Criteria are essential for this essay. Criteria are those tangible qualities in the subject that can be examined. For instance, in a film, the criteria might be acting, direction and music. In a song, it might be lyrics or arrangement. Remember, anyone who wants to examine the same subject should be able to use your criteria—even if their evaluation reveals an opinion different than yours. You must be certain that criteria can be established for such an examination. You must also choose a fresh subject; you cannot, for instance, evaluate your favorite movie because the fact that it is your favorite already demonstrates an evaluation. It must be one you have not seen before.
Once you have established criteria, examine the subject for each. You must include significant detail in your essay to make this examination clear. For instance, if your criterion is acting, you may need to explain or re-create a key scene where an actor acts especially well or poorly. What does he/she do to demonstrate his/her skill as an actor?
You will compare and contrast what you see in the subject to your ideal, or what you want from the subject within reason. Remember, the ideal is formed from a collection of previous works and experiences. For example, if you were to evaluate a “quest” videogame, you would create an ideal based on many similar videogames and not just one. Your overall opinion—whether or not you liked the subject; whether or not it “works”; whether or not it is “good” or “bad”—will be your thesis. Create the thesis after you have examined the subject.
You will be graded on such qualities as spelling, grammar, the strength and clarity of your criteria, how well you explain what you found while examining, whether or not your thesis is supported by that evaluation, and style. Ask me questions if you are confused!
Essays that demonstrate greater authority will receive a higher grade. For instance, showing that you understand the nature and history of the genre will provide for a more authoritative paper. The same is true if you can show specific comparisons about the people involved, such aswriters, actors, directors, and the like for your specific genre.
Your final essay should include an introduction, body, and conclusion, as well as a single-sentence thesis statement. It should also have an attention getter. We have been discussing these concepts throughout the semester, so meet your audience’s expectations. Your essay will be graded based on the rubric.
Be sure to note additional requirements on the next page.
1)Use a single thesis statement that conveys, with description, your opinion. Avoid a thesis that is simply a list of those traits (e.g., “A great thriller is suspenseful, interesting, and action-packed.”), a notation of the importance of them (e.g., “Understanding what qualities define a great thriller is important to understanding its quality.”), or an announcement of what you will do (e.g., “In this paper I will describe how much I liked this novel.”) Instead, focus on what those qualities “add up to.”
2)Create a title that reflects but does not repeat your thesis statement. Avoid simply using the title of the work(s) as your essay title.
3)Keep “I” statements to a minimum. In most, if not all, cases, “I” is unnecessary outside of personal experience. As the focus of this paper is your argument and not the story of how you created it, “I” statements should be avoided.
4)Use the three essay sections – an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Unless you have a compelling reason for your audience not to, use an attention-getter, put your thesis at the end of the introduction, use topic sentences (not headings or bullet points), explain your ideas in cohesive paragraphs, and provide evidence to prove or illustrate them. Your conclusion should be the shortest section of the essay and not simply repeat what you’ve already said. Instead, it should bring the paper to a natural conclusion.
5)Use transitions, lead-ins, MLA style for citations, and about a 12th-grade reading level to express your ideas. Avoid clichés, especially the dreaded “In conclusion” in your conclusion (as the reader can see he or she is coming to the end). Edit for spelling and grammar and proofread for typos.
6)Type your essay using 12-point Times Roman font, one-inch margins all around, and double-spacing. Follow the format guidelines.
7)Your essay will be 1,000-1,250 words – everything will be counted, such as your name, title, and any Works Cited. You will also need to have completed the Rough Draft/Peer Review process to be eligible to submit a Final Draft. Essays that do not fit these requirements will receive an automatic “0.”
