Evaluate an object, phenomenon, policy, or individual that interests you and merits
your attention. Write to a specific audienceâone who can act on, react to, or respond to your
evaluationâfor a specific purpose. For example, you could evaluate a textbook (in order to
convince a professor to give it a try), a speaker (in order to convince your major department that
the person ought to be brought to campus to speak), a university course (in order to convince
administrators to make it a requirement), or a television program (in order to convince your
skeptical friends that it is actually a critical, politically aware commentary despite its seeming
superficiality)âsomething that has, in your opinion, been over- or underestimated or otherwise
misunderstood. (You do not have to argue that this is absolutely the best or worst thing ever!)
Your evaluation should situate its object within a clearly defined categoryâone that can be
evaluated according to specific criteria. Your job is to show how the object does (or does not)
satisfy those criteria.