Writing 2—Voll

Fall 2006

Unit 2 Argumentative Paper

Paper Prompt:

Recently, Iran has been developing its uranium enrichment capabilities, a key step in building nuclear weapons (See “Bush Condemns Iran Nuclear Move” from the course Moodle site).

Imagine the following scenario: the United Nations has given Iran a Jan.1 deadline to cease all uranium enrichment and allow U.N. weapons inspectors into their enrichment facilities. As of Jan.2, Iran has not complied with the U.N. directive and there is evidence that Iranian scientists are planning to test Iran’s first nuclear warhead. Should the U.S. and its U.N. allies invade Iran?

You must consider at least 2 of the following 5 topics to support your argument:

  • The positive/negative effects of nuclear warfare as seen in the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima (Connor and Alperovitz articles).
  • The positive/negative effects of the U.S. invasion of Iraq (Colson and Carter articles).
  • The effects of war on women (Hynes, Sideris and “Saddam Hussein’s Repression of the Iraqi People” from the Moodle site).
  • The positive/negative effects of war on freedom of speech (Good Morning Vietnam, “Saddam Hussein’s Repression of the Iraqi People,” and “When Tehran Rocks, Discretion Rules” articles from the course Moodle site).
  • The “Axis of Evil” debate. Is taking an aggressive stance towards countries like Iran, Iraq and North Koreaan effective political strategy? Does it backfire to vilify repressive governments? (“Bush’s Axis of Evil Comes Back to Haunt U.S.” and Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address on the course Moodle site).

You may also, of course, draw from any of the other articles on the Moodle site or from your own research. Address your paper to a general public--think of it as an article which might appear in the Op/Ed section of the New York Times. Papers should be 4-6 pages long. The 4-6 pages includes a reference page but not the title page. 12 pt. Times New Roman font, standard margins. Papers must be written in proper APA format. Your reference page should include a MINIMUM of 4 sources.

Rough Drafts Due: Mon.11/6

Final Portfolios due Wed. 11/8

Grading Rubric: Unit 2 Paper

5 = Advanced; writer demonstrates strong skill and control in this trait; many strengths present

4 = Proficient; writer demonstrates effective skill and control; strengths outweigh weaknesses

3 = Developing; writer demonstrates equal number of strengths and weaknesses in this trait

2/1 = Needs Improvement; writer is not yet showing skill or control in this trait

Essay Criteria

/ Score (0-5)
Thesis: Demonstrates clear purpose, complexity and originality; raises issue to be discussed and offers a direct statement of writer’s position; previews the structure of the essay.
Supporting Evidence: Provides logical support for the claims made by the thesis; uses compelling sources and forms of argumentative appeal; effectively counters opposing arguments.
Topic Coverage: Covers at least 2 of the 5 provided topics to support the argument (or to present and critique a counter-argument).
Organization: Sequence of material supports the thesis and purpose; shows connections between ideas; demonstrates writer’s control over organizational patterns of information. Each paragraph is organized by a main idea and paragraph transitions are smooth.
Style/Tone: Uses language with control, elegance and imagination to suit the essay’s purpose; maintains consistent, distinctive voice throughout the essay.
Mechanics: Uses grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax that are appropriate for standard written English; demonstrates careful attention to proofreading.
Conclusion: Briefly reviews but does more than simply restate the thesis; adds new insight to the thesis in light of the evidence used.
References: Includes a reference page citing all sources in proper APA format. The student cites a minimum of 4 sources.

Score: ____ /40 =