QUALITY OF WRITTEN COMPOSITIONS

        Written by: Donna Gessell and adapted (with very limited changes) by Barry D. Friedman

       These three components should be the basis of every written composition:

        - Assertion
        - Evidence
        - Evaluation

        - The assertion clearly states the argument, problem, or thesis.

        - The evidence provides specifics to argue the assertion, solve the problem, or answer questions about the thesis.

        The nature and use of evidence varies from discipline to discipline; however, in any discipline, presenting evidence should include more than making a list.
        Lists do not show the relationships among ideas. To show relationships and make the writing more effective, evidence must be organized logically.

        - The evaluation is the part of the writing that expresses its importance. It contextualizes the argument by answering the "so what?" question. It explains why the writing is important and what's at stake. Furthermore, the evaluation shows critical thinking because it relates the parts to the whole and shows the bigger picture. Without critical thinking, a writing assignment is merely an exercise in proving a point, without explaining why it might be important or how the piece of writing fits into a larger whole.

        Assertion, evidence, and evaluation provide structure for the larger piece of writing as well as for each paragraph. Evidence without evaluation is not nearly as persuasive as evidence that is connected to the larger piece by evaluation.

In evaluating your compositions, your instructor will evaluate whether it makes sense in these terms:

        Is it clear?
        Does it fully develop ideas?
        Does it satisfactorily link ideas?

        Students can learn to write more effectively at the NGCSU Writing Center. Tutoring can help students at all levels in every discipline. Few of us send out our own writing that has not been read by someone else. At the NGCSU Writing Center, trained peer tutors help students at any point in the writing process-prewriting, writing, and rewriting. While tutors will not correct or edit writing, they will make suggestions to make the writing communicate more effectively.