Purpose: Argue about a topic.
Audience: Anyone in the course.
Voice: Mostly third person, although first person is appropriate for personal opinion and point of view.
Format:
The essay should include an introductory paragraph (or two) that hooks your readers interest; a clear thesis statement that states what your topic and central idea are; at least three central points identified with topic sentences that identify the main point for each paragraph; support in the form of personal experience, examples, hypothetical situations, and outside research that includes summaries, paraphrases, and quotations properly cited in MLA format; and a conclusion that brings the essay to a satisfactory close.
Requirements:
The essay should be 1300-1600 words (4-5 pages) in length, typed, double-spaced, in MLA format. You must have three (3)-six (6) outside sources (other than your own examples or observations), taken from books, periodicals, scholarly journals, interviews, surveys, and other forms of field research. One of these sources must be a scholarly/peer-reviwed article or from a scholarly book (a university press publisher, for example); this requirement is to encourage you to become aware of and make use of scholarly materials. Make sure to document any quotes, paraphrases, summaries or other research by including in-text citation of your sources and create a Works Cited page, listing all sources used, at the end of the document according to MLA format. The essay should also include a point of concession to the opposing point of view; it may also include a counterargument/refutation to the opposing point of view.
Grading Criteria
The essay will be graded on the inclusion of 1) a strong thesis that asserts your opinion; 2) clear organization (including the use of topic sentences); 3) effective support of your argument, especially using research including a scholarly/peer-reviewed article; 4) a point of concession; 5) clear and effective logic used to develop the argument; and 5) the successful use of MLA format for in-text and end-text citation (Works Cited page), as well as 6) grammar, punctuation, and successful editing and proofreading.