Getting Started
No matter what approach works for you, the following tips will help you get started with writing the final product.
• Gather your sources. Begin this process by organizing the information you already have. You will want to include the article from Lesson 6 and your primary source. Since this essay requires the use of TWO secondary sources, use the Rio Library or the Internet to find an appropriate article to add to your approach.
• Organize your information. As you review the materials you have gathered, begin to organize them by theme. What are the common elements? Are there clear areas of similarity or difference that you can use to organize your essay?
• Analyze and evaluate your information. Once you’ve identified some common themes, or some other strategy for organizing your resources, it is time to think critically about them.
First, you will want to analyze your sources. How are the elements of the sources working to make their main points?
Next, you’ll want to evaluate your sources. How effective are the different sources in making their main points? Do some do a better job than others? What elements are especially effective or ineffective?
Lastly, you’ll want to connect these sources with other information you already know. This critical thinking strategy is called inference. What can you logically infer about this topic from these sources?
• Pre-draft. You already started this in Lesson 6, but if you changed your topic or were asked to reevaluate your thesis, you might consider a new graphic organizer or a basic free write to get into writing mode.
Important! As you develop your thesis, keep in mind that your working thesis must contain your topics and your evaluative statement about them so your audience can easily understand the direction you intend to develop.
• Drafting. Unlike the essays written earlier in this class, evaluations tend to vary in length. Some can be as short as five paragraphs long, while other can be many pages in length. The length of your essay will depend upon which organizational strategy you choose. For the purpose of this class, aim for at least 7 paragraphs.
As you write, it can be tempting to rely heavily on your source material. Creating a mosaic of quotes, paraphrases, and summaries with very little original contribution from you can seem like a good way to approach this assignment, but it is not. You are the author of this evaluation. It is your ideas that are valuable and important. A big part of your grade for this assignment rests upon your ability to think critically about your research and present your reasoning to your audience. Think of your sources as your backup vocalists. They add a dimension to your work, but you are the lead singer. Don’t let your backup singers steal the show! Use your resource material to exemplify your points.
That being said, remember your audience. You are appealing to a general, academic audience, so the third person is preferred. As such, think twice before using the first person unless it is vital to explaining elements of your evaluation(such as direct, firsthand experiences). Do avoid direct address (you, your). If you need a review of these terms, visit: First, Second, and Third Person(opens in a new tab). You may want to listen to the podcast of this presentation located at this site.
Important! You need only two or three quotes, a paraphrase, and a summary in your entire essay. You will want to carefully choose your specific sources. Review your use of source material to make sure that you aren’t over-doing it, and cite the information correctly both in-text and on your works cited page.
• Revising, editing, and proofreading. The final three: How often do you take the time to revise, edit, and proofread? When you have a final draft of your work, consider your options for revising, editing, and proofreading.
On your own: Reading your essay aloud is an effective strategy because you use different parts of the brain to read and to speak. You will hear errors in grammar, ineffective or illogical development, and gaps in information more readily than you would see them.
With a little help: Rio Salado offers an in-person and online service which puts you in touch with tutors who can help review writing and offer revision suggestions. It is part of the Tutoring services provided to students at no additional cost.
Peer Review: Using a peer or an external reader can be VERY helpful when crafting this essay because you are selecting a topic you are interested in and are expressing ideas that might be very clear to you. However, your ideas might need more explanation from an external reader.
Following the writing process described in this lesson, compose an evaluation essay that meets the following criteria:
Essay length: The essay should be at least 7 paragraphs.
Research expectations: The essay should cite at least TWO secondary sources and a primary source. If your primary source is based on an observation (ex: a restaurant review), be sure to describe the location and when you conducted the observation. The ENG101&102 Research Guide
Home – English (ENG) 101/102 Research Guide – LibGuides at Rio Salado College is a great resource for this assignment and contains a variety of primary and secondary sources to help meet your research needs.
Format: The essay should be in MLA format, including a heading, double spacing, and a works cited page. Check out the “MLA Citation Help(opens in a new tab)”
MLA Citation Help – English (ENG) 101/102 Research Guide – LibGuides at Rio Salado College page in the ENG101&102 Research Guide to review correctly formatted sample citations and to learn about tools that will generate citations for you!
