Civil Rights Argumentative Essay
Prompt
Draw evidence from informational texts/videos to support analysis, reflection, and research on
the Civil Rights Movement. Use information from at least 4 sources.
Make a claim. For example:
 The voice of the people enough to make a change in society.

The journey for equality in the United States is still in progress.
Requirements
 Use at least 4 sources.
 Write at least 1 paragraph for each source and at least 2 pages total.
 Use MLA format.
 Include a Works Cited page.
Prewriting
Complete the graphic organizer in order to document your evidence.
Ag
ood way to start is to think about the plight of African Americans during the Civil Rights
Movement. What struggles or injustices did they face? Check your notes from class. Highlight or
underline the best examples.
Now, stop and think about the results of the struggles. Were the results positive or negative?
Arrange your results in a logical order. Circle three results that support your argument.
Drafting
You should begin your paper with an introductory paragraph that provides some background
information about the Civil Rights Movement and that identifies your position on the prompt.
Use your notes about the results and on the graphic organizer help you get started.
The body of your essay should contain evidence from the informational text and videos that you
gathered during your research. Take each point that you jotted down during your prewriting and
make each one into a topic sentence for a paragraph in the body of your essay. Fill out each
paragraph by explaining how this point will help you prove your position.
Write a paragraph in which you conclude how the voice of the people is or is not enough to make
a change in society OR how the racism of today is less, more, or equal to the racism during the
Civil Rights Movement.
Proofreading
When you finish the rough draft of your essay, ask a peer to read it. He/she should write
comments on the draft about what he/she liked best about your work and ways in which your
essay could be improved. Reread your essay considering your peer’s comments and make the
corrections that you think are necessary. Do a final proofreading of your paper double-checking
your grammar, spelling, organization, and the clarity of your ideas.
NAME________________________________ PERIOD ___________ DATE__________________
RESEARCH PROJECT—ARGUMENTATIVE PAPER SCORING GUIDE
______ (10) INTRODUCTION
o Background information
o Claim/Position/Thesis
______ (15) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #1
o Set-up Evidence
o State Evidence (Include the source!)
o Tie-in Evidence
______ (15) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #2
o Set-up Evidence
o State Evidence (Include the source!)
o Tie-in Evidence
______ (15) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #3
o Set-up Evidence
o State Evidence (Include the source!)
o Tie-in Evidence
______ (15) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH #4
o Set-up Evidence
o State Evidence (Include the source!)
o Tie-in Evidence
______ (10) CONCLUSION
o Restate your paper’s overall claim and supporting evidence.
o Include a “so what”—tell readers why we should care about your paper.
______ (10) WORKS CITED PAGE
o Header with Last Name and Page #
o ‘Works Cited’ centered
o Alphabetical order of entries
o Hanging indent for the second line of any entry
o Double spacing (no extra spaces)
o Entries need to be complete!
______ (10) MLA FORMAT
o Header with Last Name and Page #
o Times New Roman, 12-point font
o Double spacing
o Heading with your name, my name, class, and date
o Title of paper centered
o Paragraphs indented
______ (100) TOTAL