Business Studies

An argument of evaluation is an argument that states why something is good/ bad, successful/ not successful, effective/ ineffective, competent/ incompetent, etc…
These types of arguments can be made in numerous ways and on numerous topics. Some examples of arguments of evaluation are:
• judgments of public policy or figures
• book/ film/ music/ restaurant reviews
• evaluations of societal tendencies and norms (Example: An article lamenting America’s tendency to not take care of their elderly.)

Directions:
1) We’ll be focusing on a crafting a film review of The Artist.
2) Your target audience would be a film lover, fellow film critics, or a film scholar. You will make writing choices with your audience in mind. For example, a film lover might have different needs from a film scholar in an evaluation.
3) Write your essay. Remember: I’m not grading you on if you like the film or not—I am grading the paper based upon your ability to craft an argument of evaluation. That means you can write a negative review, a positive review, or something in between. We are using the film as a text to evaluate, review, and critique.

Paper Specifications:

Length: MLA format, 3-4 pages (plus a Works Cited page), double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font. 1 inch margins. Staple. MLA format for in-text citations and Works Cited page.

Sources: You must include at least 3 credible sources (no Wikipedia) and you must incorporate ideas from those sources into your essay. (Make sure to introduce the author/site and state why he/she/it is relevant to your argument.)

Textbook help: Chapter 10 Arguments of Evaluation

Your final draft should be submitted stapled together with the peer review draft, peer review worksheets, and grade rubric. A paper turned in without a grade rubric loses 5 points.

Getting Started:

Watch the film with care during class.
While watching, take good notes. You will want to be able to refer to specific scenes, parts of the movie, or points in the plot when writing your evaluation. The movie will serve as a source to back up your claims.

Start drafting.
Your paper 2 must include the following parts necessary to an argument of evaluation:

• a clear category (see the end of this assignment for possible categories)
• a clear thesis
o consider whether or not you need to qualify your thesis (Ex. Instead of “Charlie Chaplin is the greatest film star ever,” you would say “Charlie Chaplin is one of the most influential film personalities of this decade.” Don’t make claims you can’t support.).
• a brief overview/ summary of the film (a sort of background paragraph along with any history you feel is relevant—it should be tailored by your category)
• an explanation or defense of your criteria.
o What criteria are you using to judge your topic? Can you justify these criteria?
o Ex. What makes a good film? (Cost of production? Staying power? Reviews)
o Ex. What features make a film a classic? (Quotability? Academic interest ? Money made at box office?)
o Ex. What makes a good silent film? (Facial expressions? Music? Slapstick?)
• evidence that your subject meets or fails to meet the criteria you set
• consider and address the alternate views (opposing viewpoints and counterarguments)
o What would those that oppose you say? How can you disprove their arguments? Search for other film reviews.
• pathos/ logos/ ethos
o Try to use all 3 appeals in your essay.