An evaluation essay is a type of writing in which you make assessments about a subject with a collection of criteria. The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of a specific object, service, or company.
This style of critical writing establishes clear standards for assessment, as well as reasonable and credible supporting facts so that readers can form their own opinions on a specific topic.
Step 1: Basics of an evaluation essay
While it is normal for this form of an academic essay to include certain elements of your opinions, it should not look biased. You can write an evaluation essay on just about anything.
Basic tips on evaluation essays
- Regardless of how optimistic or pessimistic you are about the topic; the overall tone of your essay should be rational.
- The more divisive your subject, the more evidence you’ll need to back it up.
- It’s also helpful to show an alternative perspective. This will tell you are aware of the other points of view on the subject.
Criteria
Let’s evaluate Starbucks throughout this guide.
Judgments
For instance, in our Starbucks example, we can start by judging if Starbucks has quality coffee or not.
Does it match or surpass our expectations for quality? Is it adequate, or does it fall short? We will consider answers to these questions and write our judgments accordingly.
Evidence
This section is essential as we must have evidence to support our judgments.
In our Starbucks example, if the quality of the coffee does not match our expectations, we must present evidence to prove this statement.
Step 2: Choose a topic and write a thesis statement
- Have a clear opinion on the topic, whether positive or negative.
- Choosing a topic, which you’re already acquainted with ,can help you write a better paper.
- Your topic should not be too broad or too narrow.
Writing the thesis statement
In your thesis statement, you should state the criterion to judge the subject as well as its worth. While choosing your criteria, pay attention to the below points.
- To make your essay more enjoyable and inclusive, use a variety of benchmarks
- Depending on what you’re evaluating, you’ll use different criteria.
- Use evaluation criteria to show the capability of conducting the study objectively.
Thesis statement example
In this paper, I will be evaluating the famous coffee shop chain Starbucks according to the criteria of quick service, calm atmosphere, and comfortable seating.Step 3: Write an introduction
Your introduction is an essential section of your evaluation essay since it is the part that makes the reader want to read your essay.
Checklist for the introduction
Your introduction is an essential section of your evaluation essay since it is the part that makes the reader want to read your essay.
- Start with a memorable, entertaining point that will pique the reader’s interest.
- Share any contextual information on the evaluated subject with the reader.
- Provide a summary of what will be covered.
- State your thesis statement.
Evaluation essay introduction example
With 31.256 stores worldwide, Starbucks it the largest coffee shop chain in the world. Hook: An interesting fact about the topic. It is widely regarded as the epitome of America’s second generation of coffee culture. Background: Provide background information about your subject. But does it deserve its popularity? There are a number of qualities a good coffee shop chain should have, and it seems that Starbucks has most of these qualities. Transition: Make a subtle transition to your paper and your arguments. In this paper, I will be evaluating the famous coffee shop chain Starbucks according to the criteria of quick service, calm atmosphere, and comfortable seating. Thesis statement: State your main argument and present the thesis statement.
Step 4: Write the supporting paragraphs
In each one of your supporting paragraphs, talk about one of the criteria and evaluate whether or not the item meets the expectations.
In the supporting paragraphs, simply write a paragraph for each point of the evaluation criteria. Don’t forget to make use of topic sentences, transition sentences, words, and phrases to create a nice flow of ideas.
Evaluation essay body example
A calm atmosphere is one of the most critical aspects people look for in a coffee shop. Topic sentence: Start the paragraph by revealing your criteria for evaluation. In the case of Starbucks, the atmosphere is one of the strong suits of the franchise. Judgement: Evaluate your topic based on the presented criteria. People find the atmosphere of Starbucks to be homey, and suitable for both studying and chatting with friends. Evidence: Present your evidence for the evaluation. However, despite the large amount of coffee shops the franchise has all over the world, Starbucks can sometimes get too crowded and loses its quiet and cozy atmosphere. Downside: State a downside about the subject based on the criteria you talked about. Therefore, the strong suit of Starbucks in terms of atmosphere can sometimes show itself as a negative attribution as well. Concluding sentence: Finish the paragraph by bringing the key points of the paragraph together.
Step 5: Write a conclusion
To wrap it up, you’ll need to make one definitive evaluative statement. This evaluation statement needs to offer a comprehensive assessment of your essay’s topic. In your conclusion paragraph you should:
- Return to a statement you made in the introduction.
- Demonstrate your definitive evaluation.
- Show that your definitive evaluation applies to your thesis statement.
- Explain to whom the conclusions may be of interest.
- Finish with a persuasive (see persuasive essay guideline) sentence that demonstrates why this subject is relevant.
Evaluation essay conclusion example
As we can see from the evaluation of the stated criteria, Starbucks deserves its place as arguably the most popular coffee shop in the world, although it has some shortcomings. Restatement: Return to the statement in your introduction and definitive evaluation. There are a number of factors that allow this. Starbucks maintains the highest levels of quality in their coffee obtaining, roasting, and distribution and provide quick service to their customers. The seating in all Starbucks stores is comfortable and cozy. The atmosphere is exactly what people would expect from a good coffee shop, but sometimes it gets too crowded to ensure the calm atmosphere. Summary: Overview of the points made in your essay. It is clear that Starbucks will continue to dominate popular culture in the upcoming years, and it is expected that the franchise will succeed in overcoming its shortcomings. Concluding sentence: Finish your essay with a memorable, catchy sentence.
Do’s and don'ts of an evaluation essay
- Make your judgments and definitive evaluation clear. Choose at least 3 criteria.
- Follow the correct grammar and punctuation rules and proofread your article thoroughly.
- Keep in mind that certain topics might be fascinating to one and uninteresting to others.
- Be sure the proof is fairly spread around the criteria.
- Don’t be afraid to be specific about evaluating.
- Don’t forget to provide both positive and negative feedback on the same item.
- Don’t forget to explicitly state your judgment
- Don’t forget to explicitly state your judgment
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for reading. If you need further information, feel free to have a look at our essay samples or contact us at live chat.
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