Bowie State University Department of Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies

English 101 Spring 2022

Assignment Sheet for Argumentative Essay

Academic argumentative essays take a position on a topic and then argues for it in ways that accounts for opposing
positions. These arguments must also be backed up by outside research and evidence. In formulating argumentative essays
for academic contexts, a writer must communicate that other sides are considered carefully.

Purpose: The writer of academic argumentative essays takes a position on a point that accounts for multiple aspects of
the topic. The goal is to help the reader understand your thinking so that they can help you grow as an
academic. To this end, your essay should have a clear thesis, implicit or explicit, depending on the prompt.
For this assignment you will follows the format and prompt assigned by your instructor.

Format: This will be a 7-paragraph essay. It must contain a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and
follow the MLA guidelines. This means that your essay should make use of topic sentences and
connectors/conjunctions/transitions for your body paragraphs. Such formatting is the foundation of
effective communication in writing in the classroom.

You must also include a paragraph of an opposition position and a paragraph refuting that opposing
position. These points must all be backed up by evidence and so it is crucial that you do external research
and use appropriate citations. This essay must include a Work Cited page and use MLA citation for
attributing evidence.

Audience: This essay will target a scholarly audience. Therefore, your language and style should meet the intellectual
needs of individuals who read on a collegiate level and pique their interests.

Stance/role: What attitude and information (about yourself as a student) will you convey through the essay? Think about
what you want to communicate to the reader (i.e., the professor) and convey your stance throughout your
essay. Careful wording and sentences will communicate your stance as a serious student, someone who
pays attention to details.

Use of evidence and reasoned arguments will also communicate your effort on the assignment similarly.
Therefore, you need to develop your writing using evidence from the text and lay out your analysis in a
reasoned manner.

Instructions: 1. Brainstorm your ideas and do research on the topic

1. Compose an annotated bibliography of four sources and draft an essay on one of the prompts below
2. Submit the annotated bibliography and research materials to develop essay further
4. Peer review the essay with your classmates (or take it to the SVWC for tutoring help or use the
Smarthinking resource on Blackboard)
5. Revise the draft to address their feedback.

Directions:
1. Brainstorm and outline: Before choosing your topic, you should consider what you want to write about. Once you have
chosen your topic, you should decide where you stand on the issue.

2. Writing: Present your points in a way that convinces the reader that your analysis is valid. Remember, this essay should
have a specific, detailed, thesis statement. It should use topic sentences to anchor each paragraph and evidenced-based
exposition to layout the point and communicate your thinking to your reader/instructor.

3. Reviewing and editing: You will draft an essay for peer review. To proceed with this process, you must initially do a
review in class using the peer review sheets provided and through the Smith Vidal Literacy and Language Center.

