ENG 190 Project Guidelines and Rubric
Competencies
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies:
Conduct research for specific writing situations
Integrate qualified evidence from research into one’s own writing
Articulate an evidence-based position in a written communication
Overview
Persuasive essays are a staple of writing. A persuasive essay has multiple goals. One is to demonstrate certain skills like research, proper citation, and critical thinking. These skills benefit us any time we need to take a position on a topic. This could be to present information for a suggested change at work or to help change someone’s mind about a global issue affecting our society. The skills that you will develop in writing your persuasive essay with research are transferable to all aspects of life and career.
When writing a persuasive essay, a writer must consider multiple communication elements and persuasive writing techniques such as strategically using introductions and conclusions, using a combination of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade an audience, refuting an opposing viewpoint, among others. These elements of writing matter in everything we write, not just in essays. Persuasive essays organize your ideas by stating a thesis, followed by key points backed up by citations from credible sources, and examine diverse perspectives. All the skills that you will develop while working on your persuasive essay with research will help you when trying to persuade someone to consider your perspective.
Directions
There are two parts to this assignment: creating a collection of sources and writing a persuasive essay supported by research. For Part One, you will list the sources you will use in your persuasive essay. You will also include a description of each source and other information about your research process. For Part Two, you will write an essay that states your position on a topic, integrates evidence from the sources you listed in Part One to support your key points, and uses different writing techniques to engage and persuade your audience. You will use at least one source from the Project Resources document and two sources that you find through your own research using the Shapiro Library to support your project.
Part One: Collection of Sources
In Part One, you will organize your research in preparation to write a persuasive essay in Part Two. To prepare your collection of sources, revise the assignment you submitted in Module Three using the instructor feedback you received. This part of your project should be about 1 to 2 pages long.
Specifically, you must address the following:
State the purpose of your research.
Consider the purpose of your research in relation to your topic.
State your research question.
Describe the impact of using biased sources to support your topic.
Describe how diverse perspectives from sources support your position. Consider the following:
Are there multiple voices?
How do these diverse perspectives from your research support your topic?
List relevant sources to support your persuasive essay.
Include at least one source from the Project Resources document and at least two sources that you find through your own research using the Shapiro Library.
Include an APA or MLA citation for each source.
Describe how each source supports your topic.
Briefly summarize each source.
State why the source is credible.
State how the source is relevant to your research question.
Part Two: Persuasive Essay with Research
In Part Two, you will write a persuasive essay supported by the sources you listed in Part One. To write your essay, revise the draft you wrote in Module Five using the instructor and peer feedback you received in Modules Five and Six. This part of your project should be about 2 to 3 pages long.
Specifically, you must address the following:
Compose a thesis statement that addresses your position.
Support key points in your persuasive essay with evidence from your research.
These are the key points presented in your thesis statement.
Use quotes or paraphrases to integrate evidence from research into your persuasive essay.
Include at least one quote and/or paraphrase for each body paragraph.
Include strategies to meet the needs of an audience. In your response, include:
An introduction with relevant background information that appeals to your chosen audience.
A conclusion that summarizes your key points and includes a call to action for your chosen audience.
Use persuasive writing techniques in the body of your persuasive essay.
Address and refute an opposing viewpoint to your position.
Use ethos, pathos, or logos to persuade the audience when refuting the opposing viewpoint.
Use attribution conventions throughout your persuasive essay.
Use APA or MLA attribution conventions for all in-text citations and/or paraphrases. Remember, you will need to use the format you chose in Module One for this project.
Include a References or Works Cited page at the end of your persuasive essay.
What to Submit
Submit your project as a 3- to 5-page Microsoft Word document (with an additional title page and Reference page in the case of APA, or a Works Cited page in the case of MLA) with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Use at least one source from the Project Resources document and two sources that you find through your own research using the Shapiro Library to support your project. Follow APA or MLA citation guidelines when citing sources both throughout and at the end of your paper.
Supporting Materials
The following resources support your work on the project:
Student APA Exemplar: Project APA Exemplar
This is an example of a completed assignment using APA style. You may want to use this as a guide when addressing the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Student MLA Exemplar: Project MLA Exemplar
This is an example of a completed assignment using MLA style. You may want to use this as a guide when addressing the rubric criteria for this assignment.
Resource: Project Resources Document
This document contains resources for the project.
Library Resource: ENG 190 Library Guide
This library guide may support you in completing your project.
Project Rubric
Criteria Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value
Part One: Purpose N/A States the purpose of research (100%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include clearly stating the purpose of research (75%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part One: Research Question N/A States research question (100%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include clearly stating the research question or stating a research question related to the topic of the essay (75%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part One: Biased Sources Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Describes the impact of using biased sources to support the topic (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include describing in greater detail the impact of using biased sources to support the topic (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part One: Diverse Perspectives Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Describes how diverse perspectives from sources support the position (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include describing in greater detail how diverse perspectives support the position (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part One: Relevant Sources Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Lists relevant sources to support the essay (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include listing relevant sources, including an APA or MLA citation for each source, or including required number of sources (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part One: Support Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Describes how each source supports the topic (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include describing in greater detail how the sources support the topic, including a summary of each source, stating why it is credible, or stating how it is relevant to the research question (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Thesis Statement Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Composes a thesis statement that addresses the position (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include composing a more precise thesis statement that addresses your position on a topic (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Key Points Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Supports key points in the essay with evidence from research (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include supporting all key points with evidence from research (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Quotes or Paraphrases Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Uses quotes or paraphrases to integrate evidence from research into the persuasive essay (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include using quotes or paraphrases to integrate evidence or including a quotes or paraphrases in each body paragraph (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Strategies Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Includes strategies to meet the needs of an audience, including an introduction with relevant background information that appeals to the audience and a conclusion that summarizes key points and includes a call to action for the audience (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include including an introduction with relevant background information, summarizing key points in the conclusion, or providing a call to action for the audience (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Persuasive Writing Techniques Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Uses persuasive writing techniques in the body of the essay, including using ethos, pathos, or logos to persuade the audience when addressing and refuting an opposing viewpoint (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include addressing and refuting an opposing viewpoint or incorporating ethos, pathos, or logos to persuade the audience (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Part Two: Attribution Conventions Exceeds proficiency in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner (100%) Uses attribution conventions throughout the essay (85%) Shows progress toward proficiency, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include using either APA or MLA conventions for all in-text citations and/or paraphrases or including a References or Works Cited page at the end of the essay (55%) Does not attempt criterion (0%) 7.5
Clear Communication Exceeds proficiency with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understanding (100%) Consistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience (85%) Shows progress towards proficiency, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understanding (55%) Shows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication (0%) 10
Total: 100%
