Argumentative Essay Assignment

The final essay in this course will be an Argumentative essay. This is a research assignment. You will need to find credible sources to support your claim. This assignment is worth 200 points.

Argumentative Essay Rubric (1)

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMLA Format: Heading and BodyUsing MLA format is required. There format should be followed specifically for the title, the citations, the font/margins.

15 to >10.0 pts Exemplary Follows the correct MLA guidelines for Heading and Body of essay; no errors present

10 to >5.0 pts Satisfactory Attempts to follow correct MLA guidelines for Heading and Body, but contains multiple errors.

5 to >0.0 pts Developing Persistent errors in MLA Heading and Body; needs to review MLA guidelines and adhere to required style elements.

0 pts Missing/Unacceptable No effort made toward following MLA standards. And/or essay is mostly plagiarized.

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIntroductionAt minimum, your introduction must engage audience interest and introduce context (who you are and what subject you intend to discuss). Advanced introductions consider exigency (demand for the writing).

25 to >16.0 pts Exemplary The essay provides all elements of an exemplary introduction; in addition to engaging audience interest, the introduction gives a clear introduction to the topic and problem. The introduction should include all parts of an introduction (hook, bridge/background, thesis). The introduction makes sense and builds from one sentence to the next. The introduction is a full, well-developed paragraph.

16 to >10.0 pts Developing Essay provides an introduction that may be overly vague, or off topic. Typical examples may include beginning overly broad, being off topic, or being unable to focus on a single clear topic. There are clear efforts made to engage audience interest and provide a context to the writing, but improvement is needed.

10 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement The introduction provided makes no effort to engage audience's interest or provides a context that makes no sense to the audience. In addition, the introduction may be too simplistic, undeveloped, or confusing. Points are made that do not tie to other points in the paragraph. Ideas jump around without full development. The hook does not make sense or is too basic or does not connect to the paragraph. The writer makes assumptions about the subject and does not explain important ideas or terms. The thesis is in the wrong place or does not make a debatable claim.

0 pts Missing/Unacceptable The introduction is either missing, or too far removed from the assigned goals of the essay. Or, essay is mostly plagiarized.

25 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesisOverall thesis, main idea or focus is clear, insightful, and stated at the end of the introduction in one succinct sentence and focused on the topic plus how you feel toward it. Keep in mind that a thesis is about establishing a debatable claim and the reasons you will use to prove your point. A five (5) point deduction may be given for a claim/thesis statement that is not at the end of the Introduction paragraph.

10 to >6.0 pts Exemplary The thesis is relevant to the assigned goals of the essay. The thesis provides a clear position on a debatable topic with arguable points that indicate how they plan to prove their claim. . This thesis evinces critical thinking and has evidence of depth and thought. The thesis is the last sentence of the introduction. The thesis is a one-sentence statement, not a run-on sentence.

6 to >4.0 pts Satisfactory The thesis is relevant to the assigned goals of the essay but lacks a clear sense of either focused purpose or motivation. May be too broad or may have too many goals for the essay. The thesis may be a run-on sentence with points that do not make sense. The thesis statement may be in the wrong location of the introduction paragraph.

4 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement The thesis does not make sense or is written incorrectly. The thesis statement is a known fact already (or has parts that are already factual), giving the writer nothing to prove. The thesis statement is confusing or too broad. The thesis statement does not tie into the rest of the introduction and doesn't seem to make sense; the statement may have seemed to come out of nowhere in the introduction paragraph.

0 pts Missing or Unacceptable Thesis is missing, or the thesis is so unclear/vague/difficult to understand that it prevents the audience from being able to guess at the meaning of the work. Or, the essay is mostly plagiarized.

10 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBody paragraphs - SupportSupporting paragraphs should establish a clear claim for the paragraph, provide evidence (source material), and explain relevancy (connection back to the thesis). Student should spend sufficient time developing all aspects of their claim. The material in the essay should support a claim about debatable, national issue; not one case claiming to be indicative of a broad issue. Students must use scholarly sources. In some instances, students must include statistics from scholarly sources to help support their claim.

