Controversial Essay

Structure:

1. Does the author begin by establishing RELEVANCE with a recent headline?

2. Does the author follow up by establishing a clear BINARY OPPOSITION?

3. Does the author TRANSITION clearly into his/her thesis?

4. Does the author ask a substantive, clear THESIS QUESTION?

5. Does the author smoothly transition into the HISTORICAL CONTEXT?

6. Is the author’s COUNTERARGUMENT clearly positioned as one of two sides?

7. Does the author’s REBUTTAL directly address the points in the COUNTER?

8. Is the author’s ARGUMENT clearly positioned as the alternate side of the binary opp?

9. Is the author’s CONCLUSION framed as a solution?

10. Does the author end each paragraph with a transition question?

Content:

1. Is the author’s BINARY OPPOSITION named and defined?

2. Is the author’s THESIS academic and substantive?

3. Is the author’s HISTORICAL CONTEXT concise and relevant to the controversy, rather than the topic?

4. Is the author’s COUNTERARGUMENT thorough?

5. Does the author’s REBUTTAL fully argue all points in the COUNTER?

6. Is the author’s ARGUMENT convincing and through?

7. Is the author’s SOLUTION thoughtful and reasonable?

8. Does the author choose, and stick to, a clear APPROACH?

9. Is the author’s essay proofread?

Research:

1. Is the author’s research from scholarly sources?

2. Does the author PROPERLY cite all sources?

3. Does the author support ALL CLAIMS?

4. Does the author avoid generalizations and bias?

5. Does the author include a proper works cited page in MLA format?

6. Does the author introduce all sources?

Final score: _________/100

4 = Exceptional, went above and beyond what was expected

3 = Did what was expected

2 = Unimpressive, not your best

1 = Not college level work, sloppy

0 = Unacceptable