Amendment Argument Essay
Name _____________________________________ Date __________ Period _______
Question to Answer:
Which amendment would you like to see added to the United States Constitution? Why?
Important Steps to Successful Essay Completion
1. Pre-write - a web is attached to the back to get you thinking about what you will be writing about.
2. Write – Get your words on the paper. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, but good content should
be your goal.
3. Edit – This is a multi – step approach.
a. Check for spelling
b. Check for paragraph structure
c. Check for sentence structure
d. Check for overall flow and that it makes sense
e. Have someone else read your work especially if you struggle with writing or spelling.
f. Put it down and read it later to see if it says what you want it to
Grading Rubric
 Pre-writing = 5 points
0 points
1 point
no attempt at a pre- minimal attempt at a
write strategy
pre-write strategy

5 points
detailed pre-write
strategy
Content = 10 points total
2 point
No clear
content or
unable to stick
to a position

3 points completed
all parts of a prewrite strategy
4 points
Limited content
and struggled to
define your
position
Grammar / Spelling = 5 points
1 point
9 or more
2 points
spelling or
8 or less
grammar
spelling or
mistakes /
grammar
unreadable
mistakes
6 points
Clear position
but lacked
support for
your position
8 points
Clear position
with moderate
support and
identified
opposing views
10 points
Clear position
with ample
support and
argument
against
opposing views
3 points
7 or less
spelling or
grammar
mistakes
4 points
5 or less
spelling or
grammar
mistakes
5 points
3 or less
spelling or
grammar
mistakes
Pre-writing Strategy
Identify Amendment:
Goal of the new
amendment
One to two sentences
that state the reason this
amendment is important
Explain your first reason why you chose the amendment that you did.
Explain your first reason why you chose the amendment that you did.
Explain your first reason why you chose the amendment that you did.
Identify Amendment:
What was the purpose
of proposing this new
amendment?
Summarize your argument