In-Class Summative Argumentative Essay Assignment
Write an argumentative essay in response to one of the following topics. Please read over assessment rubric
carefully during your essay process. Choose only one (1) of the following two topics to argue:
Essay Topic #1:
Argue for or against the privatization of the world’s fresh water resources for uses such as for bottling water, making
soda pop, for restaurant sales, and for general consumption (household, residential water use). Incorporate at least
one of the following quotes into your essay as part of your support for explaining what is at stake for public
citizens if we do or do not have privatization of water:
FOR Privatization of Water
AGAINST Privatization of Water
“That which we want less of in society should rarely
be privatized and that which we want more of often
should be.” William MacGregor Robson
“In its broadest ecological context, economic
development is the development of more intensive
ways of exploiting the natural environment.” ~ Richard
Wilkinson
“Natural resources are so vast that no single
individual or business is going to protect them; they
don't have an incentive to.” William Weld
“Economic advance is not the same thing as human
progress.” ~ John Clapham
Essay Topic #2:
Argue for or against the need for the general public’s consent to be “manufactured” as a necessary means of national
security (in terms of military action and initiatives as part of conflict resolution). Incorporate at least one of the
following quotes into your essay as part of your support for explaining what is at stake for public citizens if we do or
do not have manufactured consent of the general public in matters of national and international security.
FOR Manufactured Consent of the Public
AGAINST Manufactured Consent of the Public
“Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the
people think they think; and the other eighty-five
percent would rather die than think.” Thomas A.
Edison
“Propaganda is to democracy what violence is to a
dictatorship.” Noam Chomsky
“Humans see what they want to see.” Rick Riordan
“If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will
be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”
James Madison
*No matter which topic you choose you MUST also do the following:
- Justify your argument by providing insight about your topic for both the developed and developing world;
- Make specific reference to what you have learned from the concepts found in the articles “Doublespeak”,
“Manufacturing of Consent”, and the introduction from The Assault on Reason;
- For Topic #1 make reference to the film Flow and for Topic #2 make reference to the film Lions for Lambs.
- Make sure to provide in-text citations and a reference list (bibliography) for your sources of information
according to APA guidelines!
Format – For Final Good Copy of Essay ONLY (the rest should be hand-written!):
□ - APA style (see guidelines on ClassNet)
□ - Header with student name, course code, teacher name, due date in upper left corner of first page, (separate title
page not necessary!)
□ – 11 or 12 size font
□ - Arial or Times New Roman
□ - Double spaced
□ - Effective, Specific and Attention Grabbing Title
□ - 4 pages in length
□ - Use of Objective (Formal) Voice (no personal pronouns!)
Class Resources
Articles:
1.) “Doublespeak”:
Class Article by Chantal Kot adapted from:
Author: Michele Damron
Website: http://www.damronplanet.com/
Published: 1998
Accessed: February 8, 2009
2.) “Manufacturing of Consent”
- An excerpt adapted by Chantal Kot from:
Book: Manufacturing Consent
Authors: Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Published: 1988
3.) Intro to The Assault on Reason:
Author: Al Gore
Date of Publication: 2007
Place of Publication: New York
Publisher: Penguin Books
Introduction
Page Ranges: 1-22
Films:
1.) Film Title: Lions for Lambs
Director and Producer: Robert Redford
Year of Publication: 2007
Production Companies: United Artists Production and Twentieth Century Fox
Place of copyright: Beverly Hills, California
Recording type: DVD
2.) Film Title: Flow
Director and Producer: Irena Salina
Year of Publication: 2008
Production Companies: Mongrel Media
Place of copyright: Canada
Recording type: DVD
Name: _______________________________
Criteria
K/U: Student
demonstrates an
understanding of the
scope of the essay
topic and reflects a
thorough
understanding of the
concepts studied in
the course resources
identified in the essay
topic
T/I: Student is able to
make effective
connections between
the quote chosen and
how it relates to their
essay topic argument
perspective.
Response to the
essay question
reveals their ability to
use thinking and
inquiry processes to
address one of two
world issues as
describe in the essay
topics
Student completed an
effective essay outline
and thesis,
C: Student is able to
communicate their
ideas clearly,
succinctly and with
expected level of
achievement for
grammar, sentence
structure, mechanics
and essay format and
style, accurately
employing APA
guidelines for in-text
citations and
reference page.
