WR115 Evaluative Essay
Due March 10th
Topic Selection
Working with your group, reach consensus a topic from the list below:
 Immigration laws should be reformed.
 Marijuana/Other Drugs should be legalized(Note: If you and your group select
this topic, set parameters on the scope of what you want legalized—all drugs or
just marijuana)
 Global Climate Change: What should we do about it?
 Corporate campaign contributions should be limited.
 Assisted suicide should be the law of the land in all states.
Summarization
You will formally summarize two articles (see your summary rubric), each advocating a
different position on an issue. Both summaries will be submitted, so each should be prepared with
care. Using the summary rubric, self-score your summary. Meet with your group and peer-review
each other’s summaries.
Essay Assignment
Select one of the two articles that you summarized for evaluation. Your evaluative essay will
analyze the selected article to see if, overall, it makes sense and makes its points in a convincing
manner. Your thesis will be a clear statement about the overall effectiveness of the article in
advocating a position. You will evaluate the article in terms of its intended audience and purpose, the
support provided by the author (facts and opinions), and the strength of the logical framework
presented by the author (generalizations). You will use examples and experiences from your own
knowledge and life, illustrative scenarios, and direct references to the original article in making your
points.
Essay Length & Formatting
Your essay will be composed of an introductory paragraph, four to six body paragraphs, and
a concluding paragraph. Your essay will be around 3 pages in length, double-spaced, with margins of
1.25 inches on both sides, and use 10 to 12 point standard fonts. You will title your essay with a
descriptive title, and you use MLA page formatting. This means that your name and a page number
will be present on each page in the upper right-hand corner. If you need help in formatting your
paper, please do consult your textbook (final chapter) or one of the online style guides, such as OWL
(Purdue University). You will also find an MLA template conveniently posted on our class website
under Essay 3, Evaluative Essay. If you need more guidance, please feel free to go to the Learning
Success Center’s Computer Lab (AC3333) and ask Lance Lannigan or one of the tutors to show you
how to format your paper.
You will cite the sources of all material that you either paraphrase or quote, and you will
name the person or organization that you are quoting or paraphrasing. You will include your
citations in the body of your essay by placing each in parentheses after the sentence in which the
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direct quote or paraphrase occurs. You will use quotations marks when you do directly quote an
author or a source. Doing less will amount to plagiarism and result in a failing grade on the paper. Your
rule of thumb should be: if in doubt, cite your source!
Please carefully review the attached rubric. I will use it to evaluate your essay. And please do
call me with your questions or concerns!
Checklist: What Must Accompany Your Essay
Submit the following items together, and make sure that each item and page is labeled with your
name in the upper right-hand corner. You may write your name on each page in longhand.
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_____Summaries (2)
_____Self-scoring of the summaries & peer review notes
_____Discussion notes
_____Graphic outline
_____Draft one
_____Peer review of graphic outline & draft one
_____Draft two
_____Peer review of draft two
_____Final draft
_____Short reflection on what you learned about thinking, writing, and yourself in
the process of writing this essay.
Essay Submission
Unless you have made prior arrangements with me, you will need to submit your paper on
Wednesday, March 10th. If you need encouragement, some last-minute guidance, or if you need to
negotiate a late paper, please do call (503-784-1498)!
Mt. Hood Community College
Mary Kelly-Klein, Instructor, WR115