Evaluation Essay

Three column log The three column log is a note-taking technique that will help you remember what you saw and what you want to write about in your essay. You need to prepare this before you watch the movie so that you aren’t scrambling to do it as the movie is playing.

You are to (obviously) make three columns on a sheet of paper You are to (obviously) make three columns on a sheet of paper. They should be titled criteria, judgment, and evidence. An outline is available under the course documents tab if you’d just like to print it off. You should write the criteria you are referring to in the far left column, a simple yes or no in the middle column, and describe the scene in as much detail as possible in the far right column. Make at least four of these before watching the movie because you will need to write on as many of the criteria as possible. When you write “no” it does not mean that there is no evidence, but that the movie does not do it well. You need to explain this in the far right column. An example of a good three-column log can be found under the Evaluating essay link (under assignments) on the class website.

Evaluation Essay Format This format MUST be followed for you to pass. It’s the only essay that has such specific criteria that I give you the outline. Since it’s spelled out for you here, this essay is graded hardest in many ways. Be sure to compare your final product with this outline to be sure you’ve done it correctly.

The purpose Remember that the goal of this essay is to persuade someone who disagrees with you that your opinion is correct. Concessions to the other side are important. This prevents the reader from being offended. When a person you are trying to persuade disagrees with you and you do not ever admit that there is something valid in their beliefs then they will automatically shut you out. These are the people you are trying to convince so it is important to keep them listening. Think of it as if you are talking about a certain music group you like and I walk up to you and tell you that they suck and have no talent. You aren’t going to listen to anything I have to say after that since it’s clear that I am close-minded and rude.

To write this essay you will have to come up with ways that people judge horror movies (acting, plot, music, cinematic techniques.). These are called criteria. Think of why you may have criticized a movie before now (think of the most horrible movie you’ve ever seen and everything you grip about in that movie is most likely a criterion). If you want post them under the help discussion board to know if they are good or not that would be fine.

At least one of your criteria must be positive if you are claiming the movie is bad, and if you are claiming the movie is good at least one criterion must be negative. This shows that you are not narrow minded and you can see the other persons viewpoint, but you still feel yours is the best view to hold. Whichever criterion negates your point must be the first body paragraph; you don’t want the last thing your readers see to be the opposite of what you are trying to get them to remember.

Audience You audience is someone who has never seen the movie you are evaluating; therefore you must have a basic plot summary in the essay introduction. This can be NO MORE than ¾ of a page. Not only do you have to summarize the information, but your evidence (scene descriptions) must be detailed enough so that a person who has never seen the movie will be able to visualize the scene and see your point. The detailed evidence is by far the hardest part of this essay because you know what you are talking about.

Essay Format Para 1 – the introduction will give a plot summary of no more than half a page and then give a solid thesis that states the name of the movie, your evaluation of the movie (good or bad), and the criteria you will use to prove your view. Paras 2-4 – these are your body paragraphs; their form will follow. Para 5 – your conclusion will have to be a basic summary conclusion for this essay as there is no where else to lead the reader.

Paragraph format Sentence 1 – the topic sentence will contain your criterion, your judgment, and why that criterion is important to make a good scary movie. This sentence can be broken into two, but you must get all this info in before you can give evidence to support it. The rest of the para will give detailed scenes to support your judgment. This means that only about two scenes per criterion will be evaluated. If you’ve covered two scenes and you still haven't reached about a half page, you probably aren’t being detailed enough.

Transitions It is very easy on this essay to slip into basic transitions (first, second, third). Try not to do this. It makes for a monotonous essay! Try using “another thing the movie does well is . . .”