argument essay

Overview:
Over the course of the last few units, you have been working on crafting the argument
for your Argument Essay. In Argument Essay Part One, you explored the pros and
cons of one of the below questions.Now, you will bring all of what you have completed
together and create your Argument Essay that focuses on a specific argument.
The essay should answer ONE of these questions regarding social media and
your career:
1. Why or why not should social media be used as a way to hire or fire an employee?
2. Why or why not should social media be used as a form of communication in the
workplace?
3. Why or why not should companies use social media to promote themselves?
Consider the type of career that you are interested in exploring. Social media is fast
becoming an important part of our everyday lives, including within our chosen careers.
Your essay should answer just ONE of the questions above from the perspective of the
career you are considering focusing on.
What is an Argument?
We have probably all had to argue for a position we held. What makes someone
receptive to your argument? Normally, the audience is more willing to listen to your
position if you argue for it objectively and avoid unreasonable, argumentative tactics. In
this argument essay, you will demonstrate your ability to create a logical and fair
argument.
In order for something to be considered an argument, people must have the ability to
disagree with you. Your argument also needs to be something you can maintain an
objective stance on.
Instructions:
ENG110 – College Writing
Argument Essay Part Two
• Create an argument essay that argues for your position on the issue of social
media within your career.
• Answers ONE of the questions above in a well articulated argument essay.
Requirements:
• Please submit a Microsoft Word document or PDF.
• The essay should be three to four pages in length with an additional APA-style
title and reference pages. The document should follow proper APA style
formatting (Times New Roman, 12 font suggested) with 1-inch margins and
double spaced.
• Include three (3) sources in your essay that are reliable and academic.
o Make sure you have at least three (3) in-text citations where you have
direct quoted, paraphrased or summarized material from the sources.
You will need corresponding references for each of these sources that
match the in-text citations.
• You need an introduction and conclusion for this essay. Remember the
introduction sets up the essay and ends with the thesis statement. The
conclusion sums up the essay and restates the thesis in a different way. The
introduction and conclusion should not be exact replicas of each other.
• Your body paragraphs should each focus on one topic that supports your
argument.
• Your writing should be free of punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors and
contain appropriate word choice for an academic setting with clear sentence
structure.
Be sure to read the criteria by which your work will be evaluated before you write
and again after you write.
Evaluation Rubric for the Argument Essay Assignment
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
(0-11 points) (12-15 points) (16-17 points) (18-20 points)
Thesis
Statement
There is no
thesis statement
or the thesis
statement does
not respond to
the assignment
prompt.
The thesis
statement gives an
idea of the
author’s opinion
but is
underdeveloped.
The thesis
statement
describes the
reader’s
statement and
opinion. The
statement gives
some insight into
how the essay will
be discussed.
The overall thesis
statement is clear
and concise. It
states the author’s
opinion and
position on the
issue. The reader
knows exactly what
the essay will be
about and how the
writer will write
about it.
Organization and
Structure
Many details are
not in a logical or
expected order.
The paper does
not use
paragraphs and
does not focus on
the assigned
argument issue.
Writing may have
some discernible
organization, but
some details are not
in a logical or
expected order. The
paper uses
paragraphs
ineffectively and
lacks focus on the
assigned argument
issue.
Writing is
organized, and
details are placed
in a logical order.
Paragraphs are
mostly used
effectively and
generally focus well
on the assignment
argument issue.
Writing is effective,
purposeful, and wellorganized.
Paragraphs are used
effectively and focus
well on the assigned
argument issue.
Argument Fails to develop
argument(s).
Some argument(s)
are developed, but
may be missing one
or need further
elaboration.
Develops most
argument(s).
Fully develops
argument(s) fairly.
Evidence and
Support
Evidence is
missing and/or
does not defend
the thesis.
Minimal evidence
is integrated or the
evidence that is
used is not from
academic sources.
Evidence is
mostly integrated
from academic
sources and
supports the
thesis.
Evidence is
integrated from
academic sources
and supports the
thesis.
Clear and
Professional
Writing and APA
Format
Writing is hard to
understand
because of errors
in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation. Word
Writing is sometimes
difficult to
understand because
of several errors in
grammar,
punctuation, and
Writing is easy to
understand despite
minor errors in
punctuation,
spelling, and
grammar.
Writing is free of
almost all
punctuation, spelling,
and grammar errors.
Appropriate word
choice is used for an
CRITERIA Novice Needs
Improvement Proficient Exemplary
choice is
inappropriate for
an academic
setting. Sentence
structure is often
unclear. Paper
rarely or does not
use the thirdperson
perspective and
an objective tone.
APA format is not
followed.
spelling. Word
choice is sometimes
inappropriate for an
academic setting.
Sentence structure
is sometimes
unclear. Paper
inconsistently uses a
third-person
perspective and
objective tone. APA
format is sometimes
followed.
Appropriate word
choice is used for
an academic
setting. Sentence
structure is mostly
clear. Paper mostly
uses a third-person
perspective and
objective tone. APA
format is mostly
followed.
academic setting.
Sentence structure is
clear. Paper is written
in the third-person
perspective with an
objective tone. APA
format is followed.