75 to >48.0 pts Exemplary Supporting paragraphs include a claim, grounds, evidence from the source material, and relevancy back to the original thesis. This material is well organized, and provides clear evidence of critical thinking and creative thinking.Specific, concrete detail supports the topic sentence. Student fully explains how any quoted passages led to the conclusion. Student proves the overall point of their claim with sufficient evident.

48 to >30.0 pts Developing Supporting paragraphs are missing key element, either a claim or connection back to source material. Alternatively, the paragraphs may lack clear organizational patterns, or may fail to provide adequate relevancy to the thesis. Student makes a point about one issue that does not prove and/or support the overall issue of the paper.

30 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement Supporting paragraphs simply provide a summary of the source material -- there is no connection back to the original goals of the assignment. Alternatively, there is a lack of organizational structure that renders the essay too difficult to understand or read. Student relies on a few examples of individual cases to try to prove a point about a major issue concerning thousands of people. Paragraphs are underdeveloped and need more research and support.

0 pts Missing or Unacceptable There are no or few distinctions between supporting paragraphs -- entire essay or several parts of the essay----- is written in one long continuous thought, with no signs of organization or paragraph distinction. Essay may also lack any signs of thought or organizational pattern at all, rendering the essay impossible to understand. Essay is mostly plagiarized.

75 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCounter Argument & RebuttalThe counterargument must be acknowledged. Student must include an effective rebuttal which refutes the terms introduced in counterargument Valid, reliable evidence is given as support The explanation of claims and evidence is thorough and insightful Sources are identified when applicable

20 to >11.2 pts Exemplary Essay includes a valid, arguable counterargument. Essay includes an effective rebuttal which refutes the terms introduced in the concession is present Valid, reliable evidence is given as support The explanation of claims and evidence is thorough and insightful Sources are identified when applicable

11.2 to >8.0 pts Developing Counterargument is evident but weak. A rebuttal is made which refutes opposite claim, however, the reason that the opposite claim is false lacks effectiveness. The writer fails to completely prove that opposing arguments are wrong, and reasoning Evidence given lacks validity and reliability Explanation of claims and evidence is present but is vague Sources are not identified for this part of the essay.

8 to >0 pts Missing or Unacceptable Source material is missing from the essay, or the mentions are superficial to the point that there's no clear way to demonstrate that the source material was read. The paragraph is underdeveloped. The paragraph brings up the counterclaim and explains why the counterclaim is right, thereby creating a contradiction for the entire essay (the student does not refute the counterclaim). The student does not provide evidence as to why the counterclaim is wrong.

20 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDocumentationYou will need to use proper documentation in this paper. You will need to use appropriate in-text parenthetical citations on all direct quotations, and on all paraphrased material. Keep in mind that signal phrases are considered a part of your documentation.

15 to >11.1 pts Exemplary No clear errors in documentation. Includes a Works Cited page.

11.1 to >6.0 pts Satisfactory Errors are present in documentation, but there are no clear signs of plagiarism in the essay. Some further study of documentation rules may be required.

6 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement There are numerous, clear errors in documentation -- there is little to no evidence that the author of the essay learned rules or guidelines for MLA. This disregard for MLA documentation rules may cause incidents of plagiarism. Student must review rules and guidelines for documentation in future work.

0 pts Missing/Unacceptable No documentation is present. Essay is either plagiarized, or failed to present source material. Or, the essay is mostly plagiarized.

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeConclusionConclusions wrap up what you have been discussing in your paper. After moving from general to specific information in the introduction and body paragraphs, your conclusion should begin pulling back into more general information that restates the main points of your argument. Conclusions may also call for action or overview future possible research. In a general way, the conclusion should do the following: Restate your topic and why it is important, Restate your thesis/claim, Address opposing viewpoints and explain why readers should align with your position, Call for action or overview future research possibilities.

25 to >16.0 pts Exemplary Essay includes clear conclusion that provides a second engaging statement and clearly reflects on the significance of the selected topic. There's a call to action made by the author that reflects critical and creative thinking on the overall subject.

16 to >10.0 pts Developing Essay simply restates the main ideas of the essay, reminding the audience of what was stated in the previous sections of the essay. Essay does not engage audience interest a second time (may start with cliche conclusion transition, such as "In conclusion"). Conclusion needs to be developed to think more about the significance of the ideas presented.

