Argument of Evaluation Essay
· Citing 3+ Sources
· 1,200 – 1,700 Words
Essay prompts to select from:
“Citizen Kane is a director’s triumph!” Agree or disagree.
Is Citizen Kane the finest movie ever made? Explain.
“Citizen Kane is truly a classic film. It is a film that stands the test of time. One does not care when the setting is or what the period of dress is. The story could be told in any time.” Agree or disagree.
“Although Welles acknowledged the importance of photographer Gregg Toland’s contribution, and others have insisted that scriptwriter H.J. Mankiewicz is the real author of the film, Citizen Kane retains its reputation as the first Wellesian masterpiece.” Agree or disagree.
Orson Welles believed that Kane was: “a very great man and a mediocre individual.” Is Orson Welles suggesting Kane was a failure and fraud or that he was a misunderstood loner?
Never has the power of film with its extensive repertoire of elements- lighting, sets, sound and editing been so fully exploited as it has been in Welles ‟masterpiece, Citizen Kane.” Agree or disagree.
Orson Welles’ film “Citizen Kane‟ was hailed as a masterpiece when it was released, and it is as much a masterpiece today. Agree or disagree.
Your thesis should be framed in such a way that it includes the elements from the following formula:
X is (or is not) a good Y because it meets (or does not meet) criteria A, B, C, etc.
You do not need to phrase it this way: the structure above is offered as a guide for your invention process. Your finished essay will need to state the central claim clearly but in a way consistent with your purpose in the essay itself. Your argument should include the following elements:
- An interesting and significant evaluative claim (no “best pizza” arguments, please—it must pass the “Who cares?” test)
- An effective exposition of your claim’s significance and rhetorical context
- At least three well-explained and defended criteria
- An examination of your claim in terms of the stated criteria
- Evident for every part of the argument, not only for your evaluative claim, but also for your criteria selection, particularly if you suspect your audience may not share your ideas about what is most important (warrants)
- A consideration of alternative views and counterarguments from the audience most likely to be interested in your claim
- Effective essay structure
- Proper use, citation, and documentation of source material (i.e., compliance with MLA 8th edition guidelines for dealing with sources, including a works cited list at the end of your essay).
Start with an outline such as the one provided in class. You will submit this outline but not peer review it. Next, write your rough draft legibly (or type and print it) and bring it to class next time we meet for peer review.
The essay should contain:
- An introductory paragraph with a thesis statement and three supporting details (Links to an external site.)
; - Multiple body paragraphs composed using the MEAL Plan (Links to an external site.)
that address the supporting details with specific evidence, CITING 3+ CREDIBLE SOURCES, either from the library, the provided resources, or online; - A conclusion paragraph that summarizes the thesis statement and mentions the supporting details, along with a graceful component that wraps up the main theme of the essay.
The essay will be evaluated in terms of unity, support, coherence, and sentence skills. Use 8th edition MLA formatting
throughout your essay.
