A good rule of thumb when choosing a topic for an evaluation paper is to choose a topic that has a degree of controversy surrounding it. The purpose of this notion is to ensure you will have a wealth of references to choose from and research as you evaluate your chosen article, book or journal. By comparing your artifact to others written on the same topic, you can reference additional resources as support of your own impressions of the argument made in your evaluation paper artifact.
Since the days of "Roe vs. Wade," abortion has been an intensely contested topic throughout the United States. When choosing an article on abortion as the focus for an evaluation paper, it is important to research what area of this debate you want to highlight. For example, your article could discuss abortion at a national level or the legislature on abortion in a particular state. As you research abortion articles, it is essential to use an academic search engine or reputable news source. For this issue, an interesting evaluation paper topic could be to choose an article that opposes your viewpoint on abortion. Analyze the article, and ask yourself if this article changed your mind or made you think about abortion in a different viewpoint.
In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court granted states the right to reinstate capital punishment if they chose to do so. Along the lines as the abortion debate, the end result of lost human life sparks heated emotion on both sides of the issue. With the broad spectrum of capital punishment itself, there are a multitude of avenues one could take when choosing this topic for an evaluation paper. To demonstrate the fervor of both sides of this argument, pick valid articles from both sides of the debate. Analyze each article and determine which literary argument you found to make a more successful point in its support or disapproval of the death penalty.
In comparison to the often emotionally driven topics of abortion and capital punishment, an evaluation paper can also analyze a book or story that was turned into a film. Choose a famous story that has many examples of its story in film. For example, analyze how the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet" and the 1996 film "Romeo + Juliet" compare to William Shakespeare's famous play. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each film in contrast to Shakespeare's original mood and plot of the story. Ask yourself how each film supports the play's initial vision. An additional area to evaluate is if the 1996 version was successful in translating the tragic story into a modern era without damaging the original validity of the play.