Step-by-Step Evaluation Essay Guidelines
If you want to, you can number each of your answers to these prompts and answer each one as a separate question. Then, when you
type up your essay, get rid of the numbers and indent for each paragraph. Or you can just use this to guide your essay development.
INTRODUCTION
1.
2.
Write one or two sentences of background, or an interesting fact, or a personal anecdote about your evaluation topic
(movie, book, product, restaurant, etc.).
Write a one-sentence thesis statement. Include your stance, two to four reasons why you feel this way, and address the
opposition. NOTE: Do not use a list, a question, or a declaration here.
BODY PARAGRAPH 1
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Write a one-sentence counterargument for one of the reasons you’ve presented in your thesis. This is not a
counterargument to your essay stance, but a counterargument to this body paragraph topic.
Present one piece of evidence to prove the counterargument wrong. Write one to three sentences to fully explain this
evidence. Remember, the further the evidence is from you, physically and/or temporally, the more effective it tends to be.
Present a second piece of evidence to prove the counterargument wrong. This should be stronger than the first evidence if
possible. Again, you may need to write two or three sentences to fully explain the evidence.
Make an assumption about this body paragraph topic, something even a hostile audience would have to agree with. This
should align with the evidence you’ve already presented, rather than bringing up new evidence.
Write a statement of backing to explain why we would all agree with your assumption. This could be part of the assumption
sentence (“Most people would agree that assumption because backing”) or it can be in its own sentence.
Write three or four sentences to explain the effect that your evidence (and evidence like it) has on people,
profits/pocketbooks, and/or the planet. This is where you really express how you feel about this paragraph topic. Just make
sure you align it with your evidence, rather than bring up new evidence.
Make a logical conclusion about this reason, based on everything you’ve said here and stating your claim about this topic.
NOTE: This should be the opposite of the counterargument you wrote for number 3 above.
BODY PARAGRAPH 2
10. Write a transition at the beginning of a counterargument for a second reason you’ve presented in your thesis.
Transition + Counterargument Examples:
 “Another reason” + thesis opposition + counterargument (“Another reason adults emphasize good grades is because
they believe good grades will provide more opportunities for success later in life.”)
 “In addition to” + counterargument 1 + counterargument 2 (“In addition to wanting financial stability for their children,
parents and educators assume that good grades will provide more opportunities for success later in life.”)
11. Write one to three sentences about one piece of evidence to prove this counterargument wrong.
12. Write one to three sentences about a second piece of evidence to prove this counterargument wrong.
13. Make an assumption about this second body paragraph topic – again, something even a hostile audience would have to
agree with and something that aligns with the evidence you’ve already presented in this paragraph.
14. Write a statement of backing to explain why we would all agree with your assumption.
15. Write three or four sentences to explain the effect that this paragraph’s evidence (and evidence like it) has on people,
profits/pocketbooks, and/or the planet. Again, align it with the evidence in this paragraph.
16. Make a logical conclusion about this second reason, based on everything you’ve said here and stating your claim about this
topic. Again, this should be the opposite of the counterargument you wrote for number 10 above.
BODY PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4
Use same steps as BP2. These are optional, but honors should do BP3 (#17-23) and AP should do BP3 (#17-23) and BP4 (#24-30).
CONCLUSION
17. (or 24 or 31) Write one sentence that reiterates your stance from your thesis. Do not use any of the same wording.
18. (or 25 or 32) Write one to three sentences to recap the main ideas (i.e. reasons/body paragraph topics) in this essay.
19. (or 26 or 33) Begin with a transition, such as “Therefore” or “So” or “Consequently” then write one or two sentences that
take this discussion beyond this essay and make a logical conclusion or call the reader to action or suggest an improvement
for the reader, people in general, people’s finances, or the planet at large.
Conclusion Example: 17 Grades should absolutely not define students. 18 They don’t necessarily guarantee financial success
and they aren’t the only way to a successful adult experience. 19 Therefore, it is reasonable for students to want parents and
teachers to stop putting so much emphasis on marks in school and to start supporting teens in their efforts to refine and use
their personal gifts and abilities to find their own way to a successful future.