4. Finishing up and reflecting on the process: You will, finally, edit your essay based on the feedback and reflect on your
writing process (refer to the “An Essay In Three Drafts”.)
 Rubric for Argumentative Essays – English 101 (Final Grade= Sum of Points in Each Section)
Grade Rubric Thesis Organization Content Logic & Reasoning Expression & Mechanics
(in 10s)
20-17 points There is a well- The essay’s organization and The essay’s content is superior in The essay is sophisticated; it Sentence structure and word
(Superior) focused Thesis articulation of thesis is superior. its treatment of the topic, promotes critical thinking, choice are clear and
Statement that Paragraphs are coherent and unified. rhetorical concepts, and displays sound logic and appropriate for the intended
introduces the Paragraphs use topic sentences, prompt. reasoning, and dispels audience. The essay
essay and clearly effective details and examples or It provides a coherent opposing rudimentary or simplistic demonstrates mastery in
addresses all supportive ideas. Paragraphs also position (or positions) and refutes understanding. grammar and mechanics.
elements of the contains effective transitions that them well. The essay does not contain
writing prompt control the flow of the essay. mechanical errors.
16-15 points The essay has a The essay is well organized and The essay’s content is appropriate The essay mostly promotes Sentence structure and word
(Proficient) thesis that connects to the thesis. The paragraphs in its treatment of the topic, critical thinking, ideas logic and choice are clear and address
adequately display coherence. Paragraphs use rhetorical concepts, and prompt. reasoning appropriately. an appropriate audience.
addressing the topic sentences, effective details and It provides a coherent opposing Examples support the claims The essay demonstrates
writing prompt. examples or supportive ideas. position (or positions) and refutes and the topic shows evidence of control over grammar and
Paragraphs also uses transitions to them well. some research. mechanics. The essay does
control the flow of the essay. not contain major
mechanical errors.
14-13 points The essay The essay is competently organized. The essay’s content addresses the The essay mostly promotes Sentence structure and word
(Competent) somewhat does The paragraphs are somewhat coherent topic, rhetorical critical thinking, ideas logic and choice are somewhat clear
have a thesis or unified. Paragraphs use topic concepts, and prompt reasoning competently. and addresses an audience
statement that sentences, effective details and competently. It does provide an Examples support the claims competently. The essay
only partially examples or supportive ideas opposing position (or positions) and the topic shows evidence of demonstrates some control
addresses the competently. Paragraphs also tries to and refutation, though /both needs some research, though these over grammar and
prompt. use transitions. improvement. could all be done better. mechanics. The essay also
contains few
mechanical errors.
12-11 points The essay The essay is disorganized. The The essay’s content is inadequate The ideas are illogical or are not Sentence structure and
(Inadequate) contains a thesis paragraphs are incoherent and lack and does not address the topic, adequately developed. The diction are not clear and do
that does not unity. Paragraphs do not use topic rhetorical concepts, or essay displays rudimentary or not fully address an intended
adequately sentences, details, and examples or prompt. It does not provide an simplistic ideas. Examples do audience.
address supporting ideas adequately. There is opposing position or refutation. not support the claims or need The essay displays a lack of
the prompt. no use of transitions. more specific development. control over grammar and
mechanics and contains
numerous mechanical errors.
10 – 0 points The essay does The essay is extremely disorganized. The essay’s content is off topic The ideas are illogical and Sentence structure diction,
(Unsatisfactor not contain a The essay contains incoherent and does not address the prompt undeveloped. The essay does word choice, and tone
y) thesis addressing paragraphs and lacks any satisfactory satisfactory. not display analytical or critical consistently detract from the
the prompt. use of details, transitions, or examples. thinking skills. readability of the essay. The
essay displays little control
over mechanics.
 Argumentative Essay Prompts

Instructions:

1. Senator Barack Obama delivered on March 18, 2008, in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his speech, A More Perfect Union.
He was in the midst of campaigning against Hillary Clinton and
other Democratic Party candidates for their party’s presidential
nomination. In his speech, he mentions the institution of slavery
as “sin.” Write a 7-paragraph essay that argues for or
against the point that slavery is responsible for how it
shaped and how we understand the United States. Make
use of Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union” and 3
outside sources to support your argument.

2. On March 18, 2008, Senator Barack Obama, a candidate for

president, gave a speech entitled “A More Perfect Union” at the
National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In
his speech, Sen. Obama called for a national conversation on
race relations in the United States and throughout the world.
The title of the speech, A More Perfect Union, was taken from a
line in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. Write a 7-
paragraph essay that argues for or against the idea that
there is a need in this nation for a national conversation
on race relations. Make use of Obama’s speech A More
Perfect Union and 3 outside sources to support your
argument.
3. Senator Barack Obama maintains that by moving beyond
America’s “racial stalemate” and addressing shared social
problems which are consequences of the past, we could achieve
“a more perfect union.” Write a 7-paragraph essay that
argues for or against Senator Obama’s position. Make use
of Obama’s speech and 3 outside sources to support your
position.

4. Senator Barack Obama used historical references, personal

stories, and language devices to make his speech successful.
Write a 7-paragraph essay that argues for or against that
the use of historical references, personal stories and
language devices made his speech successful with the
 American people. Make use of Obama’s speech and 3
outside sources to support your position.

Due Dates:
 complete Deliverables for Module 7.
o Outline (4/24)
o Annotated Bibliography (4/27)
o Rough Draft (4/29)
o Peer Review (5/6)
o Final Draft (5/8)