Essay Overview
For this assignment, you should write a 950-1,400-word essay that argues a position. The essay should have a well-developed introduction that has a clear thesis statement and demonstrates the relevance of your topic; several body paragraphs, including at least one paragraph that considers and refutes opposing arguments; and a persuasive conclusion that encourages readers either to change their minds about your topic or to perform some action. The purpose of this essay is to persuade an academic audience to think about the topic in the same way you do (for instance, to believe poverty can be eradicated through a particular course of action). Depending on the topic, you might also persuade your audience to take some action (to buy a hybrid car, for instance).
Purpose and Learning Objectives
Your purpose in writing this essay is to defend a particular point of view with good reasoning and research. My purpose in assigning this essay is to develop your skills in synthesizing research, evidence, and claims into a well-reasoned argumentative essay. You should develop a clear and concise thesis statement that prepares readers for the arguments in the essay. Be sure to especially work on paragraph development: each paragraph should include a topic sentence, evidence, and commentary about the evidence.
Minimum Requirements
• A 950-1,400 word essay (about 3-5 pages)
• An interesting and informative title
• A document formatted in correct MLA format
• 5 sources (at least 1 journal article and 1 book; the other 3 sources must be reliable, but they can be any source you choose)
• A works cited page written in correct MLA format and included in the same document as the essay; all sources included on the works cited page must be cited with an in-text citation somewhere in the essay.
• A clearly stated argument that uses reliable and well-reasoned evidence to support claims
• A refutation of opposing arguments
• You should not have any direct quotes. All information from other sources must be paraphrased.
Please note that a 5-point deduction will be made for the following:
• Every 50 words not included (so 900-949 words will have 5 points off; 850-899 will have 10 points off; etc.)
• Every source not included (so an essay with 3 sources will have a 10-point deduction)
• Minus 10 for a missing Works Cited page.
• Every use of a direct quote will receive a 5-point deduction.
Topics
You may choose your own topic. Keep in mind that the topic needs to be argumentative (that is, a reasonable person should be able to disagree with you) and supportable (that is, you should be able to support the claims with facts, reason, argumentation, etc.). There are three forbidden topics, and they are abortion, marijuana legalization, and gun control. These are forbidden topics because the goal of this paper is for you to complete research and learn about a topic. A lot of information has already been written on these topics, and most students do not need to do a lot of research to learn more about these topics.
Note: If you change your topic at any change of the writing process, you must start over from the beginning with getting topic approval from your instructor, submitting a new outline, and rough draft before submitting the final draft. Any papers that do not go through the entire writing process will not be accepted.
Research
This essay should include at least five reliable sources to bolster the major claims. These sources should include 1 journal article, 1 book, and 3 other sources of your choice. These sources must be cited with in-text citations throughout your paper and in a works cited page at the end of the text. Please format the entire essay according to MLA format.
Five points will be deducted from your grade for each source not used in the essay, so if you only include two sources, then you will receive an automatic 15-point deduction. Remember, citing a source in your works cited page is not considered using a source. You must include research from the source in your essay, an in-text citation showing where the information comes from, and an entry on the works cited page.
Process for Completion
Here are a few steps that might help you develop your essay:
1. Choose your topic.
2. Once you’ve found a topic, determine if it needs to be narrowed or if a particular focus might help the argument.
a. To give an example, let’s say you’re writing about the importance of exercise. You might need to find a slant that creates a more interesting argument than “exercise is beneficial” (of course, it’s beneficial!). Narrowing helps a bit, but not enough: “to improve their health, Americans should exercise more” (of course, Americans should exercise more!). But what if we narrow the topic further: “Schools in Texas need to incorporate healthy exercising habits into the school days and teach children of the benefits of exercise.” This sentence establishes a more
focused and nuanced argument than the earlier topic of exercise. To create a more interesting topic, you might then move to question who is responsible for promoting exercise. Is it individuals, corporations, cultural norms, the government, or some other entity? What can we do to change the culture in the United States so that exercise takes on a greater role in people’s lives? The more focused and nuanced the topic, the better the paper usually is.
3. After narrowing your topic, you should make a list of everything you know about the topic and everything you want to know. This list will guide your research.
