Unit 8

Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 3 Points: 100 Overview: Before you begin this assignment, please note that you are writing a proposal for the Argument Essay and not the Argument Essay Itself. The proposal is designed to give you the opportunity to propose your treatment of the issue related to your career or area of study. The next few assignments are all designed to help you figure out your ultimate argument. These assignments should all focus on the same argument and the same issue related to your career and area of study. This proposal is your opportunity to consider your plan for tackling the argument. You will need to figure out what about the issue you want to focus your argument on. You cannot possibly cover the whole subject in this coming essay, so plan to write about a specific aspect of that subject. Your argument will need to be proven throughout the course of your essay. In order to prove your argument, you will need to select specific topics which you will want to highlight in your thesis statement. In this proposal, you will pitch those topics and how you will discuss them. Instructions:

• Create a two to three-page proposal for your Argument Essay. The Argument

Essay requires that you argue your position on an issue affecting your chosen

career path or area of study.

• In at least two paragraphs each, please answer the following three questions.

Please begin each section of your argument essay proposal with the question

your will be answering.

o What is the issue that your essay will be focusing on within your career

path or area of study? Why is this issue important and worth writing an

argument essay about? Please explain the issue, demonstrating your

complete understanding of the issue.

o What is your ultimate argument regarding the issue? What are the specific

topics will you address within the argument essay? How do you plan to

address those issues?

o What evidence will you use within your essay? Please be specific here

with the type of evidence you want to use and how you intend to use. Will

ENG110 – College Writing

Argument Essay Proposal

all your evidence come from Post’s Library? Will you use any additional

sources? If so, what kinds of sources?

Proposal of Content This proposal is your opportunity to pitch your instructor your plan for the essay. The structure of the Argument Essay should be discussed within the proposal. You also should propose how you intend to gather research for this argument. You do not have to include any research, but you should figure out how you want to incorporate it. You also want to tell the instructor how you plan to structure the essay. Finally, include in the proposal what will make your approach to the argument unique. Requirements:

• The assignment should be two to three pages in length and answer the specific

questions asked.

• You should include an APA-style title page and headers in addition to the two to

three 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 may use first person in this assignment, but please keep in mind that the

argument essay will need to be written in third person.

• 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 Proposal Assignment

CRITERIA Novice Needs

Improvement Proficient Exemplary

(0-10 points) (11-14 points) (15-17 points) (18-20 points)

Approach to the Issue

The writer does not identify a clear approach to the issue being argued. Ideas for how to present the issue are not explained.

The writer includes a somewhat clear approach to the issue being argued. Some ideas for how to present the issue are explained.

The writer includes a mostly clear approach to the issue being argued. Ideas for how to present the issue are adequately explained.

The writer includes a clear approach to the issue being argued. Ideas for how to present the issue are effectively explained.

Organization and Structure

Many details are not in a logical or expected order. The paper does not answer the specific questions asked, or the paper 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 to answer the questions asked by lacking focus in each question.

Writing is organized, and details are placed in a logical order. Paragraphs are mostly used effectively to answer the questions asked and generally focus on each question.

Writing is effective, purposeful, and well- organized. Paragra phs are used effectively to answer the questions asked and focus well on answering each question.

Purpose of Argument

The writer does not explain the purpose for the argument essay and what the writer is hoping to argue. No argument is highlighted.

The writer somewhat explains the purpose for the argument essay and what the writer is hoping to argue. Some aspects of the argument are highlighted.

The writer mostly explains the purpose for the argument essay and what the writer is hoping to argue. Many aspects of the argument are highlighted.

The writer thoroughly explains the purpose for the argument essay and what the writer is hoping to argue. All aspects of the argument are highlighted.

Research Incorporatio n

The proposal does not include any information for how the argument essay will address and incorporate evidence and

The proposal includes some information about how the argument essay will address and incorporate evidence and

The proposal includes information about how the argument essay will address and incorporate evidence and research into the

The proposal includes information about how the argument essay will address and incorporate evidence and research into the

CRITERIA Novice Needs

Improvement Proficient Exemplary

research into the essay.

research into the essay.

essay with some minor need for clarification.

essay with some minor need for clarification.

(0-5 points) (6-7 points) (8 points) (9-10 points)

Assignment Length

Significantly less than one page or more than three pages.

Only one page in length.

Only one and a half pages in length.

Two to three 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.