Evaluative argument: Online relationships
Evaluative argument: Online relationships
This assignment consists of two parts: the core evaluation, and the plan for extending the evaluation through research in the Illinois University, and in sources that will increase the context of the evaluation even further.
Core essay;
I gave you the example of an evaluation for hair stylist/cutter.
I brainstormed the following criteria:
Knows how to cut with confidence
Tells me what will work; doesn’t ask what she should do
Believes I want to do “absolutely nothing” with my hair
Doesn’t pressure me with upselling
Not “better than me” (ties with look of salon)
Friendly, but not over-sharing
Attentive – doesn’t have to be servile, but also shouldn’t talk to other stylists, receptionists, on the phone OMG
My core essay (4 pages) would discuss these criteria through examples, and explanation of why they are important. In developing this essay, I could also use description, definition, comparison/contrast and cause and effect, since these are also ways to evaluate something. My goal is to provide an evaluation that readers find reasonable and thorough.
For the second part of the assignment, I will brainstorm ideas about evaluating a hair cutter in Illinois University. So, this would cause me to modify my personal criteria once I have information from other sources.
I brainstormed this:
Lots of people on campus are away from their own regular stylist. Different ethnicity/ different hair styles and types. Age differences: faculty/staff, students
How would I research? What kind of time frame for gathering information?
Survey questions for various demographics as noted above
How to disseminate?
Interview: who has expertise on this topic? Local stylists. What would incentivize their participation? What would I ask them?
Anecdotes about awful experiences? Try for humorous effect
Secondary sources: Women’s/fashion magazines; Academic areas
History? Psychology? Gender? Self-image? Trust? What journals might have pertinent information? I probably can’t just use haircut as a search term. What can I do instead?
What I want to come up with based on this questioning, is a plan for research that includes discussion of who I would go to for information and why, a list of potential survey and interview questions and an annotated bibliography with a minimum of three sources accessed through Booth Library databases.
Keep in mind that your starting point is your personal criteria for evaluating something.
You might choose to evaluate athletic shoes. You would start with what you personally consider useful criteria for judging: being fashionable, functional, and durable. Your core essay would be about how to find your own ideal shoe.
Then, you would need to modify or expand your evaluation based on research. A practical application for this would be a company wanting to create advertising that would appeal to the largest number of ..IU students. Or, perhaps you could consider the shoes used by a sports team at ..IU. This could be considered from the perspective of either the vendor, or the athletic department/business office making the decision.
In either case, you would consider who to interview and survey as primary sources, and where to look for secondary sources. In assessing the second part of the assignment, I am looking for a plan thorough enough to garner information that would lead to a solid examination of the issue/item you set out to evaluate.
The entire project is due March 21st.