people who read them to make their own assumptions about what they are reading and come to an independent conclusion.
Research the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen idea or topic and give a clear idea about it to your readers.
Otherwise, there's no point in arguing because nobody can agree if both sides don't provide any information.
Once you have worked through these steps, you can move forward to writing the essay.
Here are the steps to write an evaluation essay.
1. Create an Outline of the Essay
After choosing the topic and researching it, make an outline for your essay. Follow the outline given above and create an outline for your evaluation essay.
Make it detailed and add everything you want to discuss in your essay for a more helpful outline.
2. Write a Strong Introduction
The first paragraph of an essay should be engaging not only to keep your readers engaged. However, also to establish what you're going to tell about and why they need this information. To do so requires a hook that captures their attention, like something important or less known statement, for them to continue reading the rest of it.
3. Add a Thesis Statement
Evaluation essay thesis statement follows the introduction paragraph. It informs readers of what to expect from reading this essay and how it could affect your thinking about a certain matter.
4. Draft the Main Body of the Essay
The main body of an essay is the lengthiest part of the essay. It contains three paragraphs, but you can add more paragraphs if you feel that three paragraphs are not enough.
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that tells the readers about one of the writer's opinions about the topic.
However, make sure that you stay relevant and strong. If required, use compares and contrast techniques and make the reader agree with your point of view.
Add criteria, judgment, evidence, and opposing point of view for each idea. Make sure that you explain everything properly.
5. Write a Good Conclusion
The end of your evaluation essay is the conclusion part. It should be an opportunity to summarize what you have said or emphasize the most important points. You can also use this space as closure and reflection on everything discussed so far. Don't forget to restate your thesis statement and how you proved it right.
6. Edit, Revise, and Proofread
Once you are done with the writing, proofread and revise it thoroughly. Do not submit anything without proper editing and proofreading.
This final step is important if you do not want to lose your score because you did not add a 'the' at the beginning of the sentence.
All of these steps are important for writing a good evaluation essay. Follow them carefully and craft a winning essay.
Here is an evaluation essay sample;
"The Shining" is one of the most obscure works by Stanley Kubrick, a horror film that recounts the tale of a family who has moved into a hotel called the Overlook and becomes terrorized by ghosts. The Torrance family's story centers on Jack, Wendy, and Danny throughout the movie. The original book, which Kubrick based the film on, was written by Steven King. The literary basis is quite thrilling and intriguing, and the film may be considered in much the same way. |
Here are some evaluation essay examples for students. These will help you in writing a good evaluation essay.
Evaluation Essay Example
Evaluation Essay on a Movie
Employee Self Evaluation Essay Example
Evaluation Essay Example PDF
Critical Evaluation Essay Example
Source Evaluation Essay Example
Here are some interesting evaluation essay topics that will help you write a good essay in no time.
Understanding the key grading considerations of a grading rubric is essential for evaluation essays.
Here are some important factors that instructors typically consider when grading evaluation essays.
|- Read the essay thoroughly |
Here are some helpful and easy-to-follow tips for writing a perfect evaluation essay.
We hope you now understand what an evaluation essay is and how to write a critical evaluation essay.
To sum up,
An evaluation essay is different from other essays. It requires you provide opinion on the subject instead of factual information or simply reporting findings.
By reading our helpful guide, we hope that you have gained an understanding of the basics of evaluation essays and how to create them. So get started with your writing!
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What is the purpose of an evaluation.
An evaluation is a systematic method that gives insight into the effectiveness of programs, practices, or initiatives. The information gathered can be used to make adjustments for these things to work better and achieve their goals.
Here are the four types of evaluation:
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What does it mean to critically evaluate something or to provide a critical review? We won’t lie – these terms are complicated. But the following paragraph, and the rest of this blog post below, may help your understanding:
Typically, the word “critical” has a negative connotation. Think of words like “critique” and “criticise” and you see why. However, with essay writing, being asked to write “critically” does not necessarily mean you need to be negative. Instead, you are voicing your opinion in a logical and coherent way that is based upon evidence and evaluation.
