Discussion Post: Evaluation Arguments

Description

Review module 3- Evaluation arguments

Part One:
Discuss two things that you learned about evaluation arguments in the Module lecture presentation and/or outside link. 80+ words.

Part Two:
Tell the class the topic you’ve chosen for your evaluation argument. Briefly summarize your main criteria. 80+ words. (You need to write about the topic you choose for the other assignment).
Module 3
Lecture Presentation: Evaluation Arguments
Evaluation Arguments: Purpose
• Evaluation arguments make a judgment: They express approval or disapproval
• Sometimes referred to as claims of value
• Attempt to prove that some action, belief, or condition is right or wrong, good or bad, beautiful or ugly, worthwhile or undesirable.
• Bias (preconceived notions about the topic) can easily overpower an evaluation argument); you will need to work hard to maintain your objectivity (that is, to see your topic from different angles and to avoid favoritism)
Criteria for Evaluation Arguments
• Evaluation arguments require that you establish standards (another word for standards is criteria; think of a review for an action film- what criteria will you use to judge whether the movie is worth seeing?)
• You must use criteria that other people can share and try to maintain your objectivity
• Address 2 questions:
o What are the standards or criteria for deciding that this action, this belief, or this object is good or bad, beautiful or ugly, desirable or undesirable?
o Does the thing/person/event you are analyzing fulfill these criteria?
• In your introduction of your evaluation argument, you should include your thesis and the criteria you have selected as the basis of your judgment
Examples of Evaluation Arguments
• Public schools are better than private schools.
• Online learning is more effective than face-to-face learning.
• The Exorcist is the finest horror movie of all time.
Value Terms
• Value terms are abstract
• Use examples and illustrations to clarify meanings and make distinctions (“Jimmy was brave” vs. “Jimmy leaped into the ocean to rescue the drowning puppy”)
• What is your concept of fairness? What does fairness consist of? How does this concept change depending on the audience?
• Think of connotations (associations) your audience might have with certain words (conservative vs. liberal)
Quality vs. Morality
2 general areas in which people often disagree:
• Quality (assert that a person, place, thing, or event fulfills a function at a particular level of competence)- what does “good acting” mean to you?
• Morality (judgments about the rightness or wrongness of conduct or belief); example: killing animals for sport is wrong
Evaluations based on Quality
The writer acts as a critic, reviewer, grader, or other kind of evaluator of the value of the performance (our movie review is an example of this type of evaluation)
The criteria used to evaluate performances may range along a high-to-low scale (for example, “2 thumbs up” for a movie review or “3 out of 4 stars” for a restaurant review)
Evaluations based on Morality
• Express judgment about the rightness or wrongness of conduct or belief
• A majority preference is not enough to confer moral value (think of 19th century U.S. and slavery or 20th century U.S. and women’s right to vote)
o Example: Animal rights are as important as human rights.