How to Write an Evaluation Essay

An evaluation essay tells about a person, place, object, event or other thing by presenting information and expressing an opinion or evaluation. The writer bases the opinion on evidence gathered from research, personal experience, or both. The format of an evaluation essay varies depending on the requirements of the teacher. However, generally an evaluation essay consists of an introduction, a body, a conclusion and a reference page.

What is being evaluated?
Sometimes the topic for an evaluation essay is given, but at other times the writer must determine what is to be evaluated. When this is the case, the writer should first determine what the assignment asks. Sometimes the assignment asks for a personal evaluation, other times it asks for a general evaluation. A general evaluation implies that the writer has gathered information about the thing being evaluated. A personal evaluation implies that only personal experience and information has been used.

Be it an evaluative thesis or an evaluation essay, you can always find resources with complete writing guidelines https://studybay.com/blog/how-to-write-an-evaluation-essay/

General Evaluation
A general evaluation uses general facts to support its argument. A general evaluation usually presents three main points:

Lays out the criteria used to evaluate  
Describes the thing being evaluated using evidence that supports the criteria 
Shows whether or not the thing being evaluated measures up to the established standards

Personal Evaluation
A personal evaluation usually only has two main points: What you have learned about something or someone, and What your attitude towards something or someone will be in the future.

When you start to write your evaluation essay, it is important to understand what kind of evaluation you are writing. This will impact the tone, language and style you use as well as how you organize and present your argument.

The following are basic guidelines for writing an evaluation essay.

Introduction
The introduction of an evaluation essay lets the reader know what is coming and sets the tone for the rest of the essay. It generally includes a statement about what is being evaluated, followed by a statement about the criteria used to evaluate it.

The body
The body of the evaluation essay is where the writer uses evidence and examples to support the argument. These are the main points of the essay and are organized in order of importance.

Conclusion
The conclusion of an evaluation essay is where the writer evaluates what was discussed in the body of the essay. The writer should remind the reader of the main points from the body of the essay and emphasize their importance.

Tips for Improving Your Writing
When writing an evaluation essay, remember to be objective. When you are honest and respectful in your writing, you will gain the reader's trust and help them to understand your point of view.

When writing your introduction, make sure you define what you are evaluating. This will help the reader understand what you are writing about.

When organizing the main points of your essay in the body of your essay, be sure to start with the most important points first. The conclusion of your evaluation essay should highlight the main ideas presented in the body of the essay.

Use strong verbs to convey your message and inspire action in the reader. Verbs such as 'reveals', 'shows', and 'demonstrates' inspire action and show that something is happening.

Avoid using negative words such as 'never', 'none', or 'without'. These words typically create a negative tone that makes it difficult for the reader to understand your viewpoint.

Use positive words such as 'always', 'every', and 'all' to inspire a more positive tone. Use 'some' and 'many' to create a less negative tone. While these words indicate there is some negative content, they also imply there is some positive content.

Write Your Evaluation Essay
Now that you understand the elements of an evaluation essay, get writing! Remember to start with the introduction, followed by the body and then a conclusion.

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