Definition

Writer's Goal or Assignment

Visual Structure

Focusing Methods

            Welcome!  This introduction offers a simple, brief summary.  For more, go to "The Basics."   "Sample Papers" by students also is quite helpful.  If you understand this type of paper already, you might prefer to read "Advanced Methods."

Definition of an XXX

            An evaluation paper is [type of paper or thinking].  It is not [type of paper or thinking it is not], but rather an ___.  Some examples of XXXes are ___.     

For example:

A reaction to a reading is a logical, organized disagreement (and/or agreement) with something intelligent you have read, often a short, argumentative essay.  It is not a simple report on what an author has said, but rather an argument that goes far beyond the author's thoughts.  It also is not an emotional speech against (or for) a reading; rather, it is a strong but calm, logical, and fairly argued series of statements and supports about why the author is wrong (and/or right).  Most responses to readings disagree with them completely or in part.  Some examples of responses to readings are longer, high-quality editorials in newspapers that respond to what some other author has written; and fairly and reasonably given speeches that argue against what someone has written or said.  The Gettysburg Address is in part a response paper, written to disagree with the gloom-and-doom writers of the time who were suggesting that the Union was bound to lose the Civil War.

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Writer's Goal or Assignment

            The goal of writing a XXXXX is to .  To do so, you should write using a XXX structure (XXX, XXX, & XXX) using three or four body sections.  If your instructor allows it, you also may have a brief first section, after the introduction, that reports on the issue's history or background.  Offer your three or four main reasons briefly and clearly; then devote most of your paragraphing to giving supporting information from experts and/or, if you are writing from personal experience, your detailed examples.              

            In your introduction and conclusion, clearly indicate the type of paper you are writing and your overall argument, subject, and/or result, and include interesting quotations, stories, and/or facts.   If you are writing a research paper, each body section must include quotations and/or paraphrases that are substantial in quality and quantity and are from authoritative sources; also attach a bibliography appropriate to your field, discipline, or profession.

FROM THE RESPONSE-TO-READING CHAPTERS:

            The goal of writing a XXXXX is to .  To do so, you should write using a XXX structure (XXX, XXX, & XXX) using three or four body sections.  If your instructor allows it, you also may have a brief first section, after the introduction, that reports on the issue's history or background.  Offer your three or four main reasons briefly and clearly; then devote most of your paragraphing to giving supporting information from experts and/or, if you are writing from personal experience, your detailed examples.      

            If you need an online reading, go to links.  If your instructor requests it, you may have a brief first section, after the introduction, that summarizes the reading.  Then you should write the body of your XXXXXX by XXXXXX several of your reading's points or ideas. Depending on what your instructor expects, you may organize your paper in three or four topic sections or as several point-by-point discussions.  In the beginning of each topic section or point, first offer your own XXXXXX briefly.  Then support your XXXXXX statements in one or more paragraphs with quotations from your reading/source and other details.  Your other details may include one or more of the following: personal-experience examples and stories; the experiences of others you know; and facts, details, and/or experiences from documented sources.  In your introduction and conclusion, clearly indicate the type of paper you are writing--a XXXXXX--and your overall XXXXXX, subject, and/or result, and an interesting quotation, stories, and/or set of facts in each.  

            If you are writing a research paper, each body section must include quotations and/or paraphrases from additional sources.  These quotations and/or paraphrases should support your own points of XXXXXX, should be  substantial in quality and quantity, and should come from authoritative sources.  Also attach a bibliography appropriate to your field, discipline, or profession.

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Summary/Outline of the Visual Structure

              Here is a typical structure or organization for a XXXXXXXX.  More development of this structure is shown in the "Basics" section.      

[from "Evaluation" chapter:]

    

Focusing Methods

             A "focus" in writing helps you at any given moment to concentrate on writing.  Here are several helpful, important focuses people use to develop a XXXXXXXXX. 

FIRST & SECOND DRAFTS: Start with one or two methods that work best for you, but develop the others in later drafts. Free-write: write as much as you can quickly on what you know or have collected about your subject or its parts.       Gather details: write descriptions or a list of the proofs you have for your opinion--facts, quotations, and/or experiences.       Write for your audience: visualize it.  What beliefs or arguments is it willing to consider, and in what style and tone?       Organize: make an outline using the structure above or whatever your instructor suggests.       Research: if required, mix study of your subject with the above methods to develop a first draft during your research.

STYLE, TONE, and WRITER'S ROLE: Develop (in early or late drafts) an academic style and tone of calm, reasoned, fair, balanced logic.  In your role as a writer, you may include arguing strongly or even dryly, but you should not give the impression of arguing emotionally.

AUTHENTICITY: Be as real and meaningful as you can to your audience, your content, and yourself.  First, respect your audience: try as fully as you can to answer its questions using a pattern and style it expects.  Second, find the heart of the meaning in your content and write about it honestly and clearly with high-quality supporting details.  Third, make the subject your own: develop it in a way as meaningful to you as possible.

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Most recent update: 8-14-04
                

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