When faced with the task to “critically evaluate” or to provide a “critical review”, it is important to remember that there is going to be some element of description. But you need to be able to build on that description to further justify your point. Let’s go through some examples.
Descriptive writing really focuses on answering the four ‘w’ questions – what, where, who, when. In descriptive writing you are going to need to focus on the following:
Who | What | Where | When |
---|---|---|---|
Who is the author? | What is this about? | Where does this take place? | When does this occur? |
Who is affected? | What is the context? | ||
Who is involved? | What is the main point? |
As you can see from the table above, all of the ‘w’ questions are really important and are essential components to writing a good essay . The purpose of these components is to let the reader get the essential information they need to understand the main idea. Yet if you stop here, you only end up with a descriptive essay, which does not meet the requirements of criticality that are requested by the professor or TA.
Critical writing gives you the opportunity to go beyond the descriptive, so when you critically evaluate or critically review something, you are moving toward analysis and evaluation. This type of critical writing asks you to assess the how, why, what if, so what and what next questions. As you will begin to notice, these questions require much more explanation that the ‘w’ questions (each of which you could likely answer in 10 words or less). Let’s look at some of these questions below:
How | Why | What if | So what | What next |
---|---|---|---|---|
How does this occur? | Why did this occur? | What if we are wrong? | What does this mean? | Is it transferable? |
How does it work? | Why was that done? | What if there was a problem? | Why is this significant? | What can we learn from it? |
How do the parts fit into the whole? | Why this argument / solution? | What if a certain factors were changed/ altered/ removed? | Is this convincing? Why? Why not? | What needs doing now? |
Anyone who has done a lot of writing or who has seen many students’ writing will tell you that there are plenty of ways to write an essay . Yet while there are many strategies, when writing in English, there are certain expectations that the reader has when working through a paragraph or larger piece of writing. Therefore, in order to satisfy the reader that you have successfully completed a critical review or evaluation, you need to make sure that the reader gets what they are expecting.
The first step is to carefully read the article/piece of work that you are going to be critically assessing. Often, students feel like, just because something has been published in an academic journal, that it is an excellent piece of writing that cannot be questioned. But this isn’t necessarily true. The author of that article made certain decisions during the research and writing processes. It is your job to evaluate and analyse what they have done and whether the author has presented any evidence that you can draw conclusions from or make links between areas of knowledge.
In an academic journal article, there are often two places where you will be able to find the easiest opportunities to critically evaluate the work: the methodology and the discussion. In the methodology, the author has made certain decisions about how they are going to answer the research question presented. They have usually (in empirical research) identified a sample, context, and certain instruments (e.g. questionnaire, interviews, observations, etc.). Perhaps one of the easiest ways you can critically evaluate this information is to determine whether or not the sample size is big enough or whether the context applies globally or only to the region where the research took place. For example, a sample of 250 undergraduate students might seem like a lot, but if they are all from a remote area of Pakistan, their situation may not be applicable to undergraduate students who are studying in the UK. Highlighting this issue is one of the more basic forms of criticality because you are applying your own judgements to a situation.
Another area where you might be able to critically evaluate a paper is in the discussion section. It’s in this section where the author expresses their point of view and how their findings relate to other aspects of research. In some articles, you might find that the author has made claims . So if we consider the same group of 250 undergraduate students in Pakistan, the author might find that of the 250 students 225 felt that learning English was important for job security in the future. Therefore, the author might claim that students should learn English if they want to secure a good job in the future. With this argument you could evaluate whether this statement is actually true. We already know that 250 is not representative globally, but we can also assume that students in a remote area of Pakistan may not have access to the same opportunities as students in Beijing. These students may come to a different conclusion about English (potentially).
The point of a critical evaluation is to demonstrate that you can think beyond what you are being told. By taking steps to question what is being written and presented to you, you may be better able to write a critical review and to reflect on how and why the author took the position they did. No research study is perfect and it is your job to determine what could have been modified or changed to fit a different situation.
