NOTE: Since this is one of six major assignments in this course, all students must submit this assignment at least once to pass the course.
INSTRUCTIONS
For this essay, you will write a critical review of a restaurant. So, your first homework assignment: go out and eat! You will need to identify the elements that you are reviewing and establish criteria for those elements. Be sure to include examples and evidence from the subject you are reviewing to back up your evaluation. You are taking the stance of the expert. Present a judgment and defend it.
Reviews should address:
Element: the specific aspect you’re evaluating (i.e. decor, service, food quality, food appearance, food components, etc.)
Criteria: the ideal version of that aspect in your opinion (this is often implied, but should still be clear.)
Judgment: the evaluation — recommended or not? Often, the best reviews suggest who might most enjoy the offerings, rather than simply saying the entire restaurant is good (or bad).
Evidence: the specific details and sensory descriptions that back up your judgment and prove your accuracy
- Example: “The signature entree at Blue Bayou was the Monte Cristo sandwich (element), which was surprisingly flavorful (judgment), thanks to the unexpected pairings of savory and sweet elements: tender ham and turkey, melted swiss cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and blackberry preserves (evidence).” Note that the criteria here is implied, as food that tastes good. Since this is a common expectation, there is no need to explain it further. Also, note how this example doesn’t use the actual terms — element, judgment, evidence, or criteria — but it still manages to discuss each of them.
REQUIREMENTS
- Two or more double-spaced pages (over 500 words)
- Note: There is no such thing as “too much writing” in this collegiate writing course!
- Follow MLA formatting guidelines:
- At top right, set up automated page numbers, with your last name, a space, and the page number
- At top left, put your name, then your instructor’s name, the course name, and the CURRENT date
- Center your title, in the same font, which should be descriptive and engaging (not “Assignment Name”)
- Indent the first line of each paragraph
- If you aren’t sure how to set those up, there are thousands of “MLA How to…” tutorials online
- Save the file name in this format: Your Last Name – Assignment Name – Draft (or Final)(1, 2, or 3)
- Submit your narrative as an attachment, in .pdf format (or .doc/.docx)
PURPOSES:
- Practice evaluation as a method of inquiry
- Practice writing according to audience expectations and needs
- Think about how, as a writer, you evaluate different texts and forms of media and transcribe such evaluations into academic writing
- Practice correct documentation
HOW THE ESSAY IS GRADED
You will also comment on the following questions for your student review:
- Does the essay introduce the restaurant in a brief, clear way? What could be done to improve the introduction?
- Does the essay evaluate enough elements of the restaurant? What elements might be added to (or removed from) the evaluation?
- Does each element present a clear judgment? Which could be made clearer?
- Does each element have a sufficient amount of evidence to support the claim? Which elements could use more supportive evidence?
- Are the criteria implicit, except where needed?
- Is there a discussion of comparison to a comparable restaurant (for example, you shouldn’t compare a steak house to a fast food restaurant)? If not, suggest one.
- Is the review balanced and fair, identifying both positive and negative aspects of the restaurant? Where might this aspect be improved?
- Does the conclusion include a short paragraph that wraps up the evaluation by stating whether the reviewer recommends the restaurant and a short summary of why or why not, based on the previous paragraphs?