Reform Movement Persuasive Essay
This assignment will count as a grade in both Language Arts and Social Studies.
Your Task:
Choose one of the Reform Movements of the 1800’s - Temperance Movement, Prison Reform,
Education Reform, Abolitionism, Women’s Rights - and write a persuasive essay about that
movement. In the essay you will try to convince others to agree with your facts, share your values,
accept your argument and conclusions, and adopt your way of thinking.
To do this you will need to research your topic using books and websites (some research time will be
provided in class, but expect to do some research on your own.
Requirements:
A minimum of three research resources is required and a bibliography is to be written in MLA format.
Your paper must have at least 5 paragraphs, with a minimum of 5 – 8 sentences each, and must include
all the requirements of good writing - begin with a topic paragraph and end with a summary paragraph,
in each paragraph include a topic sentence, transitions, and summary sentence, After you have finished
writing your essay, be certain to read, the re-read it for flow and ease of reading and edit for proper
capitalization, punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc.
Tips for Success:
Elements of a good persuasive essay includes:
Establishing facts to support an argument
Clarifying relevant values for your audience (perspective)
Prioritizing, editing, and/or sequencing the facts and values in importance to build the
argument
Forming and stating conclusions
"Persuading" your audience that your conclusions are based upon the facts and shared
values
Having the confidence to communicate your "persuasion" in writing
Your first paragraph should:
Introduce the topic
Inform the reader of your point of view!
Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper!
Focus on three main points to develop
Your body paragraphs should:
Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph
Keep your voice active
Quote sources to establish authority
Stay focused on your point of view throughout the essay
Focus on logical arguments
Don't lapse into summary in the development--wait for the conclusion
Your final paragraph should:
Summarize, then conclude, your argument
Refer to the first paragraph/opening statement as well as the main points - does the
conclusion restate the main ideas? Reflect the succession and importance of the
arguments? Logically conclude their development?
Reform Movement Persuasive Essay Rubric
Choose one of the Reform Movements of the 1800’s - Temperance Movement, Prison Reform, Education
Reform, Abolitionism, Women’s Rights - and write a persuasive essay about that movement. In the essay you
will try to convince others to agree with your facts, share your values, accept your argument and conclusions, and
adopt your way of thinking.
Excellent
(3)
Structure
Thesis Statement
Detail
Transitions
Work Cited
Developing
(2)
Needs Improvement (1)
• essay is
complete
• 5 paragraphs
in length
• 5 – 8 sentences
in each paragraph
• essay is almost
complete
• 3-4
paragraphs
in length
• 4 sentences in
each paragraph
• essay is not
complete
• 1-2 paragraphs
in length
• 3 sentences in
each paragraph
• thesis statement
presents specific
issue and writers
point of view
• thesis statement
presents the
issue and writers
point of view but is
somewhat vague
• thesis statement
hints at an issue but
is unclear and omits
a point of view
• persuasive
evidence supports
each reason for
the opinion and
reflects a
consistent point of
view
• provides some
detailed background
information
• most details are
accurate, relevant
and help to clarify
the thesis
• Use of a variety of
transitional
strategies
logical progression
of ideas from
beginning to end
• Adequate use of
transitional
strategies; some
variety
• Adequate
progression of ideas
from beginning to
end
• provides little
detailed background
information
• details are
inaccurate,
irrelevant
or do not clarify
the thesis
• Inconsistent use of
transitional
strategies;
• Little variety;
uneven progression
of ideas from
beginning to end
• At least 3
resources
are used
• Resources are
properly cited in
MLA format.
• 2 resources are
used and are
properly
cited in MLA
format
• Resources are
not properly cited
in MLA format.
• 1 resource is
used and is
properly cited
in MLA format
• 1 - 2 resources
are used but not
properly cited in
MLA format.
Points
(X2)
(X2)
(X3)
(X2)
(X2)
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