Assignment: Argument Process Essay (80 points)
Due Date: _________________
Assignment: Your assignment is to write an argumentative essay about a topic of national or international
importance. An argument incorporates ethos, logos, pathos, and counterargument / concession / refutation. You
will certainly need to think about voice and style for this essay. First, use a strong, assertive voice. If your voice
is that of a doubter (you're not really sure you're right but you'll toss in the information anyway) or a wimp
(you'll back off when the argument gets hot), your opponents will recognize right away that they have an easy
victory. In a physical battle, posture tells a lot about the combatants. Your posture, shown through your voice
and diction, will tell a lot about how serious you are.
Topic: ____________________________________________________________________________
Audience: For what kind of reader are you writing the paper? Your teacher? Classmates? The general public?
It matters, because different audiences call for different approaches, for different amounts of background
information and detail to be provided, and the like. If in doubt, ask your teachers about who you should consider
your target audience to be.
Purpose: To convince your audience you are right.
Form: For this argumentative you will write a multi-paragraph, 4-5 page essay using the classical argument
structure: 1) introduction, 2) narration, 3) confirmation, 4) refutation and concession, and 5) conclusion. Even
though there are five components, that does not mean you will have only five paragraphs.
The introduction has three jobs: to capture your audience’s interest, establish their perception of you as a writer, and set
out your point of view for the argument. These multiple roles require careful planning on your part. You might capture
interest by using a focusing anecdote or quotation, a shocking statistic, or by restating a problem or controversy in a new
way. You could also begin with an analogy or parallel case, a personal statement, or (if you genuinely believe your
audience will agree with you) a bold statement of your thesis. The language choices you use will convey a great deal about
your image to your audience.
In the narration you want to establish a context for your argument. This means that you need to explain the situation to
which your argument is responding, as well as any relevant background information, history, statistics, and so on that affect
it. Once again, the language with which you describe this background will give the audience a picture of you, so choose it
carefully. By the end of this chunk, the readers should understand what’s at stake in this argument–the issues and
alternatives the community faces–so that they can evaluate your claims fairly.
The confirmation section allows you to explain why you believe in your thesis. It takes up several supporting claims
individually, so that you can develop each one by bringing in facts, examples, testimony, definitions, and so on. It’s
important that you explain why the evidence for each claim supports it and the larger thesis; this builds a chain of reasoning
in support of your argument.
The refutation and concession is sometimes a hard section for writers to develop–who wants to think of the reasons why
an argument won’t work? But this can often be the strongest part of an argument, for when you show an audience that you
have anticipated potential opposition and objections, and have an answer for them, you defuse the audience’s ability to
oppose you and persuade them to accept your point of view. If there are places where you agree with your opposition,
conceding their points creates goodwill and respect without weakening your thesis.
It’s tempting in the conclusion just to restate the claims and thesis, but this doesn’t give a sense of momentum or closure to
your argument. Instead, try to harken back to the narration and the issues–remind your readers what’s at stake here, and try
to show why your thesis provides the best solution to the issue being faced. This gives an impression of the rightness and
importance of your argument, and suggests its larger significance or long-range impact. More importantly, it gives the
readers a psychological sense of closure–the argument winds up instead of breaking off.
Research:
Because you are probably not an expert on your topic, you will have to read various sources to
gather information to use as your support. Be sure to correctly cite this information in your
essay (see your stylebook for help).
FCAs:
1. One correct use of 4 different rhetorical devices (20 pts)
2. Sentence Variety (various lengths; no more than 3 of the same type of sentence in a row) and
Vivid Verbs (a conscious effort to reduce “to be” verbs) (10 pts)
No Excuses: Use semicolons, colons, and dashes correctly; No unnecessary passive voice
Rubric:
FOCUS
CONTENT
and DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION
STYLE
CONVENTIONS
There is evidence of careful editing
since the essay contains few
grammatical and/or mechanical errors
and, if necessary, is correctly
documented using MLA format.
The essay shows evidence of editing
since there are relatively few
grammatical and/or mechanical
errors. If necessary, it properly
documents sources.
10
This essay tackles the topic in
an innovative way--with a
clear sense of audience and
purpose--and has an insightful
thesis.
Each section of the essay develops
the thesis with logical arguments
and specific, conclusive evidence
which has been interpreted and
clearly related to the writer's
point.
There is appropriate and
effective organization, and the
structure is carefully planned.
The style is energetic and
precise, the sentence structure
is varied, and the words are
carefully chosen. How the
writer says things is as
excellent as what the writer
says.
8
Like the "A" paper, it has a
clear thesis and organizational
strategy, but the thesis may
not be as interesting or
insightful.
Each paragraph provides unified,
coherent, and developed support
for its thesis, but the support may
not be uniformly conclusive and
convincing.
While the essay takes some
"risks" and attempts complex
strategies of development,
there may be weaknesses in
organizational strategy or its
execution.
