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Narrow Your Focus By Asking Questions

As you learn about possible subjects for your evaluation, use the following questions to identify which ones capture your interest and best meet the needs of your assignment. Each question focuses your attention on a subject in a different way, and each provides a useful starting point for an evaluative essay. Depending on the subject, you’ll find that some questions are more relevant than others.

Importance. Do you think this is an important subject? If so, why? Who else believes that it’s important? Why do they believe that it’s important? What would readers do with an evaluation of this subject?
Appropriateness. What aspects of this topic lend themselves to evaluation? Do you have the resources and the time to learn about it and examine it closely?
Effectiveness. Is _____ an effective response to _____? Is it designed well? Is it likely to produce the intended results?
Costs/benefits. What are the benefits of _____? What are the costs? Are the benefits worth the costs?
Prevailing opinion. How have others responded to this subject? How did they reach their conclusions? What have they neglected to consider?