For this graded project, your 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, U.S. needs more tradespeople(this link opens in a new window/tab) (Article) Source 2: College or Career?(this link opens in a new window/tab) (Article) Source 3: Do You Really Need a College Degree to Have a Successful Career?(this link opens in a new window/tab) (Video) Source 4: Is a College Education Worth It?(this link opens in a new window/tab) (Article) Your rubric for this portion of the project contains specific criteria you should follow for each of these elements of your argumentative essay. In your writing exercises, you’ve drafted your argumentative essay by writing an outline of what you’re planning on writing about. Recall, outlines help writers organize ideas into a logical flow. Remember that your outline can be as simple or detailed as you want it to be, but it’s usually a good idea to review your source notes as you fill it in. 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 following: 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.
