Unit 8
Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 7 Points: 100 Overview: Over the course of the last few units, you have been working on the same argument regarding your chosen subject. Now, you will write the major assignment for this class: An Argument Essay.
• The essay should focus on one issue related to your chosen career and/or area of
study.
Consider the type of career that you are interested in exploring. You should, at this point, have focused on a specific issue that is important to your career. For example, if you are working on getting into Advertising, you might write an argument essay on whether there needs to be more diversity in television advertisements. If you are looking to get into a career in law enforcement, you might write an argument for or against the use of body cameras by police officers while they are working. What is an Argument? We have probably all had to argue for a position we held. What makes someone receptive to your argument? Normally, the audience is more willing to listen to your position if you argue for it objectively and avoid unreasonable, argumentative tactics. In this argument essay, you will demonstrate your ability to create a logical and fair argument. In order for something to be considered an argument, people must have the ability to disagree with you. Your argument also needs to be something you can maintain an objective stance on. Instructions:
• Create an Argument Essay that argues for your position on an issue facing your
career and/or your area of study.
• Consider the following questions when starting your essay:
o What is a specific issue you see occurring in your career field or major
area of study?
o What is your ultimate argument regarding the issue? What are your
supporting topics for that argument?
ENG110 – College Writing
Argument Essay
Requirements:
• The essay should be three to four pages in length.
• You should include an APA-style title page and headers in addition to the three to
four pages for the assignment. Please double space the assignment, write it in
12 point Times New Roman font, and use a 1-inch margin.
• You should include three sources in your essay that are reliable and academic.
One of those sources should address the counterargument.
o Make sure you have at least three in-text citations where you have direct
quoted, paraphrased or summarized material from the sources. You will
need corresponding references for each of these sources that match the
in-text citations.
• You need an introduction and conclusion for this essay. Remember the
introduction sets up the essay and ends with the thesis statement. The
conclusion sums up the essay and restates the thesis in a different way. The
introduction and conclusion should not be exact replicas of each other.
• Your body paragraphs should focus on one topic that supports your argument.
You will also need to determine where you want to address the counterargument.
• Your writing should be free of punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors and
contain appropriate word choice for an academic setting with clear sentence
structure.
Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.
Evaluation Rubric for the Argument Essay Assignment
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
(0-10 points) (11-14 points) (15-17 points) (18-20 points)
Introduction and Conclusion
Introduction and/or the conclusion are not present. Introduction/ conclusion are very hard to understand and significantly missing details.
Introduction and conclusion are attempted. The introduction and conclusion may be lacking details to properly set up and then wrap up the essay. The introduction/ conclusion are not related.
Introduction and conclusion nicely set up and wrap up the essay. The introduction/ conclusion could relate better.
Introduction and conclusion effectively set up and wrap up the essay. The introduction/ conclusion relate well to each other.
Organization and Structure
Many details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper does not use paragraphs and does not focus on the assigned argument issue.
Writing may have some discernible organization, but some details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper uses paragraphs ineffectively and lack focus on the assigned argument issue.
Writing is organized, and details are placed in a logical order. Paragraphs are mostly used effectively and generally focus well on the assignment argument issue.
Writing is effective, purposeful, and well- organized. Paragraphs are used effectively and focus well on the assigned argument issue.
Argument and Counterargument
Fails to develop arguments and/or counterarguments. No clear thesis to highlight the argument.
Some argument(s) and counterargument(s) are developed, but may be missing one or need further elaboration. Thesis attempts to highlight the argument, though clarification is needed.
Develops most argument(s) and counterarguments. Thesis highlights the argument with only minor need for clarification.
Fully develops argument(s) and counterarguments fairly. Thesis highlights the argument well.
Resources and Citations
No reliable and academic resources used. Resources do not relate to the argument and/or
1 reliable and academic resource used. Resources generally relate to the argument but may not be properly
2 reliable and academic resources used. Resources relate to the argument and for
3 reliable and academic resources used. Resources effectively relate to the argument and are
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
are not properly formatted in the assignment.
formatted in the assignment.
the most part, are properly formatted in the assignment.
properly formatted in the assignment.
(0-5 points) (6-7 points) (8 points) (9-10 points)
Paper Length Significantly less than 1 page or significantly more than 4 pages.
Only 1-2 pages in length.
Only 2-3 pages in length.
3 to 4 pages in length.
Clear and Professional Writing and APA Format
Writing is hard to understand because of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Word choice is inappropriate for an academic setting. Sentence structure is often unclear. Paper rarely or does not use the third- person perspective and an objective tone. APA format is not followed.
Writing is sometimes difficult to understand because of several errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Word choice is sometimes inappropriate for an academic setting. Sentence structure is sometimes unclear. Paper inconsistently uses a third-person perspective and objective tone. APA format is sometimes followed.
Writing is easy to understand despite minor errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar. Appropriate word choice is used for an academic setting. Sentence structure is mostly clear. Paper mostly uses a third-person perspective and objective tone. APA format is mostly followed.
Writing is free of almost all punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors. Appropriate word choice is used for an academic setting. Sentence structure is clear. Paper is written in the third-person perspective with an objective tone. APA format is followed.