Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 6
Points: 100

Overview:

Over the course of the last few units, you have been working on the same argument
regarding your chosen subject. Now, you will write the major assignment for this
course, an Argument Essay.

The essay should focus on one issue related to your chosen career or area of
study.

Consider the type of career that you are interested in exploring. You should, at this
point, have focused on a specific issue that is important to your career. For example, if
you are working on getting into Advertising, you might write an argument essay on
whether there needs to be more diversity in television advertisements. If you are
looking to get into a career in law enforcement, you might write an argument for or
against the use of body cameras by police officers while they are working.

What is an Argument?

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. In
this argument essay, you will demonstrate your ability to create a logical and fair
argument.

In order for something to be considered an argument, people must have the ability to
disagree with you. Your argument also needs to be something you can maintain an
objective stance on.

Instructions:

• Create an argument essay that argues for your position on an issue facing your
career or your area of study.

• Consider the following questions when starting your essay:
o What is a specific issue you see occurring in your career field or major

area of study?
o What is your ultimate argument regarding the issue? What are your

supporting topics for that argument?

ENG110 – College Writing

Argument Essay

Requirements:

• The essay should be three to four pages in length with additional APA-style title
and reference pages.

• The essay should be double-spaced, written in 12 point Times New Roman font,
and use a 1-inch margin.

• Include three (3) sources in your essay that are reliable and academic. One of
those sources should address the counterargument.

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 focus on one topic that supports your argument.
You will also need to determine where you want to address the counterargument.

• 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 well-
organized.
Paragraphs are used
effectively and focus
well on the assigned
argument issue.

Argument and
Counterargument

Fails to develop
arguments and/or
counterarguments.
No clear thesis to
highlight the
argument.

Some argument(s)
and
counterargument(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) and
counterarguments.
Thesis highlights
the argument with
only minor need for
clarification.

Fully develops
argument(s) and
counterarguments
fairly. Thesis
highlights the
argument well.

Resources and
Citations

No reliable and
academic
resources used.
Resources do not
relate to the
argument and/or

1 reliable and
academic resource
used. Resources
generally relate to
the argument but
may not be properly

2 reliable and
academic
resources
used. Resources
relate to the
argument, and for

3 reliable and
academic resources
used. Resources
effectively relate to
the argument and are

CRITERIA Novice Needs Improvement Proficient Exemplary

are not properly

formatted in the
assignment.

formatted in the
assignment.

the most part, are
properly 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 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.