Please follow instructions to the letter

Criteria

Comments

+ Strengths < Areas for Improvement

1

Provide an appropriate title and an interesting opening paragraph to appeal to your stated audience (appeal with logic, ethics, or emotion).

The title caught my attention, and the opening paragraph did well to involve the target audience.

2

Include a defensible, relevant thesis statement in the first paragraph. (With revised thesis statement.)

The thesis statement is easily recognizeable.

3

Describe the history and status of the issue and provide an overview of the problem(s) that need to be addressed. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

The history and status is not discussed

4

Explain the first problem (economic, social, political, environmental, complexity, inequity, ethical/moral, etc.) and provide support for your claims. This should be one or two (1-2)paragraphs.

The first problem has not been stated.

5

Explain the second problem (economic, social, political, environmental, complexity, inequity, ethical/moral, etc.). and provide support for your claims. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

The second problem is not stated.

6

Explain the third problem (economic, social, political, environmental, complexity, inequity, ethical/moral, etc.) and provide support for your claims. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

The third problem is not stated.

7

Use effective transitional words, phrases, and sentences throughout the paper.

8

Provide a concluding paragraph that summarizes the stated problems and promises a solution.

9

Develop a coherently structured paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

The paper has an introduction, but no body.

10

Support claims with at least three (3) quality, relevant references. Use credible, academic sources available through Strayer University’s Resource Center.

There are plenty of sources that utilize reliable data on the subject.

11

Other

This paper represents a strong start on the part of the writer.

The writer only presents an outline, and not much more.

Criteria

Comments

+ Strengths < Areas for Improvement

1

Revise, using feedback from the professor and classmates, your Persuasive Paper Part I - A Problem Exists.

2

Part 2

Included a defensible, relevant thesis statement clearly in the first paragraph.

3

Explain a detailed, viable solution that supports your thesis. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

4

State, explain, and support the first advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

5

State, explain, and support the second advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

6

State, explain, and support the third (and fourth if desired) advantage (economic, social, political, environmental, social, equitable, ethical/moral, etc.) to your solution. This should be one or two (1-2) paragraphs.

7

Use effective transitional words, phrases, and sentences.

8

Provide a concluding paragraph /transitional paragraph that summarizes the proposed solution and its advantages.

9

Develop a coherently structured paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

10

Use one or more rhetorical strategies (ethos, logos, pathos) to explain advantages.

11

Support advantage claims with at least three (3) additional quality relevant references. Use at least six (6) total for Parts 1 & 2.

12

Other

PATTERNS OF ERROR LOG

Name:

Date

Writing Assignment

Type of Error

# of Errors

End-of-sentence punctuation: run-on sentences, comma splices, fragments, or misuse of semicolon

Verb forms

Verb tense

Subject / verb agreement

Pronoun form

Pronoun / antecedent agreement

Apostrophe and the suffixes

Quotation marks for all quoted words

Spelling and typos

Proper sentence sense: no words omitted, scrambled, or incomprehensible

Student Guide on How to Use the Patterns of Error System

You might have many grammar errors on a writing assignment, but the errors represent only a couple of grammar problems. To know your patterns of grammar error will help you improve your writing.

The Patterns of Grammar Error system uses the ten (10) most commonly occurring grammar errors that impact a reader’s ability to read a text. Ten Grammar Learning Modules have been created to help you understand these problems and learn to fix them.

Here are the ten errors. They also appear on the Pattern of Error Log attached to the course guide:

1

End of Sentence Punctuation

6

Agreement of Pronoun with Antecedent

2

Verb Forms

7

When to Use and NOT to Use Apostrophes

3

Verb Tense

8

Using Quotation Marks for All Quoted Words

4

Agreement of Subject and Verb

9

Spelling

5

Pronoun Form

10

Proper Sentence Sense

After you submit your paper to your instructor, it will be turned back to you with comments and numbers. The numbers correspond to the 10 common grammar problems mentioned above. There will be a number above the underlined part of your sentence that has an error.

For example, your paper might look like this:

My Writing Experiences

2 1

I not been in school for twenty years and I do not like writing. My teachers always

9 1 9

marked up up my papers and I never new how to make them sound good. I know I won’t

make them sound good now because I don’t know how to do it. I will have to work hard

1

to improve my writing I will have to write several drafts to do well in this class.

As you can see, there are 6 errors here, but there are only 3 grammar problems (#1, #9, #2).

When your paper is returned, you will count up the number of errors for each grammar problem and chart them on your Pattern of Error Log found in the Course Guide.

Your next task is to review the Grammar Learning Modules for your most common Patterns of Error, and correct the mistakes in your paper.

Learning your patterns of grammar error and fixing them will help you improve your writing.

Topics / Questions

Student Name

Course Section

1) Should taxes on people making over $250,000 a year be changed?

2) Should Transportation Security (TSA) regulations be changed?

3) Should regulations for home schools be changed?

4) Should funding for the U.S. space program be changed?

5) Should changes be made to the regulations for foods that are served in public schools?

6) Should changes be made to regulations for mental health drugs for minors?

7) Should regulations be changed regarding genetically altering plants and/or animals?

8) Should the Family and Medical Leave Act be changed?

9) Should taxes on alcohol and tobacco be increased to help pay for rising medical costs?

10) Should regulations regarding the use of cell phones while driving be standardized?

11) Should the instant replay used in the NFL be applied to other sports?

12) Should regulations regarding payment of college athletes be changed?

13) Should minors who commit violent crimes be tried as adults?

14) Should child welfare regulations be changed?

15) Should DUI (driving under the influence) laws be changed?

16) Should sex offender registration laws be changed?

17) Should laws governing student laws be changed?

18) Should laws governing nursing homes be changed?

19) Should children of parents who do not allow them to be vaccinated be allowed to attend public school?

20) Should unemployment regulations and benefits be changed?

21) Should rules requiring all members of a jury to agree for conviction be changed?

22) Should financial incentives be offered to high school students to perform well on standardized tests?

23) Should the government offer tax credits for the purchase of hybrid or alternative energy vehicles?

24) Should the U.S. Government prohibit companies from outsourcing jobs to people in foreign countries that do not have unions and / or fair labor laws?

25) Should the U.S. government provide financial assistance to people whose retirement funds were invested in the stock of companies that may have used unethical accounting practices (e.g., Enron, Arthur Andersen, etc.)?

26) Should colleges and universities expel students who are caught cheating on exams and / or plagiarizing their homework assignments?

27) Should the U.S. prohibit trade with countries that have poor records on human rights?

28) Should vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, SUVs) be required to have backup cameras?

29) Should all U.S. students be required to take four years of foreign language in high school?

30) Should the state and / or federal government provide subsidies to organic farmers?

31) Should all states require motorcyclists and passengers to wear helmets?

32) Should state and local governments provide health insurance only for retirees who have served 20 years in government service?

33) Should your state or local government enact different laws regarding certain animals (e.g., pit bulls)?