Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 7
Points: 100
Overview:
Over the course of the last few units, you have been working on crafting the argument
for your Argument Essay. You will now write an argument essay that answers one of
these questions.
The essay should answer ONE of these questions:
- Why or why not should your state allow mail-in voting for all elections?
- Why or why not should college be free for students to attend?
- Why or why not should people embrace being a vegetarian?
Now that you have written about the pros/cons of the issue in your Unit 4 Assignment,
choose one side of the issue.You should answer ONE of the above questions in a wellthought out and developed argument essay with:
• A clear introduction that sets up the issue, explains your topics, and ends with your
thesis statement.
• Body paragraphs focusing on one topic in support of your argument in each paragraph.
o You need three reliable and academic sources for this assignment in support of
your argument. You should include evidence that is direct quoted, paraphrased,
or summarized to support each topic. The evidence should have the appropriate
in-text citation.
o You will typically want to include one piece of evidence in each body paragraph,
as you did in the paragraph and pro/con assignment. You are not required to
include a source about the counterargument (other side of your argument), but
you may if you would like.
• Then, end with a conclusion that wraps up your essay’s argument and leaves the reader
with something to consider about your issue.
• Include a references page for the three sources you used in your essay.
Argument Essay
You can use the ideas from your Pro/Con paragraphs in your argument essay, but they
should be revised and reworded so that you are not just resubmitting your Unit 4
assignment.
Argument Essay and Third Person, Objective Writing
We have probably all had to argue for a position we held. What makes someone
receptive to your argument? Normally, the audience is more willing to listen to your
position if you argue for it objectively and avoid unreasonable, argumentative tactics.
Your argument needs to be logical and fair, giving people the ability to disagree with
you.
Your argument also should be written in the third person to show that you can be
objective, meaning you use “He,” “she,” “they,” “people,” “one” and do not use “I,” “me,”
“we,” “us,” “our,” “you,” and “your.”
Instructions:
• Create an argument essay that answers ONE of the above questions.
• You should have a well articulated argument essay with an introduction, body
paragraphs (with evidence), conclusion, and a references page.
Requirements:
• Please submit a Microsoft Word document or PDF.
• The essay should be three to four pages in length with an additional APA-style
title and reference pages. The document should follow proper APA style
formatting (Times New Roman, 12 font suggested) with 1-inch margins and
double spaced.
• Include three (3) sources in your essay that are reliable and academic.
o Make sure you have at least three (3) in-text citations where you have
direct quoted, paraphrased or summarized material from the sources.
You will need corresponding references for each of these sources that
match the in-text citations.
• You need an introduction and conclusion for this essay. Remember the
introduction sets up the essay and ends with the thesis statement. The
conclusion sums up the essay and restates the thesis in a different way. The
introduction and conclusion should not be exact replicas of each other.
• Your body paragraphs should each focus on one topic that supports your
argument.
• 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 Assignment
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
(0-11 points) (12-15 points) (16-17 points) (18-20 points)
Introduction and
Conclusion
Introduction and/or
the conclusion are
not present.
Introduction/
conclusion are
very hard to
understand and
significantly
missing details.
Introduction and
conclusion are
attempted. The
introduction and
conclusion may be
lacking details to
properly set up and
then wrap up the
essay. The
introduction/
conclusion are not
related.
Introduction and
conclusion nicely
set up and wrap up
the essay. The
introduction/
conclusion could
relate better.
Introduction and
conclusion effectively
set up and wrap up
the essay. The
introduction/
conclusion relate well
to each other.
Organization and
Structure
Many details are
not in a logical or
expected order.
The paper does
not use
paragraphs and
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 and
lacks focus on the
assigned argument
issue.
Writing is
organized, and
details are placed
in a logical order.
Paragraphs are
mostly used
effectively and
generally focus well
on the assignment
argument issue.
Writing is effective,
purposeful, and wellorganized.
Paragraphs are used
effectively and focus
well on the assigned
argument issue.
Argument Fails to develop
argument(s). No
clear thesis to
highlight the
argument.
Some argument(s)
are developed, but
may be missing one
or need further
elaboration. Thesis
attempts to highlight
the argument,
though clarification
is needed.
Develops most
argument(s).
Thesis highlights
the argument with
only minor need for
clarification.
Fully develops
argument(s) fairly.
Thesis highlights the
argument well.
Resources and
Citations
No reliable and
academic
resources used.
Resources do not
relate to the
argument and/or
are not properly
1 reliable and
academic resource
used. Resources
generally relate to
the argument but
may not be properly
formatted in the
assignment.
2 reliable and
academic
resources
used. Resources
relate to the
argument, and for
the most part, are
3 reliable and
academic resources
used. Resources
effectively relate to
the argument and are
properly formatted in
the assignment.
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
formatted in the
assignment.
properly formatted
in the assignment.
(0-5 points) (6-7 points) (8 points) (9-10 points)
Paper Length Significantly less
than 1 page or
significantly more
than 4 pages.
Only 1-2 pages in
length.
Only 2-3 pages in
length.
3 to 4 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 thirdperson
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.