4. Now, you’re ready to start researching. Be sure to only include reliable sources in your research and to take careful notes to avoid accidentally plagiarizing your sources later. As you research, remember that plagiarism is still a serious offense even if you just forget to cite a source. Always keep notes of where you get information and be prepared to cite the information correctly.
5. Be sure to allow plenty of time to draft your essay. You want to be sure you don’t forget any of the wonderful arguments you developed during the invention and research phases. You may also want to outline the major points of the essay before drafting.
6. Because this is a college-level writing class, you must paraphrase. Do not use direct quotes.
7. Always allow several days to revise the essay. You will get comments during peer review, and you should consider those comments carefully.
8. Finally, be sure to edit your essay for mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and proofreading.
Plagiarism
Here is the English Curriculum Committee’s statement about cheating: Plagiarism is a serious offense that will not be tolerated. Plagiarism can include but is not limited to the use of someone else’s ideas, their wording, language, or research without the proper documentation (e.g., the use of in-text citations and quotation marks when necessary), bad paraphrasing, purchasing a paper, having someone else or an AI, like ChatGPT, write your essay or parts of your essay, or turning in the same paper to two different classes without your instructor’s approval. Students are expected to research and write their own work for each assignment in each course they take. Any plagiarized paper, even accidental, will [likely] receive a zero as a final grade. Students caught plagiarizing can be reported to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for disciplinary actions. The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite correctly.
Please review the class syllabus for the more information on the penalties for plagiarism.
Grading
Please refer to the following grading rubric in the class to see how you’ll be assessed on the essay.
Important grading information:
• The Argument Unit is worth 40% of your final grade for the course.
• The Argument Unit consists of several parts, including homework, class work, drafts, and the final product.
Final Essay Rubric
I
Points/Criteria 0-5 6-8 9-10
Revision Essay demonstrates Essay demonstrates Essay demonstrates
barely any revision or no moderate revision, but significant revision since
previous drafts were some feedback was not previous drafts. Attempts
submitted, so no considered, or revision were made to address all
opportunity for revision appears hasty. feedback made by peers and
based on feedback was instructor.
completed.
Thesis
Statement/Topic Idea
Essay lacks a topic idea. Essay has a topic idea but it isn’t written in a clear thesis statement. Essay has a clear topic idea that is written in a concise thesis statement.
Paragraph Generally, paragraphs Most paragraphs are Each paragraph is well
Development
lack development and developed, but some developed and focused. Most
focus. may lack development or paragraphs contain some
focus. form of evidence supporting
the thesis statement.
Organization Essay lacks essential Essay has an Essay follows a logical
paragraphs, and/or the introduction, body organization, usually with an
body paragraphs are paragraphs, and a introduction, several body
confusingly organized. conclusion, but some paragraphs, and a
paragraphs may be conclusion. The body
misplaced or lack logical paragraphs flow well.
order.
Introduction and
Conclusion The introductory and concluding paragraphs need significant development. Essay has introductory and concluding paragraphs, but they do not provide enough essential information about context or relevance. Essay has interesting and informative introductory and concluding paragraphs that show the relevance of the topic idea.
Mechanics Mistakes in grammar Essay has several Essay shows firm grasp of
and punctuation often mistakes in grammar grammar and punctuation.
make the essay difficult and punctuation that
to understand. sometimes hinder
meaning.
Language/Word Inappropriate word Essay occasionally has Essay uses appropriate
Choices choices often make the the wrong word or form word choices.
essay difficult to of the word but is
understand. generally
understandable.
Argument The argument is not clear, or it is not logical. The argument is usually but not always logical and clear. The argument is logical and clear.
Integration of Evidence from outside Evidence from outside Evidence from outside
Evidence sources does not seem to fit with the rest of the essay. There are several quotations not sources is not carefully integrated into the essay. Quotes are incorporated into sentences, but they sources fits seamlessly into the essay. All quotes are integrated into sentences.
integrated into sentences. are sometime awkwardly integrated.
Points/Criteria 0-5 6-8 9-10
Refutation of
Opposing Arguments The essay has no refutation of opposing arguments, or counterargument is not effective The argument mentions opposing arguments but does not fully refute them, or the opposing arguments refuted are not the most important arguments to mention. The essay logically rebuts opposing arguments.
Writer’s Voice
Deductions
Points will be deducted for the following: Missing word count: -5 for every 50 missing words. Missing Works Cited page: -10. Missing sources: -5 for every source.
