Evaluations are called “everyday arguments” for a reason: any time we ask a question and make a determination, we are performing an evaluation; we probably perform multiple evaluations over the course of the day, ranging in importance. It’s important to realize that any time we evaluate something (a product, practice, belief, etc.) we are making an argument. We are taking a position in our judgment and trying to convince our audience of our position.
Implicit in these informal evaluations are criteria or reasons. We identify criteria by which something should be evaluated and then see how well it meets those criteria. Your evaluation should have clear criteria that you are using to perform your evaluation. Readers should ultimately understand the conclusion you have come to by the end of your essay.
Topic: For this essay, you will want to make sure compile research when evaluating this topic. Do not simply rely on an assumption that you’ve made without having researched first!
Evaluate the “benefits” OR the “drawbacks” of a certain practice, policy, or behavior. I’ve provided a list for you to choose from; however, if you’d like to formulate your own topic you are allowed to do so with my approval. Please note that the topics below ask you to choose a single position – benefits OR drawbacks – not both.
The benefits OR drawbacks of owning/renting property (choose owning or renting)
The benefits OR drawbacks of certain dietary choices/practices: vegan, vegetarian, organic, keto, paleo (for this topic, choose one from the list)
The benefits OR drawbacks of increased screen time in children or adults
The benefits of breastfeeding OR formula feeding
The benefits OR drawbacks of online learning
The benefits OR drawbacks of free childcare for college students
The benefits OR drawbacks of working remotely
OFF LIMIT TOPICS: vaccines, masks/mask mandates, guns, marijuana, abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. – some of these topics are highly polarizing where others are over-done.
Note that you’re not writing a pro/con essay. You must make a SINGLE judgment in this essay and support that judgment in the body paragraphs of your essay.
Evaluative Claim (Thesis Statement):
Essays must have an evaluative claim (a.k.a. thesis statement), which should be located at the end of the introductory paragraph. The evaluative claim is your chance to highlight not just your position/judgment, but also the criteria you’ve used to arrive at that conclusion.
Example Evaluative Claims:
“Although they are not as environmentally friendly, traditional gas vehicles are the better choice for the average consumer because they are cheaper to purchase, the cost of maintenance is lower, and there is a wider variety of vehicles available to fit consumers’ needs.”
“For a growing number of students, online learning is the preferable to face-to-face learning for several reasons: online courses allow for greater flexibility, do not require students to be local to the college or campus, and are often more engaging than the traditional classroom.”
Sources/ Evidence:
For this essay, you will need to use a minimum of FIVE secondary sources (this means you’ll likely need more than five). In addition, your sources must address two types of data: qualitative (non-numerical, descriptive) and quantitative (dealing with numbers). We will go over the two later in the semester so don’t worry just yet 😊
Your sources do not necessarily have to come from the library, but they should be credible and appropriate for your topic/subject matter. You want sources that both help your audience better understand your topic/position and help you to support the judgment you’re making.
You will integrate these sources into your essay, using them as evidence to support your judgment. These sources must be cited in MLA format, with both parenthetical (i.e. in text) citations AND an accompanying works cited page.
Required Elements
Your essay MUST contain the following elements. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
A topic that addresses the above prompt
An Evaluative Claim that states your position, along with supporting reasons. Should be located at the end of your introduction paragraph.
Clear and Logical Criteria
A Description of the Opposing Argument in order to demonstrate your ethos (credibility) as well as inform your audience.
5+ Secondary Sources that provide useful, credible information to your audience about both your topic, your position, and the opposing argument(s).
Paper Length and Formatting Information:
This essay should be a minimum of 1500 words typed in 12 point Times New Roman Font with 1” margins. Make sure to develop your evaluation as fully as you can! Evidence, explanation, elaboration will all help you in reaching the word requirement.
Essays should use MLA for formatting and citations. All essays will need a works cited page, which does not count toward the word count/ page length.
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Ethical Concerns in AI Decision-Making: This article from Harvard Gazette highlights both the potential benefits and the ethical concerns surrounding AI’s role in decision-making. It discusses how AI can improve financial insights for small businesses and streamline lending processes. However, it raises concerns about AI’s potential to replicate and amplify societal biases, such as in parole decisions or loan approvals, under the guise of objectivity. It also touches on the philosophical debate over whether AI can or should replace human judgment in crucial decisions (Harvard Gazette).
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Equity and Ethics in AI: A report by the American Psychological Association (APA) explores how AI systems, when they make errors, can lead to humans inheriting the same biased decision-making. This raises significant concerns about equity and the ethical use of AI in sensitive areas such as medical diagnoses. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these ethical issues to prevent the perpetuation of biases (American Psychological Association).
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AI’s Impact on Employment: While I didn’t find a direct link in the current search results, a common thread in discussions about AI and employment is the technology’s potential to transform job markets. AI can automate routine tasks, potentially displacing workers in certain sectors while creating new opportunities in others. The key concern is whether the job market will adapt and provide retraining for displaced workers to move into new roles facilitated by AI technologies.
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Privacy and AI Surveillance: The ethical debates around AI also extend to privacy concerns, where AI’s ability to process vast amounts of personal information poses significant surveillance risks. These include concerns about how much of our data AI systems collect, store, and analyze, and for what purposes. Privacy advocates call for stringent regulations and transparency in how AI systems use personal data.
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Guidelines and Governance in AI Ethics: Many articles on AI ethics discuss the need for robust guidelines and governance structures to ensure that AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly. This includes establishing AI ethics boards within organizations, creating transparent policies for AI use, and ensuring that AI systems are designed with ethical considerations from the outset.