Cryptocurrency payments.
Written texts.
When you analyze an essay or article, consider these questions:
When you analyze a piece of visual work, consider these questions:
About Writing: A Guide Copyright © 2015 by Robin Jeffrey is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
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An absence of medical records or official accounts has stirred confusion, but a Times video and trajectory analysis indicates a bullet, not debris, wounded the former president.
By Malachy Browne Devon Lum and Alexander Cardia
Nearly two weeks after the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, there’s still no official report from the Trump campaign or from state or federal governments about what caused the wound on his right ear.
This lack of clarity has left the issue unsettled and fueled speculation online about whether he was hit by a bullet or shrapnel — or perhaps something else.
But a detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos and audio by The New York Times strongly suggests Mr. Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman, Thomas Crooks. Subsequent bullets wounded two rally goers and killed a third .
What has helped stoke confusion is that Mr. Trump himself has said he was hit by a bullet, but his campaign has not released any official medical reports, nor has Mr. Trump’s current physician weighed in.
Instead, the campaign has posted a memo from Mr. Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny L. Jackson, now a Texas congressman and outspoken ally of the former president, that says he was struck by a bullet on his right ear.
The Secret Service, which was responsible for the security at the event, has declined to comment.
The F.B.I. said it was examining numerous metal fragments found near the stage to determine whether a bullet — or pieces of it — had grazed Mr. Trump’s head, bloodying his ear.
Gunman fires first shot
Bullet appeared
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Bleachers hit
Bullet appeared to graze Trump
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How to write an Evaluation Essay. There are two secrets to writing a strong evaluation essay. The first is to aim for objective analysis before forming an opinion. The second is to use an evaluation criteria. Aim to Appear Objective before giving an Evaluation Argument. Your evaluation will eventually need an argument.
Finding a Strong Topic for Your Essay. Choosing the right topic is a crucial first step in writing an analytical essay. The topic sets the tone for the entire essay and determines its scope and focus. It is important to select a topic that is engaging, relevant, and allows for in-depth analysis. This section will provide you with helpful ...
Definition of Question Words with Examples. Words such as 'explain', 'evaluate' or 'analyse' - typical question words used in essay titles - provide a useful indication of how your essay should be structured. They often require varying degrees of critical responses. Sometimes, they may simply require a descriptive answer.
1. Choose a Topic. Select a subject that you are passionate about or one that you have knowledge of. This will make the evaluation process more engaging and easier for you. 2. Research and Gather Information. Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic to gather relevant information and supporting evidence.
Use clear and concise language: Clarity is vital in an evaluation essay. Use clear and concise language to express your thoughts and ideas, avoiding unnecessary jargon or complex vocabulary. Your essay should be accessible to a wide audience and easy to understand, allowing your evaluation to be conveyed effectively. 6.
Step 1: Decide on Your Stance. Before diving into writing, it's crucial to establish your stance on the topic. Let's say you're going to write an analytical essay example about the benefits and drawbacks of remote work. Before you start writing, you need to decide what your opinion or viewpoint is on this topic.
3. Giving Reasons and Support. After presenting the subject and providing readers with a clear claim, the writer must explain and justify his/her evaluation using reasons that are recognized by readers as appropriate. This occurs in the argument section of the paper and should be the most extensive part of the paper.
An analytical essay is a type of academic writing that requires the writer to analyze and evaluate a specific topic or subject matter. The writer presents an argument or thesis statement and supports it with evidence and examples, using analysis and evaluation to persuade the reader. 2. What are the main characteristics of an analytical essay?
Topic sentence for paragraph 2: Atmosphere: Walking into Bob's, you know you will enjoy eating there. Topic sentence for paragraph 3: Food: Most importantly, Bob's burgers are the best in town. Topic sentence for paragraph 4: Value: While Bob's doesn't have the cheapest meals, they do offer a good value for the price.
