UNIT 4 — TOUCHSTONE 4: Argumentative

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counted toward your final course score.

Touchstone 4: Argumentative Essay

ASSIGNMENT: Write a 4-6 page (approximately 1000-1500 word) argumentative essay using the
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 classical model supported by evidence and research.

Sample Argumentative Essay In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly
written specifically for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one
attempt to redo the Touchstone.

A. Instructions

Remember the word “argument” does not mean a fight in a writing context. An academic argument is more
like a thoughtful conversation between two people with differing viewpoints on a debatable issue.
However, you are required to take a position on one side of the issue.

In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this
course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the
touchstone.

Your submission must include an APA style reference page following the essay. In your research, you will
need 2-4 credible primary or secondary sources to use as support in your essay.

On a separate page, below your reference page, include thoughtful answers to the Think About Your
Writing questions. References and Think About Your Writing questions are NOT included in the word
count for this essay.

B. Think About Your Writing

Below your reference page, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.

1. What have you learned about how to present a strong argument? How could/will you apply this
knowledge in your professional or everyday life (3-4 sentences)? Sophia says: Think about the specific
skills and techniques that you used while developing and writing your essay. What tools will you take with
you from this experience?

2. Consider the English Composition I course as a whole. What have you learned about yourself as a
writer (5-6 sentences)? Sophia says: What did you learn that surprised you? Is there anything that you
have struggled with in the past that you now feel more confident about?

C. Argumentative Essay Guidelines

Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your research essay until it
meets these guidelines.

Argumentative Topic and Thesis Statement

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 ❒ Have you included a thesis that takes a clear, specific position on one side of a debatable issue?

Argument Development

❒ Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?

❒ Is the argument supported using rhetorical appeals and source material?
❒ Is your essay 4-6 pages (approximately 1000-1500 words)? If not, which details do you need to add or
delete?

Research

❒ Have you cited outside sources effectively using quotation, summary, or paraphrase?
❒ Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the
source information?
❒ Have you referenced a range of 2-4 credible sources?
❒ Have you included an APA style reference page below your essay?

Organization and Flow

❒ Is there an introduction, conclusion, adequate body paragraphs, and a counterargument?

❒ Is the argument presented in a logical order and easy for the reader to follow?
❒ Are there transitions within and between paragraphs?

Style

❒ Are the word choices accurate and effective?

❒ Are the sentence structures varied?

Conventions and Formatting

❒ Have you properly cited your sources according to APA style guidelines?
❒ Have you double-checked for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, and capitalization?
❒ Have you proofread for typos?

Before You Submit

❒ Have you answered all of the Think About Your Writing questions on a separate page below your
reference page? Are your answers thoughtful and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all
responses?
❒ Does your submission include your essay, followed by your reference page, followed by your Think
About Your Writing questions?
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 D. Rubric

Needs Non-
Advanced (90- Proficient (80- Acceptable
Improvement Performance
100%) 89%) (70-79%)
(50-69%) (0-49%)
Includes an Includes an
Does not
argumentative argumentative
Argumentative Includes an Includes an thesis that thesis on a
include a
argumentative thesis,
Topic and argumentative takes a clear debatable
thesis that takes a includes a
Thesis well-articulated,
thesis that takes a position on topic;
thesis that
Statement clear, specific one side of a however, it
clear, specific does not take
position on one side debatable lacks
position on one side a position,
Take a clear of a debatable issue; specificity
of a debatable and/or the
position on a issue. however, it and/or does
issue. topic is not
debatable topic. lacks not take a
debatable.
specificity. clear position.
Details are
predominantly
relevant and
generally
support the
Details are
argument,
often
Details are highly though some
irrelevant and
relevant and clearly details may be
frequently
support the Details are relevant irrelevant Details are
Argument distract from
argument of the and support the and/or irrelevant and
the argument
Development essay. Argument is argument of the distracting.
of the essay.
distract from
and Support thoroughly essay. Argument is Argument is
Argument is
the argument.
developed; the well developed; the not fully Argument is
poorly
Have a clear argument is argument is developed; the not developed
developed;
argument on a consistently and supported using argument is and/or the
there is little
debatable topic effectively rhetorical appeals supported by composition is
evidence of
and sufficient supported using and source rhetorical not
rhetorical
support rhetorical appeals material. appeals and argumentative.
appeals and/or
and source source
source
material. material;
material
however,
support.
some aspects
of the
argument or
support are
neglected.
Includes most
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 Includes all of the of the required Lacks several
required Includes all of the components of or all of the
components of an required an components of
argumentative components of an argumentative an
research paper, argumentative research paper, argumentative
including an research paper, but is lacking research
introduction with including an Includes two paper.
relevant and introduction with nearly all of components. Sequences
engaging background the required Sequences ideas and
Organization background information, an components ideas and paragraphs
information and an argumentative of an paragraphs such that the
Exhibit competent argumentative thesis, an adequate argumentative such that the connections
organization and thesis, an adequate number of body research connections between ideas
writing number of body paragraphs each paper; between ideas (within and
techniques. paragraphs each with a topic however, one (within and between
with a topic sentence, a body component is between paragraphs)
sentence, a body paragraph missing. paragraphs) are often
paragraph addressing are sometimes unclear and
addressing counterargument(s), unclear and the reader has
counterargument(s), and a conclusion the reader may difficulty
and a conclusion with a concluding have difficulty following the
with a concluding statement. following the progression of
statement. progression of the argument.
the argument.
Primarily
sequences
ideas and The
Sequences ideas
Sequences ideas paragraphs progression of The
and paragraphs
and paragraphs logically and ideas is often progression of
logically and uses
logically and uses uses sufficient difficult to ideas is
smooth transitions
Flow (within and
transitions (within transitions follow, due to consistently
and between (within and poor difficult to
between
Establish and paragraphs) such between sequencing, follow, due to
paragraphs) such
maintain a logical that the reader can paragraphs) ineffective poor
that the reader can
flow. easily follow the such that the transitions, sequencing
easily follow the
progression of reader can and/or and lack of
progression of
ideas. generally insufficient transitions.
ideas.
follow the transitions.
progression of
ideas.
Cites outside
sources, but
most sources
:
 Generally are cited
Cites all outside cites outside improperly;
Primarily cites
sources sources generally Does not cite
outside sources
appropriately, appropriately, incorporates sources, or
appropriately,
Research incorporates primarily sources citation is
incorporates
sources smoothly incorporates through direct consistently
sources effectively
Incorporate and effectively sources quotation, inappropriate.
through direct
sources through through direct effectively paraphrase, or Does not
quotation,
effective quotation, through direct summary. reference
paraphrase, or
quotations, paraphrase, or quotation, References 2- sources and/or
summary.
paraphrases, and summary. paraphrase, or 4 primary or sources are
References 2-4
summaries. References 2-4 summary. secondary not credible or
credible primary or
credible primary or References 2- sources, but appropriate.
secondary sources.
secondary sources. 4 credible some sources
primary or may not be
secondary effective or
sources. appropriate for
the essay’s
argument.

