Writing an Evaluation Report

Why?

The evaluation report is a document that reports back (usually within a corporate environment) on the progress or effectiveness of a project or program. In this case, you will be generating me an evaluation report on your subject.

Criteria

As with the definition paper, an evaluation operates on criteria. Instead of arguing for a definition of a toaster, though, your criteria are listing the ideal toaster: what makes a perfect toaster and why the toaster you are evaluating fails to rise to the occasion.

In addition to any research you may be doing, think about structuring your paper around these criteria and showing how your subject conforms or fails to conform to these criteria. Also, you need to show how you determined success or failure in these criteria.

Document Structure

For this assignment, I want you to follow a rather specific formula.

1. Introduction paragraph: explain that this is an evaluation report on your subject.
2. Background Paragraph(s) (1-2):
   1. Provide me with any technical background you find I may need. For instance, if subject is an example of an unfamiliar technology, provide some background. This paragraph is optional (obviously, I know what a toaster is).
   2. Provide background for the situation. If there is a problem, document some of how it came to your attention.
3. Criteria Paragraphs (3-5):
   • List a criteria for evaluating an effective member of whatever class of objects your subject comes from (Toasters, if you are writing about a toaster; Study Rooms if you are writing about the study room in the library).
   • Explain why you feel this criteria is important.
   • State whether your object meets this standard or not. Also, explain how you arrived at this conclusion.
4. Conclusion: Briefly summarize the argument. Explain the larger conclusion: is your object bad and, if so, why?
5. Recommendations: Suggest a solution to fix the problems of your object and, also, briefly outline how you arrived at this solution (describe any research).

Form

While the memo is going to be more persuasive, this assignment is meant to be descriptive. You will be merely reporting on facts. You do not have to persuade me here, I merely want to see what you’ve done.