Formulating evaluative statements allows you to provide a clearer explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of something through writing. You present a value judgment based on a set of criteria. In this process, you explain why a particular strength qualifies as a strength and why a weakness qualifies as a weakness, using evidence you have gathered (Belino, 2017). Furthermore, Hernandez et al. (2017) state that an evaluative statement serves as an objective and tactful reaction to a text.
Because evaluations pass judgment on the works of authors, you must write and express them with care and diligence.
Earlier, you learned about the considerations to keep in mind when formulating evaluative statements and the signal words you may use. Now, let’s put your knowledge to the test. Based on the text, formulate an evaluative statement and label it as either positive or negative, depending on the focus of your evaluation.
| Text | Evaluative Statement | Classification |
| If you are not so smart, you should try to be a teacher. | The statement is very discriminative against those with average intelligence and teachers in general. | Negative |
| Only rich people can become medical doctors. | ||
| Every person has something good to add to this world. | ||
| No one is so poor that he has nothing to share. | ||
| In posting things on social media, you must think before you click. | ||
| We must all help to save the planet. |
An employer received a curriculum vitae from an applicant who had just graduated from college. The company was looking for someone with a college degree, work experience, and skills. As the employer evaluated the credentials, he noticed the lack of work experience. The applicant’s credentials were impressive—he was a student leader, an honor student, and a community volunteer. The employer wanted to hire the applicant, but he felt something was missing: work experience. Therefore, he wrote an evaluation and submitted it to his superior for consideration.
| Evaluation | Explanation |
| Applicant #23 has an impressive curriculum vitae for an applicant so young. He has an impressive academic background, with honors, and has had leadership experience, which is important in business. There is also experience in community outreach, which can help in our company’s corporate social responsibility thrusts. | The evaluator began giving his feedback by mentioning the strengths. Always remember to begin with positives. The feedback was also short and concise, because it is expected that the audience—the boss—is a busy person and needs to make decisions quickly. |
| However, the applicant lacks work experience, being a fresh graduate. Sadly, this is a minimum requirement in our company. | Here, the evaluator mentioned the negative, but did not in any way insult the fresh graduate. The evaluator likewise mentioned why being a fresh graduate was a disadvantage. |
|
I am inclined to give the applicant a chance to work in our company, though, albeit on a contractual or project-based capacity. This way, he can gain work experience while utilizing his abilities to help our company. This is submitted for your consideration. |
The evaluator now gives his opinion (to hire the applicant) and gives a solution to the problem of lack of experience. He also mentions the benefits of the solution. |
The example given above is a good way of expressing evaluation. Do not forget what you learned from the sample that in formulating evaluative statements, you must:
- Begin with the positives.
- Keep your feedback concise.
- When pointing out negatives, focus on the situation, not the person. Mention, too, why it is a negative.
- Provide a solution or suggested improvement to the negatives, as well as a justification about why the solution or suggestion will work.
Formulating Evaluative Statements in an Objective and Tactful Way
Belino (2017) proposed ways as to how to formulate evaluative statements in an objective and tactful way.
In this step, you have to examine which ideas are facts or opinions, make inferences or conclusions, and assess the overall quality of the text. These assertions usually contain evaluative languages such as useful, significant, important, insightful, detailed, up-to-date, comprehensive, practical, etc.
- Counterclaim. A counterclaim is an opposition you make about the claim of a writer. You must recognize the value of hedges when you state your counterclaims.
- Hedge. A hedge is a word or phrase that minimizes the negative impact of criticism. When you are presenting your counterclaim, you are providing criticism since you are stating that the claim is not true. A hedge is used to giving a courteous tone in your writing. Hedges could come in different forms such as Modals – may, could, would, etc. Frequency adverbs – usually, generally, commonly Probability adverbs – probably, possibly, presumably.
