Description
Prompt and Writing Guidelines
Argumentative Essay Prompt and Rubric
Write an argumentative essay about one of the following options.
(choose one to make an argument for):
. Attending college after high school
. Entering a career immediately
. Continuing to trade school
For this graded project, vour prompt has been chosen for you. You must choose one position:
. Argue for going to college after high school
. Argue for starting a career after high school.
. Argue for going to trade school after high school.
For an assigned prompt, pay attention to signs that it’s asking you to take a position. You’re being asked for your opinion, so you must pick a position on what should happen and make an argument for it. This prompt requires a multi-paragraph essay response that should include the following:
. Your position
. A main claim
. The provided sources to gather evidence to support your claim
Your argumentative essay should include the following:
. An introduction paragraph
. Five to seven body paragraphs with provided resources
. A conclusion paragraph
For this argumentative essay, you must use the provided resources as your information. Here’s all the information you need to create both in-text and Works Cited page citations. Remember that you must use at least three of these sources in your paper. You can use more than three if you like, but only include in your Works Cited page the sources that you reference in the text of the paper.
. Source 1: After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, US. needs more tradespeople
. Source 2: College or Career?
. Source 3: Do You Really Need a College Degree to Have a Successful Career?
. Source 4: Is a College Education Worth It
Here’s a sample outline you can customize to fit your essay:
1. Introductory Paragraph
a. Introduce the overall topic (setting up overview to give readers context).
b. Introduce one side of the argument.
c. Introduce the opposing side of the argument.
d. Create a thesis statement that reflects your
opinion on the topic.
2. Paragraph 1: Supporting Point #1
a. Introduce the strongest evidence that supports our point.
b. Note the source this information came from
(preparing for an in-text citation).
c. Give two supporting details.
d. Explain how this evidence supports your point.
3. Paragraphs 2 through 5: Supporting Points #2 through 5
a. Introduce the other evidence that supports your point
b. Note the source this information came from.
c. Give two supporting details.
d. Explain how this evidence supports your point.
4. Paragraph 6 and 7: Refuting Counterclaims
a. Introduce one or two possible counterarguments that an opponent might have.
b. Note the source this information came from.
c. Explain why this counterargument isn’t valid using two supporting details.
5. Conclusion Paragraph
a. Restated thesis statement
b. Summary of your argument
c. Significance of your argument
.As you’re writing, consider the typical elements of an argumentative essay:
Choose a position on that topic and write a strong thesis statement.
. The thesis statement appears in your introduction. Your introduction should do the foilowing:
. Catch the reader’s attention.
. Give some background information on your topic.
. End by letting the reader know exactly where you stand on your topic.
Develop your supporting points and evidence.
.The body paragraphs of your essay are where you’ll develop your argument and support it with evidence from your sources. Make sure your evidence is logical, relevant, and credible
Address counterclaims and refute them with evidence.
It’s extremely important to refute any counterclaims you bring up. If you mention a counterargument without showing how it’s wrong, it will make your argument weaker.
Write a Conclusion
The last paragraph of your essay will paraphrase your main claim (thesis statement), briefly summarize your supporting points, and show the significance of your topic. The conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay. It shouldn’t introduce new information such as claims or counterclaims different from those presented in the body paragraphs. It should make your reader understand why your argument matters.