10 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement Conclusion muddled, confusing, and not related to topic - possibly presents new information. Or, the conclusion is not a full paragraph. The writer clearly rushed through the final paragraph without attempting to write an adequate conclusion.

0 pts Missing/Unacceptable Conclusion is either missing, or unrelated to the overall essay. There's no clear, logical connection between the ideas presented in the essay and the ideas presented in the conclusion. Or, the essay is mostly plagiarized.

25 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWorks Cited PageThe Works Cited page is a separate page at the end of the paper.

15 to >7.5 pts Full Marks The Works Cited page is a separate page at the end of the paper. Works Cited is centered at the top of the page. The Works Cited page is double-spaced. The first line of the first entry is typed flush with the left-hand margin. The second and all following lines of the entry are indented one-half inch. The Works Cited page contains entries that are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in each entry. The Works Cited page contains ONLY references that are actually cited in the paper. The student included and used at least three (3) scholarly sources in the essay.

7.5 to >0.0 pts Needs Improvement The Works Cited page is a separate page at the end of the paper. Works Cited page contain many errors. It is evident that student didn't review the proper format of submitting the Works Cite page. Many of the entries are formatted incorrectly. Or, the student is missing the minimum amount of scholarly sources.

0 pts Missing/Unacceptable The Works Cited page is missing.

15 pts

Total Points: 200

this is my rough draft so far

Banning Plastic Bags: A Step Toward Sustainability One of the biggest environmental problems of our day is plastic waste. We are reminded of the environmental cost of our contemporary comforts by the damage caused by plastic debris, which is evident on beaches, along roadsides, and even in isolated wilderness regions. One of the greatest offenders is plastic bags, a product that was previously praised for its usefulness but is now acknowledged to be a major cause of environmental damage. Plastic bags, which are lightweight and disposable, are used in astounding amounts worldwide; an estimated one trillion bags are used annually. Unfortunately, there are serious drawbacks to their ease, including the threat to human health, environmental pollution, and wildlife damage. There must be a national ban on plastic bags to address this escalating catastrophe. A prohibition of this kind would significantly lower pollution, preserve important resources, and enhance public health, opening the door to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Ecosystems all throughout the world are suffering due to the significant pollution that plastic bags cause. Because of their small weight, they are easily swept away by the wind and frequently end up in streets, rivers, and natural areas where they litter and evade waste treatment systems. Over time, these bags decompose into tiny plastic particles that contaminate water and soil and linger in the environment for hundreds of years. Plastic bags are especially dangerous to wildlife in maritime regions. Sea turtles and other creatures mistake floating plastic bags for

Palacios 2 jellyfish, which they then consume, causing obstructions, malnourishment, or even death. Plastic trash also entangles fish, birds, and marine animals, making it difficult for them to move and frequently resulting in death. Over a million marine creatures perish every year because of plastic litter, with plastic bags being one of the worst offenders, according to the United Nations Environment Program. This problem is not limited to the seas; plastic bag pollution damages plant and animal species that are essential to freshwater ecosystems in rivers and lakes. In addition to harming the environment, plastic waste ruins landscapes' visual appeal and reduces tourism in impacted regions. Plastic bag bans across the country will drastically cut pollution, preserving biodiversity, and assisting in ecosystem restoration. The health of our world may be preserved for future generations if society prioritizes sustainable activities. Plastic bag manufacture is highly dependent on limited resources, which contributes to resource depletion, and its environmental effects go beyond pollution. The main non-renewable resources used to make plastic bags are natural gas and petroleum, both of which have detrimental effects on the environment during operations. Every year, millions of barrels of oil are used to create billions of plastic bags globally. The manufacture of plastic bags in the United States alone uses around 12 million barrels of oil a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to worsening climate change and limiting the supply of these commodities for vital sectors like healthcare, electricity, and transportation, this excessive resource use also prolongs reliance on fossil fuels. Furthermore, a substantial amount of greenhouse gases is released during the extraction and refinement of petroleum, which contributes to global warming. By moving away from plastic bags, the demand for petroleum- based goods would decline, which would spur the creation of sustainable substitute materials and

