Post ENG130 Argumentative Research Essay

ENG130 – Literature and Composition

Argumentative Research Essay

Essay for ENG 130: Argumentative Research Essay

Source Materials:

? “The Hanging Stranger” by Philip K. Dick

? “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury

? “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

? “Literary Analysis: Using Elements of Literature” by Roane State.

Background:

In the previous unit, you wrote a prewrite introduction/outline. In this unit’s Argumentative Research

Essay, you will transition your prewrite into a 4-5 page essay that defends your thesis using literary

elements. Your essay should defend the following prompt:

Prompt:

Many authors write about the theme, “If an individual does not follow the rules of society, there can

be negative, sometimes violent, consequences.”

Which of the three stories portrays this theme most effectively? How?

Hint to success: Use three literary elements to support your answer. For example, “Dick portrays this

theme most effectively through his use of tone, conflict, and characterization.

Instructions:

? Read through all of the instructions of this assignment.

? Read all of the above resources.

? Select one of the three short stories to write about.

? Your audience for this essay are people who have read the stories.

? You need to use the Library resources or other search engines to collect at least two

scholarly sources that will defend your thesis. One of these sources must defend your

counterargument.

? Your essay will have the following components:

o An Introduction: see unit resources

o A thesis at the end of the introduction that clearly states your position on which author

most clearly portrays this theme.

o Three supporting sections of the body that defend your thesis

? Each section should incorporate both text support and research support. Each

quote, paraphrase or new information requires an in text citation.

o A paragraph for the counterargument: see unit resources.

? The counterargument would be the main argument for the opposite of your

thesis

o A concluding paragraph: see unit resources.

Requirements:

? Length and format: 4-5 pages.

? The title page and reference page are also required, but they should not be factored into the

4-5 page length of the essay.

? It should also be double spaced, written in Times New Roman, in 12 point font and with 1 inch

margins. Essay should conform to APA formatting and citation style.

? Use the third-person, objective voice, avoiding personal pronouns such as “I,” “you,” “we,” etc.

? Please use the above sources and any outside sources you need to create a properlyformatted

APA reference page.

? Use APA format for in-text citations and references when using outside sources and textual

evidence.

? Please be cautious about plagiarism. Make sure to use internal citations for direct quotes,

paraphrases, and new information.

Students: Be sure to read before you write, and again after you write, the rubric criteria by

which your paper/project will be evaluated,

Theme Argumentative Research Essay Rubric

Does Not Meet

Expectations

0-11

Below

Expectations

12-13

Needs

Improvement

14-15

Satisfactory

16-17

Meets

Expectations

18-20

Introduction Introduction is not

present.

Background details

are a random

collection of

information,

unclear, or not

related to the topic.

Introduction is

attempted and

explains the

background, but

may lack detail.

Introduction

explains the

background,

including an

overview of the

essay’s main

points.

Introduction uses

interesting

anecdotes,

questions, or other

information to

build interest.

Many to all main

points are logically

related and

developed.

Thesis

Statement

Thesis statement

is not present.

Thesis is unclear

and loosely related

to the paper or not

present. Thesis

does not appear in

the introductory

paragraph.

Thesis is

attempted with

little relation to the

overall topic.

Argument is

somewhat unclear

or confusing.

Some supporting

points are missing.

Thesis may not

appear in the

introductory

paragraph.

Thesis is present

and relates to the

majority of the

paper. Argument

takes a mostly

clear position and

is explained in

adequate detail.

Thesis appears in

the introductory

paragraph.

Thesis is

organized and

focused on the

paper. Argument

takes a clear

position and is

explained in full

detail. Thesis

appears in the

introductory

paragraph.

Conclusion Conclusion is not

present.

Conclusion is

unclear or only

loosely related to

the argument. .

May not summarize

main points.

Conclusion is

recognizable and

restates the thesis

and main points of

the argument.

Conclusion is

clear and flows

from the body of

the paper and the

thesis statement.

Effectively

restates thesis

and main points of

the argument and

may move toward

additional

implications of the

argument.

Conclusion is

effective, clear,

and organized.

Draws information

presented in the

body and presents

a new perspective

on the argument,

or potential

solutions to the

problems being

discussed.

Persuasiveness Fails to develop

arguments and/or

counterarguments

Some argument(s)

and

counterargument(s)

are developed, but

may be missing

one or need further

elaboration.

Develops most

argument(s) and

counterarguments.

Satisfactorily

develops

arguments and

counterarguments.

Expertly and fully

develops

argument(s) and

counterarguments.

Evidence and

Support

Does not include

text support

and/or text

support is not

cited.

Very little evidence

is given and used

in the essay

properly. Evidence

may not relate to

the thesis

statement.

Evidence is cited

but not with the

proper formatting.

Some evidence is

given and used in

the essay

properly. Evidence

is somewhat

related to the

thesis statement.

Evidence may or

may not always

cited properly

Evidence is tied to

specific evaluation

criteria. Evidence

is mostly tied to

the thesis

statement and

used properly and

is cited properly

Evidence is tied to

specific evaluation

criteria and the

thesis statement.

Evidence is used

effectively and

cited properly.

APA

Format

APA format is not

followed.

Errors evident

throughout all of

the areas: 1 inch

margins, correctly

formatted title

page, correctly

formatted reference

page, double

spacing, Times

New Roman,12

font.

Errors evident in

three to four of the

areas of: 1 inch

margins, correctly

formatted title

page, correctly

formatted

reference page,

double spacing,

Times New

Roman, 12 font.

Errors evident in

one to two of the

areas of: 1 inch

margins, correctly

formatted title

page, correctly

formatted

reference page,

double spacing,

Times New

Roman, 12 font.

Free of errors in: 1

inch margins,

correctly formatted

title page,

correctly formatted

reference page,

double spacing,

Times New

Roman, 12 font.

Grammar and

Mechanics

Grammar and

mechanics’ errors

make the essay

incomprehensible.

Grammar, spelling,

punctuation, and

mechanics errors

occur throughout

document. Word

choices are seldom

academic.

Sentence structure

may be illogical or

unclear.

Several errors in

grammar,

punctuation,

spelling and

mechanics

present. Word

choice reveals

some

understanding of

academic

language

requirements.

Many sentence

structure issues

exist.

Some spelling,

grammar,

punctuation and

mechanical errors

are evident.

Academic

language is

upheld. The

sentence structure

is often logical and

clear so that

relationships

among ideas are

established.

Free of

punctuation,

spelling, grammar,

and other

mechanical errors.

Consistent use of

academic word

choices.

Sentence

structure is mostly

logical and clear.

*A zero can be earned if the above criteria are not met.

*Plagiarism will result in a zero.