J. Alexander (ENG 101)
College Composition I

Argumentative Essay One

Students will write this 750-word argumentative essay on one of the topics listed below. An essay is argumentative when it:

1. is written on a topic that can have at least two viewpoints,
2. establishes a thesis or goal, and
3. provides detailed support to reach this goal.

Any essays which are not argumentative, no matter how beautifully written, will be considered unsatisfactory. An essay outline is helpful to gather thoughts and organize your work--click here to access a blank essay outline.

Click here for a Guide to Common Proofreading Marks.
Click here for a Checklist for Writing Essays.
Click here for a sample introductory paragraph.

Each essay must conform to the following guidelines:

• Must be between 750 and 1000 words
• Must be typed
• Must be double-spaced
• Must have a cover page with name, date, title, and word count
• Must be stapled (no paper clips or alligator clips)
• Must be argumentative (see above)
• Must be free of errors in spelling, sentence mechanics and usage
• Click here to access Essay Feedback Sheet, print a copy, staple into folder and submit with your first essay. This sheet will serve as a tally of your progress from one assignment to the next.

To understand more fully how essays will be evaluated and to see how better to produce an effective document, click here to visit the "Model for Evaluation of Student Writing". It is highly recommended that you consult the writing lab for assistance and proofread the essay carefully. Careless errors are the worst kind and make the writer appear to have little self-respect.

ESSAY ONE CHOICES:
1) Describe a place you haven't been in a long time, and either argue why you think it would be a good idea or a bad idea for you to return.
2) Describe a place you finally revisited after many years of absence, and either argue why you think it was a good idea or a bad idea for you to return.
3) Describe yourself or another person who chose to conform to a particular group, and either argue why you think this action of conforming was a good decision or a bad decision.
4) Describe yourself or another person who chose to rebel against a particular group, and either argue why you think this action of rebellion was a good decision or a bad decision.
5) Use examples from your experiences in grade school, junior high and/or high school to argue that you think you have been adequately prepared for work at the college level.
6) Use examples from your experiences in grade school, junior high and/or high school to argue that you think you have not been adequately prepared for work at the college level.
7) Consider the four pressures identified in the story by Zinnser and argue that you experience all, some, one, or none of them.