Student shows
evidence of
proofreading and
editing of a rough
copy of their essay.
In-text citations used
effectively and
included an
appropriately
formatted reference
list
A: Student makes
clear, logical and
accurate references to
class resources
identified in the essay
topic.
K/U: ____
Comments:
I
RR
R+
Student does not
demonstrate even a
limited understanding of
the scope of the essay
topic. Understanding of
concepts taught in class
is very limited and does
not meet even basic
expectations.
Student demonstrates
very limited critical
thinking and inquiry in
addressing the essay
question effectively.
Student was unable to
address the various
aspects of the essay
topic. Student did not
meet even basic
expectations.
Essay outline is
incomplete, insufficient
in effort and little
attempt was made at
developing an effective
thesis.
Student demonstrates
very limited ability to
communicate
effectively. Student did
not meet even basic
expectations.
Little to no evidence of
proofreading and editing
of rough copy of essay
and thesis
In-text citations are not
included, many errors in
formatting of reference
list
Student makes
insufficient reference to
the resources listed in
essay topic with little to
no effectiveness and
accuracy
T/I: ____
Rubric: Argumentative In-Class Essay
11
1+
Student
demonstrates a
limited
understanding of
the scope of the
essay topic.
Understanding of
concepts taught in
class is limited and
meets a basic level
of expectations.
Student
demonstrates
limited critical
thinking and inquiry
in addressing the
essay question
effectively. Student
was able to address
the various aspects
of the essay topic to
a limited degree.
Student meets a
basic level of
expectations.
Essay outline is
vague and not very
specific attempt at
developing a thesis
was made.
Student
demonstrates
limited ability to
communicate
effectively. Student
meets basic
expectations.
Proofreading and
editing is limited
and not very
effective in
improving the essay
and thesis
In-text citations are
minimally effective,
several errors in
formatting of
reference list
Student makes
reference to a few
of the resources
listed in essay topic
with little
effectiveness and
accuracy
C: ____
Date: _______________
22
2+
Student
demonstrates some
understanding of
the scope of the
essay topic.
Understanding of
concepts taught in
class is adequate
and meets most
expectations.
33
3+
Student
demonstrates a
good understanding
of the scope of the
essay topic.
Understanding of
concepts taught in
class is good and
meets the
expectations.
Student
demonstrates
some evidence of
critical thinking and
inquiry in
addressing the
essay question
effectively. Student
was able to address
some of the various
aspects of the
essay topic to an
adequate degree.
Student meets
some level of
expectations.
Student
demonstrates
evidence of critical
thinking and inquiry
in addressing the
essay question
effectively. Student
was able to address
all of the various
aspects of the
essay topic to an
effective degree.
Student meets the
level of
expectations.
Essay outline is
somewhat effective
and evidence of
thesis development
is noticeable.
Student
demonstrates some
ability to
communicate
effectively. Student
meets some
expectations.
Proofreading and
editing is somewhat
evident, some work
towards improving
the essay and
thesis has been
made.
In-text citations are
somewhat effective,
some errors in
formatting of
reference list
Student makes
reference to most
resources listed in
essay topic with
some effectiveness
and accuracy
A: ____
Essay outline is
effective and thesis
is developed.
44
4+
Student
demonstrates an
excellent
understanding of the
scope of the essay
topic. Understanding
of concepts taught in
class is very
thorough and
exceeds all
expectations.
Student
demonstrates
ample evidence of
critical thinking and
inquiry in addressing
the essay question
very effectively.
Student was able to
address all of the
various aspects of
the essay topic to a
high degree. Student
surpasses the level
of expectations.
Essay outline is very
effective and thesis is
well developed
Student
demonstrates
expected ability to
communicate
effectively. Student
meets the
expectations.
Student
demonstrates
exceptional ability to
communicate very
effectively. Student
exceeded the
expectations.
Proofreading and
editing is clearly
evident and
improvements are
noticeable.
Proofreading and
editing is clearly
evident and
effectively works at
improving the essay
and thesis.
In-text citations are
effective, few errors
in formatting of
reference list
Student makes
effective references
to most resources
in essay topic with
insight and
accuracy
In-text citations are
very effective, no
errors in formatting of
reference list
Student makes very
effective references
to all resources in
essay topic with
insight and accuracy