Evaluating

Evaluatingwith clear criteria

Judgments,we make them all the timeI love this movie, I like your coat, small dogs are the best, this class is taking too much time, the weather.. Too pitchy, hybrid cars are too expensive, that game is overrated, the new JK Rowlings novel is slow-moving

What makes a really bad day Bad?

With formal evaluations, judgments must be based uponA set of criteria that makes sense to the intended audience

Dont evaluatethe graphics card for non-gamer laptop shoppersmeat entrees for vegetariansconurbation for a small desert town shopping for wind turbines

What to evaluate? Some categories (see examples in essay guidelines):A product or processA creation or eventA past or potential course of actionA locationA service or institutionA trend, up or down (1-2 bonus pts)

But for whom? The answer to thatguides choice of criteria

Should I go for the PhD? Evaluating a course of action forAn EMAC majorA Physics majorA Mechanical Engineering majorA high school studentA mid-career managerSomeone with high debt

The criteria must fit the audience.Audience questions and needsME MajorWhat are the research prospects?Is the curriculum as intense as undergrad?Will I be doing hands-on work?How much control will I have? Affect on job prospects?What do grad students earn? Can I earn more with an MS, in industry? How much debt will I accrue?What are likely salary ranges?

Needs shape criteriaSatisfaction with the workWhat are the research prospects?Will I be doing hands-on work?How much control will I have? CompensationWhat do grad students earn? Can I earn more with an MS, in industry? How much debt will I accrue?What are likely salary ranges?

Sources support criteriaYou cant get into industrial research without a PhD, even in specialized companies. I know theres always exceptions and maybe with 10 years of experience, youll get there. However, that door will most likely be shut to you if you dont have a higher degree. --from a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Optics blogging at Engineer BlogsCriteria (criterion, singular) from the Greekkrineinto judge, decideA standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based. Their vacations had to be in scenic placesShe loved The Help because of the humor, the mother-daughter dynamic, and the attempt to deal with social issues.He wanted friends who loved Ultimate as much as he did and were loyal.

Criteria should be logically parallel

What makes a car a good buy?Good gas mileageHigh safety ratingComfortable interiorHas a 5th gear

What makes a perfect day perfect?Good weatherFree time with friendsNo major stressorsA piece of tiramisu Interesting work Which ones off?

What makes a war just? In the Indian epic the Mahabharata, the first just war

Proportionality: no chariots attacking cavalryJust means: no poisoned or barbed arrowsJust cause: no rage-based attacking Fair treatment of the wounded & captured

In the European tradition (via Cicero, Augustine & Thomas Aquinas)Proportionality of attack: the damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting, grave, & certainProportionality of response: the use of arms must not produce evils graver than the evil to be eliminated. Other means exhausted: shown to be impractical or ineffectiveSuccess: reasonable chance of

Try itConsider a drastic action with serious consequences that you or a group you belong to might undertake.

What criteria would have to be met for you to act? Criteria labels should be grammatically parallelEvaluating websites 8 criteriaPurposeAuthorityObjectivityAppropriatenessCurrencyResponsibilityClarityAccessibility

fromhttp://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.html

Make categories distinctWhat constitutes an excellent film?Plot plausible, acting decent, camera work unconventional, no unbelievable coincidencesWhich two overlap?

with an appropriate, & meaningful scope

Great day?Too specific: 72 degrees, time with friend x, a piece of tiramisu, I got to work at the forgeToo general: Comfortable, fun, stimulating

& comprehensiveAbsolute height of buildingHeight of building above General heights of surrounding buildingsOrientation of building relative to more dominant wind directionsShape of building

From Evaluating Wind Resources at http://www.quietrevolution.com/.

But are these two distinct enough? Height of building above / General heights of surrounding buildings

17& fitted to the audienceGood day again

Good weather, time with friends, no stressors, a treat , interesting work

Or is it . . .Light traffic, time to workout, calm dinner with family, profitable work

Bus on time, sobriety, helped someone, kept commitments, any work

Criteria in a film reviewReview of "District 9"

Test drive the criteriaUse spill.coms criteria to evaluate a film youve seen recently. Audience is a friend.

Do the criteria work? Revise as needed.

Would those criteria be useful forA grandparent of yours?A young child you know?

Sources of Criteria The evaluators needs and valuesAll life is sacred / survival of the fittestA moral or legal codeThou shalt not kill / death penaltyThe goals or needs of an associationBring up our GPA / win more intramuralsThe shared assumptions and practices (culture) of a groupWork hard, play hard / moderation

By choosing criteria, you take a position:What should a great vacation be about? By evaluating based on those criteria, you make an argument for certain values: grow and learn all the time work hard play hardserve your neighbors family is sacred

CriteriaInternet Encyclodpedias Go Head to Head

What are the criteria? Which criteria is somewhat surprising?Where/how do sources support the criteria?Is there an implied argument in the choice of criteria?