What is evaluating?

Evaluating is when we use information from a text

to help us make judgements or decisions.
Why do we use evaluation?

We evaluate the things we read for

lots of reasons.

• Evaluating helps us to know what

information is important in a text.
• We can use the information in a
text to create our own opinions and
thoughts.
• We can work out if information is
useful or not.
• Evaluating a text lets us decide
whether or not we like it.
 When do we use
evaluation?
We evaluate text all the time!

For example, if you were reading a recipe for sweet cookies and it
says to use 5 cups of salt, does that seem right?

What do you already know about baking cookies? Is that much salt a
normal amount, or could there be a mistake in the recipe?
Using what you already know about what you are reading, you can
make an evaluation.
How do we use
evaluation?
We evaluate by comparing information in a text to what we already
know, and then we make a judgement.
• Finding information and deciding whether it is true or false;
• Thinking about how the writer has shared the information, have
they missed anything out.
• Thinking about whether the writer has strong thoughts for or
against the topic.
• Thinking about what we liked or didn’t like about the text.
• Deciding if we need to get more information to decide whether the
text is true or not.

Evaluating always uses evidence from the text to

back up our opinion.
Evaluation
Read the text below and answer the questions on the next slide. Make sure you
use evidence from the text!

When Cows Fly!

A farmer in the Far North has reported seeing cows flying past his window this week.
“Yeah, very huge cows, with wings, flapping on by! Absolutely bizarre,” said the
farmer. He looked very nervous when we questioned him about how truthful he was
being. This team decided to stay after the interview and do some undercover
research.
Upon further investigation, the farmer was found to have a secret laboratory hidden
in the barn on his property. Still undercover and dressed as trees, we snuck into the
lab and found feathers, wire, and various ways of attaching things, such as glue,
Velcro, sticky tape, and knitting needles. Also found were two cows in comfortable
pens.
When questioned about the laboratory the next morning, the farmer said he knew
nothing about it before trying to escape using his own pair of home-made wings. He
has been taken by police for further questioning, and all cows have been safely
rehomed to a new farm.
Evaluation

Do you think the text is trustworthy or not?

Did you enjoy the text? Why or why not?

Do you already know anything about the topic that helps you make
an opinion?

What evidence is in the text to back up your opinion?

Evaluation:
Answers
Do you think the text is trustworthy or not?
No I do not think it is a real article.
Did you enjoy the text? Why or why not?
I enjoyed it because it was so ridiculous and funny.
Do you already know anything about the topic that helps you make
an opinion?
I know that news articles are facts, and that they are not usually
funny. I know that cows cannot fly.
What evidence is in the text to back up your opinion?
The text is called ‘When Cows Fly’, the reporters dressed up as
trees to go undercover and reporters don’t usually say they’ve
gone undercover, and the farmer tried to escape using wings.
Evaluation

Read the passage below and answer the questions on the next slide. Make
sure you use evidence from the text!

Instead of being at the ball having a lovely night, Cinderella sat in the ashes in
the kitchen, crying to herself about how mean and horrible her stepsisters had
been. They had torn her dress, broken her necklace, and snapped the heel off
her shoe, and her stepmother had stood and watched them do it! How could
they be so cruel? Now they were all at the ball, and Cinderella was left at home,
once again wearing rags.
“Why are you crying, child?” asked an old woman perched on the kitchen
bench. Cinderella looked up, blinking as she took in the glow of this newcomer.
“Come now, wipe your eyes, for you too shall go to the ball. I am your fairy
godmother, and I will fix this.” The fairy godmother waved her wand, and
Cinderella found herself in a beautiful dress, a brand new necklace, and the
most beautiful crystal shoes you’d ever seen. “Now off you go, you mustn’t be
late! Be home by midnight!”
Evaluation

Which character is your least favourite? Why?

Which character is your favourite? Why?

Do you think the problem was solved? How was it solved?

Evaluation

Which character is your least favourite? Why?

The stepmother, because she let her daughters bully Cinderella
and didn’t stop them ripping her dress or breaking her necklace
or shoes.

Which character is your favourite? Why?

The old woman because she was kind to Cinderella and gave
her a beautiful dress, necklace and shoes.

Do you think the problem was solved? How was it solved?

I think the problem was solved because Cinderella can go to the

ball now. The fairy godmother fixed her outfit so that she could
still go.
 Now that you know what
evaluating is, and how and why
we use it, try to use this skill when
you are reading. It can be very
useful for reading non-fiction texts,
but even when reading fiction, we
still evaluate to decide whether we
like it or not. Have a go next time
you read!