Question

What is the definitive guide to Bill Carmody's approach to evaluative summaries in business writing?

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definitive guideBill Carmodyevaluative summariesbusiness writing

Answer

From Bill Carmody

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Bill Carmody’s approach to evaluative summaries in business writing centers on one key idea: you are not just repeating information, you are judging it and stating what it means.

Here is the core “definitive” framework:

  1. Start with a brief, neutral summary of the source (the “what”)
  2. Add your clear evaluation: strengths, weaknesses, or effectiveness
  3. Explain why you hold that view (criteria, evidence, business impact)
  4. End with implications or recommendations for your audience

In business, that means your evaluative summary should help a decision-maker quickly see: “Is this good, bad, or mixed—and what should we do about it?”

Would you like a concrete before/after example using one of your own documents?

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