For more idea-generating strategies, see Chapter 11.
The following activities will help you find reasons and evidence to support your evaluation. Begin by writing down what you already know. You can do some focused research later to fill in the details.
Ways In
HOW CAN I COME UP WITH REASONS AND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT MY JUDGMENT?
List the good and bad qualities of the subject. Begin by reviewing the criteria and the value terms you have already used to describe the good and bad qualities of the subject. These are the potential reasons for your judgment. Try restating them using this basic sentence strategy, which is also illustrated by an example from student William Akana’s film review:
Example:
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World can be appreciated and enjoyed by all audiences because of its inventive special effects, clever dialogue, and artistic cinematography and editing. (par. 2)
Write steadily for at least five minutes, developing your reasons. Ask yourself questions like these:
Example:
Akana singles out special effects, dialogue, cinematography and editing because of the particular kind of film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is—“a hilarious slacker movie that also somehow reimagines romantic comedy” (par. 1).
Example:
Akana analyzes the film’s special effects and gives readers specific examples, including screen shots, to demonstrate that they are indeed “inventive.”
Make notes of the evidence you will use to support your judgment. Evidence you might use to support each reason may include the following:
You may already have some evidence you could use. If you lack evidence for any of your reasons, make a Research To Do note for later.