Palacios 3 innovation in environmentally friendly packaging. Society can lessen the negative effects of manufacturing on the environment and transition to a more circular economy one in which things are recycled and reused rather than thrown away by preserving essential resources. Plastic bags not only affect the environment but also seriously endanger human health. Dangerous chemicals like phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are released as plastic breaks down and seep into the ground and water. These drugs are known to cause hormone imbalances and raise the risk of birth abnormalities, cancer, and other severe illnesses. Since they are exposed to these chemicals through their food chain or water supply, communities close to landfills or rivers tainted by plastic garbage are especially at risk. Microplastics tiny pieces of plastic that are produced as bigger objects break down have been found in almost every part of the world, including sources of drinking water, according to studies. The startling frequency of microplastics in seafood and even table salt, as well as how these pollutants enter the human diet, as demonstrated by research published in Environmental Science & Technology. Using fewer plastic bags will help reduce exposure to these pollutants, improving community health and lowering medical expenses tied to pollution-related diseases. A strong argument for banning plastic bags is to protect public health, as doing so will enhance people's quality of life in addition to helping the environment. Some advocate against a ban despite the overwhelming evidence of the harm caused by plastic bags because of economic and convenience considerations. Because plastic bags are inexpensive, lightweight, and readily accessible, many customers and companies find them to be a sensible option. Businesses that make plastic bags have also claimed that a ban on them may

Palacios 4 result in job losses and financial difficulties. These arguments, however, ignore the wider costs associated with using plastic bags. The short-term savings of using plastic bags are greatly outweighed by the long-term expenses of pollution cleanup, resource depletion, and medical treatment. Additionally, reusable substitutes like cloth or biodegradable bags provide a cost- effective and environmentally friendly option. Reductions in litter and heightened public awareness of environmental concerns are among the benefits reported by several towns and nations that have banned plastic bags. Ireland, for instance, implemented a plastic bag charge in 2002, which resulted in a 90% reduction in the use of plastic bags and raised money for environmental projects. Policies like these show that it is feasible to move away from plastic bags while promoting sustainability and economic prosperity. Businesses and consumers may benefit from the same ease without the negative effects of single-use plastics by switching to reusable alternatives. A nationwide ban on plastic bags is becoming more and more necessary because of the major risks that their extensive usage presents to the environment, human health, and natural resources. Despite their seeming convenience, these products are a major source of pollution, blocking streams, cluttering landscapes, and killing wildlife since they are frequently consumed by or entangled in plastic debris. Plastic bags are made using non-renewable resources like petroleum, which contributes to resource depletion. Additionally, as they slowly degrade, hazardous chemicals and microplastics are released into the environment, where they can infiltrate ecosystems and potentially make their way into the food chain. In addition to harming terrestrial and marine environments, this pollution has a significant impact on public health since plastic materials contain poisons that are harmful to human health. The data from nations and

Palacios 5 towns that have imposed plastic bag bans contradicts the claims of those opposed to the ban that they are expensive or inconvenient. Sustainable methods are both realistic and successful, as demonstrated by the successful reduction of plastic waste, wildlife protection, and public behavior change toward reusable, eco-friendly alternatives in countries like Ireland and Kenya as well as American towns like San Francisco. By lowering pollution, protecting valuable resources, and promoting public health, a national ban on plastic bags would align the US with these progressive initiatives. The moment has come to take bold action and enact laws that put the welfare of future generations and environmental sustainability first. Enforcing a ban is a vital step in safeguarding our planet, demonstrating our dedication to responsible stewardship, and guaranteeing a cleaner, healthier world for all.

6 Works Cited Environmental Protection Agency. "Plastics: Material-Specific Data." EPA, 2023, www.epa.gov. "Marine Plastic Pollution." United Nations Environment Program, www.unep.org. Thompson, R.C., et al. "Plastics, the Environment and Human Health: Current Consensus and Future Trends." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 364, no. 1526, 2009, pp. 2153-2166. "Microplastics in Drinking Water." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 51, no. 7, 2017,