Formal Writing Assignment #: The Argument Essay
The argument essay is the most common type of writing assignment that college students will encounter throughout their academic careers. While there are different variations of the argument essay, the overall foundation is always the same: the writer is tasked with investigating an issue, taking a stand on the issue, and finding and incorporating a multitude of evidence in a logical manner to support the overall claim.
The argument must be specific, reasoned, detailed, and supported with a variety of evidence. Furthermore, a well-written and researched argument essay focuses on what is the right side of a particular issue. In short, an argument essay must be logical from beginning to end.
This assignment contains two parts:
Part 1: Write a 4-6 page argumentative essay on your chosen topic. Choose a side and stick to it throughout your article. Use at least 2 sources that appeal to authority (Ethos) and 1 source that appeal to emotion (Pathos). You will be graded on the following criteria:
1. Thesis – 10%
2. Structure (Argument, reason and evidence are clearly presented) – 20%
3. Major elements (Transition, topic sentences, introduction and reflection on your sources, use of Ethos, Pathos and Logos) – 25%
4. Research – 15%
5. Conventions (grammar, citation format, heading, etc.) – 10%