Demonstrates
generally
Excessively
effective style Frequently
Demonstrates demonstrates
Demonstrates choices, but includes poor
Style thoughtful and poor word
effective word may include word choices,
effective word choices,
choices, primarily occasional redundancies,
Establish a choices, avoids redundancies,
avoids redundancy redundancies, imprecise
consistent, redundancy and imprecise
and imprecise imprecise language,
informative tone imprecise language, language,
language, and uses language, and/or
and make and uses a wide and/or
a variety of poor word repetitive
thoughtful stylistic variety of sentence repetitive
sentence structures. choice, and/or sentence
choices. structures. sentence
repetitive structures.
structures.
sentence
structures.
There are There are There are
There may be a few There are some frequent consistent
negligible errors in occasional minor significant significant significant
Conventions grammar, errors in grammar, errors in errors in errors in
punctuation, punctuation, grammar, grammar, grammar,
Follow spelling, spelling, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation,
conventions for capitalization, capitalization, spelling, spelling, spelling,
standard English. formatting, and formatting, and capitalization, capitalization, capitalization,
usage. usage. formatting, formatting, formatting,
and usage. and usage. and usage.
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 Adequately
adheres to Inadequately Does not
APA adheres to adhere to APA
Primarily adheres formatting APA formatting
Consistently
to APA formatting requirements formatting requirements
Formatting adheres to APA
requirements for in- for in-text requirements for in-text
formatting
text citations and citations and for in-text citations and
Execute requirements for in-
the References the citations and the References
formatting text citations and
page, such that References the References page, such
according to the References
formatting errors page, such page, such that that
requirements. page.
are minimal. that formatting formatting
formatting errors are errors are
errors are common. pervasive.
occasional.
Shows limited
Primarily reflection; the
demonstrates majority of
Demonstrates
thoughtful responses are
thoughtful
Demonstrates reflection, but lacking in Does not
reflection;
thoughtful some detail or answer the
consistently
Think About reflection; includes responses are insight. majority of
includes insights,
Your Writing observations,
multiple insights, lacking in Answers reflection
observations, detail or reflection questions or
and/or examples in
Reflect on and/or examples. insight. questions the majority of
all responses.
progression and Answers all Answers all inadequately: answers do
Answers all
development reflection questions reflection may not not follow
reflection questions
throughout the effectively, questions, answer all of response
effectively,
course. following response primarily the questions length
following or
length guidelines. following and/or may guidelines.
exceeding response
response not follow
length guidelines.
length response
guidelines. length
guidelines.

E. Requirements

The essay should be 4-6 pages (approximately 1000-1500 words in length

Argumentative Essay Guidelines must be followed or submission will not be graded
Double-space the essay and use 1-inch margins
Use a readable 12-point font
All writing must be appropriate for an academic context
Composition must be original and written for this assignment
Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited
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 Submission should include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your
composition
Your submission must include the essay, reference page, and your answers to the refection questions
Submit a single file only, including all assignment components
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