Foundations
of Business Communication GM410
Keller Graduate School of Management
Evaluative Writing
Week 2
In this unit, we will focus on evaluating. Evaluation requires us to look at an object on the basis of criteria and then use those criteria to support a claim. While an explanation is generally position-neutral, an evaluation must make a judgment and then support that judgment based on criteria. For support, you will be asked to begin using resource material on your topic. This will give you an opportunity to begin researching and to begin practicing incorporating that research into your writing.
This Week's Schedule
In-class Objectives
Receive feedback on your Explanatory essay, which you can use to improve your essay. Understand how explanation differs from evaluation. Focus on the specific features of an evaluative text. Apply these features to assessing sample evaluative essays. Begin work on using and documenting source material. Practice planning an evaluative essay.Online Objectives
Learn from the evaluative techniques and strategies used by a professional writer ("Watching the Eyewitless News" by Elayne Rapping. Reid, pages 333 - 339) by participating in the Threaded Discussion are. Submit a rough draft of your evaluative essay to the instructor for initial feedback.Deliverables (graded work)
Submit the final draft of your Explanatory essay. This essay is due on or before midnight of the third day following the Week 1 class session. Threaded Discussion participation (you must Post at least once and Respond at least twice to your instructor's and classmates' comments.)Resources
Review the TCOs ("Objectives") to make sure you understand the objectives addrressed by this week's unit. "Readings." See the "Reading" link in this unit's navigation area. "Topic Notes" reinforces major concepts from the chapters you read. (Powerpoint slides with notes.) This section also includes a document providing a list of "Top Ten" Tips for Writers. Wrap-Up Forum (in the "Threaded Discussion" area) provides a discussion area for questions that come up as you draft your essay. The Webliography contains resources to help you with research and documentation.