An eval bullet is to highlight work without having to read through flowery adjectives. Eval bullets get right to the source of what was completed or accomplished. Immediately it lets the reader know what you’ve done.
There’re a couple of steps to take in writing an eval bullet. Ask the question Who, What was done? and what was the result/impact? Here is an eval bullet we can use as an example:
A skillful instructor, qualified to teach an additional 8 courses, increased the Learning Site readiness to 95%.
Who?
A skillful instructor, qualified to teach an additional 8 courses, increased the Learning Site readiness to 95%.
What was done?
A skillful instructor, qualified to teach an additional 8 courses, increased the Learning Site readiness to 95%.
Result / Impact:
A skillful instructor, qualified to teach an additional 8 courses, increased the Learning Site readiness to 95%.
Another important fact is to ask you’re self “who are my readers”? What do they need to know about me? Keep your focus by writing this information down so you know who the readers are and what they are looking for.
Tips
Write to inform. Don’t assume your readers will understand what you know. You have to generate the interest of the reader in your opening statement and then point out why the information is relevant.
Changing passive verbs to active verbs you'll change your style from dull, impersonal and long-winded to vigorous, interesting and readable.
Cut out as much of the passive verb as possible here is an example:
Passive: The advancement exam is expected to take about one hour.
Delete is expected to add ‘s’ to take
Active: The advancement exam takes about one hour.
Note: Passive sentences are often wordy.
Avoid jargon, cliches and foreign words, if you confuse the reader with jargon attention could be taken away from previously expressed highlights.
Read and Revise everything you write prior to submitting up the chain.
Find out works for you and show someone how!
I am a Navy Chief specializing in Information Systems. I am keenly interested in helping Sailors discover and develop their true potential and passionately believe in all forms of mentoring, collaborating and empowering others. Favorite Quote: 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
View all articles by Alvin Mitchell|
said this on 31 Aug 2007 5:11:04 PM CDT
Thanks for the post! The way I write evals has drastically improved now that I use active verbs in my write ups for my Sailors. I'm definitely spreading the word on this tip!
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said this on 10 Nov 2007 8:25:56 PM CDT
My LPO has our division writing evals now. Thanks for the tips!
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said this on 21 Nov 2007 11:38:03 AM CDT
Good Stuff. I appreciate the help
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said this on 19 Dec 2007 4:25:38 PM CDT
Thanks Chief I've adopted the active writing concept! When submitting evals to my Chief I don't get as much kick back like I use to in the past. I thought when you write evals you were suppose to put as many adjectives in your write-up to make it stronger. I will show my Sailors how to "Get R Dun" :)
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said this on 04 Jan 2008 9:27:25 PM CDT
Large number of adjectives in a eval/fitrep hides job accomplishment and leaves it to the reader to figure out how well the Sailor has done. Stick with hard facts and you will never go wrong. "Get r Dun"
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said this on 25 Jan 2008 11:07:12 PM CDT
Passive vs. Active or power writing: You want power in your writing to get the WOW factor from your reader. Use word to write your EVAL/FITREP, you can copy/past back and forth between NAVFIT and word. Before you start writing in word go to your tools menu click options and look for the “check for passive” and “show readability” options for your spell check. You have made these default checks as part of your spell check. Now you can start writing. Once you are finished do your spell check. When a passive sentence is detected spell check will ask you if you want to re-word or ignore the sentence. You will need to play around to make the sentence active, word will not make a recommendation. Make a change or choose to ignore this passive sentence. Once complete, spell check will tell you the percentage of passive sentences in the document. Any thing more than 2% is a lot, go back and make changes 0% is the goal. Once you are happy with the write up copy/paste it into NAVFIT. If it is more than 18 lines NAVFIT will tell you this with a red warning line at the top of the comments block. EDIT IT DOWN TO FIT! Once you have made your comments fit in the block copy/paste it back into word and start the spell check process again, copy/paste back into NAVFIT for a fit check. Continue this process until your input contains powerfully writing and it fits the block. Our education system teaches us to speak and write in a passive manner, this process will help teach you to WRIGHT WITH POWER. The second item to remember, as said in the article tell the reader YOUR RESULTS. Don’t just say “…increased productivity and accuracy” rather “…increased productivity XX% and accuracy XX%.
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said this on 01 May 2008 5:36:04 PM CDT
Great information. I have a question that I would like to ask and that is what is the proper format for writing a statement as it pertains to an evaluation? Where can I find this information?
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said this on 04 May 2008 7:41:38 AM CDT
Use BUPERSINST 1610.10 for format: Plain-Paper Memorandum. Use plain-paper memorandums for informal communications within your activity. It is no more formal than the memorandum form, but it is more flexible when there are multiple addressees, via addressees, or both. (a) Identification Symbols . The only identification symbol you need is the date, unless local practice calls formore. (b) Format. Prepare on white bond paper. Start typing the date on the sixth line, flush with the right margin. See figure 2-19, page 77. -- http://www.joenavy.com/sailors/articles/303/1/Member-Statement-EvalFitrep/Page1.html
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