Essay1ClassicalArgumentEssay.pdf

AEH Division 1

ENGL 1213: Composition II Value: 200 points

Essay 1: Classical Argument Essay
Purpose of Essay
The purpose of Essay 1 is to further expand on your argument
abilities gained in Composition I. In Composition I, the final
assignment is the Classical Argument. This is one of the most
important structures in academic discourse. It cannot be mastered
in one go. Reflect back on your strengths and weaknesses with
your first Classical Argument and write a new argument using the
same structure from Composition I.

Requirements
The essay should include the following:
• MLA Format
• 3 pages (double spaced), not including the Works Cited page
• In-text citations in the body of the essay
• Works Cited page with your credible sources
• A minimum of three sources properly developed Works Cited page and in-text citations

Tasks to Complete
To complete this assignment, you should

• Reflect: Think back on what you did well on in the first attempt of the Classical Argument in
Composition I. What were some of your strong points? Why do you think so? Also, think about your
weak points. Why did you not do so strongly in some areas? What can be done this time to make the
essay better? You must submit a reflection technique as part of the final essay grade.

• Utilize invention techniques: Before writing the essay, begin identifying your issue through a series
of invention techniques, including but not limited to the following: brainstorming, listing, clustering,
questioning, and conducting preliminary research. You must submit invention techniques as part of
the final essay grade.

• Plan and organization your essay: After the invention process, it is important to begin planning
the organizational pattern for the essay. Planning includes gathering and evaluating sources,
identifying your thesis, establishing main ideas (or topic sentences) for each paragraph, supporting
each paragraph with appropriate evidence, and creating ideas for the introductory and concluding
paragraphs. You must submit evidence of a planning process as part of the final essay grade.

Grade for this Essay

20% grade for the Of the overall
course

Think back on
what you did well
the first time you
wrote a Classical

Argument.

Complete the
invention
strategies.

Planning and
organize your

essay.

Write a rough
draft and

complete revision
exercises

Submit a polished,
academic level
essay using MLA

citation and format

AEH Division 2

• Draft and revise your essay: Once you have completed the planning process, write a rough draft of
your essay. Next, take steps necessary to improve, polish, and revise your draft before turning it in
for a final grade. The revision process includes developing ideas, ensuring the thesis statement
connects to the main ideas of each paragraph, taking account of your evidence and supporting
details, checking for proper use of MLA citation style, reviewing source integration, avoiding
plagiarism, and proofreading for formatting and grammatical errors.

Skills
This assignment helps you practice the following skills that are essential to your success in school and your
professional life beyond school. In this assignment you will:

• Access and collect needed information from appropriate primary and secondary sources
• Synthesize information to develop informed views to produce and refute argumentation
• Compose a well-organized, Toulmin argument to expand your knowledge of a topic

Prompt
In Composition I, you wrote about a belief system and took a position about a part of the belief. If you did
not do this in Composition I, think back on what you believe you did well the last time you wrote a Classical
Argument.

In Composition II, think the research problem you selected in the Research Proposal. Using the information
discovered during the research proposal assignment, there needs to be an examination of a larger debate
where you takes a side in the argument, defend their stance with credible evidence, examine the counter
points, and propose solutions to the problem.

Criteria for Success
A summary of the grading criteria for this assignment can be found in the table below. For detailed criteria,
see the assignment rubric.

Category Description Points
Mechanics Students will communicate using academic language and conventions of

Standard American English.
35

Formatting Students will format an essay utilizing MLA style formatting. 25
Critical Thinking Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically to analyze,

critique, and draw reasoned conclusions.
45

Organization Students will present information in a unified and coherent manner. 50
Content Students will write an essay that responds to all parts of the prompt. 45

Total 200 pts.