The style shows thought and
promise, the sentence
structure is somewhat varied,
and the word choice is
common to grade level.
7
The essay has a thesis and
organizational plan which
demonstrates thought on the
writer's part and awareness of
audience, but the thesis may
be too general.
Paragraphs contribute to unified
and coherent support, but the
evidence may be predictable, may
not be thoroughly interpreted, or
may not be clearly related to the
writer's point.
Though there is an
organizational plan which
demonstrate thought on the
writer's part, the paragraphs
may be uneven in
development and transition.
6
The essay may have a general
or implied thesis, but the idea
may be too broad, vague, or
obvious. Awareness of
audience may not be evident.
Evidence may be too general,
missing, not interpreted, irrelevant
to the thesis, or inappropriately
repetitive.
The essay may be an attempt
to meet the requirements of
the assignment, but it may
have no apparent thesis or a
self-contradictory one, or the
essay's point is so general or
obvious as to suggest little
thinking-through of the topic.
The essay may lack development;
evidence may be inappropriate
and/or off-topic or may consist of
generalizations, faulty
assumptions, or errors of fact.
5
The style is basic and
unsophisticated, the sentence
structure is simple, and the
word choice is limited.
Though the student has done some
editing, grammatical and mechanical
errors may still exist. If necessary, it
adequately documents sources.
The organizational plan may
be inappropriate or
inconsistently carried out.
The style may be
compromised by repetitive or
flawed sentence patterns
and/or inappropriate diction
and confusing syntax.
Grammatical and mechanical errors
may interfere with readability and
indicate a less-than-adequate attempt
at editing or unfamiliarity with some
aspects of Standard Written English.
The essay may fail to responsibly
document borrowed material.
The essay may display little
or no apparent sense of
organization.
The style suggests serious
difficulties with fluency,
which may be revealed in
short, simple sentences and
ineffective diction.
Grammatical/mechanical errors may
interfere with reader comprehension
or indicate problems with basic
literacy or a lack of understanding of
Standard English usage. The essay
may fail to responsibly document
borrowed material.
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Marriage is not necessary for a stable society.
The war on terror has contributed to the growing abuse of human rights.
High school graduates should take a year off before entering college.
All citizens should be required by law to vote.
All forms of government welfare should be abolished.
Both parents should assume equal responsibility in raising a child.
Americans should have more holidays and longer vacations.
The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal.
People have become overly dependent on technology.
Censorship is sometimes justified.
Privacy is not the most important right.
Drunk drivers should be imprisoned on the first offense.
Government and military personnel should have the right to strike.
The solution to the impending crisis in Social Security is the immediate elimination of this anachronistic
government program.
The primary mission of colleges and universities should be preparing students for the workforce.
Financial incentives should be offered to high school students who perform well on standardized tests.
All students in high school and college should be required to take at least two years of a foreign language.
College students in the U.S. should be offered financial incentives to graduate in three years rather than four.
To encourage healthy eating, higher taxes should be imposed on soft drinks and junk food.
To conserve fuel and save lives, the 55 miles-per-hour national speed limit should be restored.
All citizens under the age of 21 should be required to pass a driving education course before receiving a license
to drive.
Zoos are internment camps for animals and should be shut down.
People who contribute to Social Security should have the right to choose how their money is invested.
Professional baseball players convicted of using performance-enhancing drugs should not be considered for
induction into the Hall of Fame.
Any citizen who does not have a criminal record should be permitted to carry a concealed weapon.
Though texting is a valuable way of communicating, some people spend too much time sending messages by
phone instead of interacting with others face to face.
When the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act was put into practice in 2010, it limited
the ability of anyone under age 21 to qualify for a credit card. Explain why you support or oppose the restrictions
that have been placed on students' access to credit cards.
Most of the so-called "reality programs" on television are highly artificial and bear little resemblance to real life.
Drawing on one or more specific programs for your examples, explain why you agree or disagree with this
observation.
Because electric cars are costly and don't do enough to protect the environment, the government
Explain why you do or not favor the enforcement of a mandatory retirement age so that more job opportunities
can be created for young people.
Many states now require proof of U.S. citizenship before admitting a student to a public college or university.
Explain why you support or oppose this requirement.
Rather than lay off workers in bad economic times, some companies have chosen to reduce the length of the
work week (while also reducing pay) for all employees. Explain why you support or oppose a shorter work week.
The introduction of new digital technologies has radically altered people's reading habits over the past 25 years.
In light of this change, explain why students should or should not be required to read lengthy textbooks and
novels in their classes.
To reduce unemployment among young people, legislation has been introduced to repeal all minimum-wage
laws. Explain why you support or oppose such legislation.
There have recently been movements to boycott products imported from countries that tolerate the exploitation
of underage workers. Using specific examples, explain why you support or oppose such boycotts.
Persuade the nations of the world to legislate against—and prosecute—evidence of human trafficking.