The analysis paper uses evidence to support the argument, such as excerpts from the piece of writing. All analytical papers include a thesis, analysis of the topic, and evidence to support that analysis. When developing an analytical essay outline and writing your essay, follow these five steps: #1: Choose a topic. #2: Write your thesis.
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Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Jun 7, 2021 • 3 min read. Critical analysis essays can be a daunting form of academic writing, but crafting a good critical analysis paper can be straightforward if you have the right approach. Explore.
When you start writing an evaluation essay, grabbing the reader's attention is essential. For this, hook the reader from the beginning until the end to ensure that your essay's opening follows an engaging tone. Step 1. Choose an Interesting Topic. Deciding the topic and evaluation essay criteria is important.
Do: briefly mention the title, author, and publication date of the text you're analyzing. 2. Write your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should have 1) a topic sentence, 2) an analysis of some part of the text and 3) evidence from the text that supports your analysis and your thesis statement.
course. You may be asked to put new ideas in context, to analyze course texts, or to do research on something related to the course. Even if the instructor has introduced the assignment in class, make sure to read the prompt on your own. You'd be surprised how often someone comes to the Writing Center to ask for help on a paper before reading ...
The first step in how to write an evaluation is to decide on a particular subject you wish to assess, followed by coming up with criteria you will use. Besides, develop solid arguments backed up with evidence. Also, create an outline, and start writing. Once you complete your writing, proofread your work.
To be critical, or to critique, means to evaluate. Therefore, to write critically in an academic analysis means to: judge the quality, significance or worth of the theories, concepts, viewpoints, methodologies, and research results. evaluate in a fair and balanced manner. avoid extreme or emotional language. You evaluate or judge the quality ...
The basic structure of an essay always consists of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. But for many students, the most difficult part of structuring an essay is deciding how to organize information within the body. This article provides useful templates and tips to help you outline your essay, make decisions about your structure, and ...
Analyse. Examine critically so as to bring out the essential elements; describe in detail; describe the various parts of something and explain how they work together, or whether they work together. It is almost impossible to remember the different meanings, so download our Glossary of Instruction Words for Essay Questions to keep your own ...
Do this in a draft form at first, think about all your contributing elements and then think how you may be able to analyse them in a way that flows nicely together and forms natural links. Marks are often lost when ideas jump around and don't seem fluid within an essay. Using signposting throughout your essay can help the flow seem more natural.
Table of contents. Step 1: Reading the text and identifying literary devices. Step 2: Coming up with a thesis. Step 3: Writing a title and introduction. Step 4: Writing the body of the essay. Step 5: Writing a conclusion. Other interesting articles.
The summary information and honest point of view on the subject matter are usually included in an evaluation essay. You just need to analyze both sides of the chosen criterion through thorough research, analysis of your thesis, and examination of your own values. To write a good evaluation essay, you should forget about your feelings and create ...
The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis. Discuss . the effects of globalization on the economy of Nigeria. Don't just list all the effects you can think of. Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from ...
1. Create an Outline of the Essay. After choosing the topic and researching it, make an outline for your essay. Follow the outline given above and create an outline for your evaluation essay. Make it detailed and add everything you want to discuss in your essay for a more helpful outline. 2.
Typically, the word "critical" has a negative connotation. Think of words like "critique" and "criticise" and you see why. However, with essay writing, being asked to write "critically" does not necessarily mean you need to be negative. Instead, you are voicing your opinion in a logical and coherent way that is based upon ...
Written Texts. When you analyze an essay or article, consider these questions: What is the thesis or central idea of the text? Who is the intended audience? What questions does the author address? How does the author structure the text? What are the key parts of the text? How do the key parts of the text interrelate? How do the key parts of the ...
But a detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos and audio by The New York Times strongly suggests Mr. Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman, Thomas Crooks.
Writing an analysis requires a particular structure and key components to create a compelling argument. The following steps can help you format and write your analysis: Choose your argument. Define your thesis. Write the introduction. Write the body paragraphs. Add a conclusion. 1. Choose your argument.