Which performance appraisal method involves the assessor writing a brief essay about the target employee?

The essay appraisal method is characterized by the assessor providing a written narrative or essay about the employee's performance. This method allows for a qualitative assessment, where the evaluator can elaborate on various aspects of the employee's work, including strengths, weaknesses, and specific examples of performance. This narrative style can provide a more personalized and in-depth view of the employee's contributions and behavior within the organization.

Unlike quantitative methods, such as the graphic rating scale, which uses numerical ratings to evaluate specific behaviors or traits, or the behaviorally anchored rating scale, which combines qualitative descriptions with quantitative scoring, the essay method focuses solely on written input. Additionally, it differs from the forced-choice rating method, which requires the rater to choose between predefined statements about the employee, limiting the expression of unique observations or comments. This makes the essay appraisal method valuable for giving context and depth to performance discussions.

Therefore, it is the correct answer because it directly corresponds to the practice of writing a comprehensive overview of an employee's performance.