Charter Schools Can Help Underserved Students Realize the American Dream”
Welcome to the first Discussion Board! This week, the readings covered the basics of writing in college and effective persuasive communication. You learned about how writers can use persuasive models like the rhetorical situation to motivate an audience to take action or change the way they think about something. You also looked at how John, Eric, and Alice might apply persuasive communication in their future jobs as a restaurant owner, nurse, and crime scene investigator.
This course will also help you develop your skills in assessing your work based on the grading rubrics provided with each assignment. Please review this short video that introduces you to the concept of self-assessment.
After reviewing the video on self-assessment and completing the Reading and Learning Activities for Unit 1, respond to the following questions in at least two well-developed paragraphs:
Introduce yourself by telling the class about your background with persuasive communication. What are you studying and how do you imagine you will use persuasive writing in your career?
Choose one of the following examples of persuasive writing on the topics of charter schools and food labels. Identify the different parts of the rhetorical situation. Who was the speaker and who was the target audience? What was the purpose of the argument? What setting did the argument take place in and how might the communication have changed if it were in a different context? Analyze how well this example illustrates the qualities of effective persuasive communication from the readings this week, note at least one weakness in the argument and how the author could address that flaw, and discuss whether the article changed your perspective on charter schools or food labeling and why.
Charter Schools:
“Charter Schools Can Help Underserved Students Realize the American Dream”
“Stop Federal Funding of Charter Schools”
“Charter Schools Hurt Traditional Public Schools”
Food Labels:
“A Food Label That Gets Right to the Point”
“Genetically Modified Food Labeling: A ‘Right to Know’?”
“I Run a G.M.O. Company — and I Support G.M.O. Labeling”
Wrap up your post with at least one open-ended question for your classmates to consider as they help you dig deeper into the ideas you shared this week.
To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the Discussion as described in the grading rubric. These responses should stay on topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant examples, and referencing concepts from the readings.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s readings, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to [name of reading] . . . ” If you are directly quoting the reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 2 Discussion
In this course, you will be using the tools of intercultural rhetoric to identify a problem in your community that needs solving and propose a way to address that problem.
Steven Johnson’s TED Talk “Where Good Ideas Come From” explores how people can generate ideas through conversations with others. http://www.ted.com/playlists/20/where_do_ideas_come_from
After reviewing Steven Johnson’s TED Talk and this week’s reading “The Rhetoric of Community Engagement,” tell the class what stood out to you as the most important elements of ethical communication and collaborating with others to generate ideas.
Then, find a persuasive TED talk and tell the class about it. Be sure to provide the link to the TED talk that you watched and key identifying details like the author, title, and main argument of the speaker.
Explain why you selected this persuasive TED Talk and how it illustrated effective persuasive communication. How did the TED speaker that you watched convince the audience of his or her position?
Wrap up your post with an open-ended question for your classmates to respond to when they reply to your post.
To earn full participation credit, share your ideas in at least two well-developed paragraphs, respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts, and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. Responses should stay on topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant examples, and if possible, referencing concepts from the unit’s Reading and Learning Activities.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 3 Discussion
In this week’s readings and Learning Activities, you focused on choosing a topic, narrowing it down, and crafting a thesis statement. For this week’s Discussion, respond to the following questions in at least two well-developed paragraphs:
Tell the class about a community issue that you have some knowledge of and would like to try and improve. Who are the people in your community most affected by this issue (key stakeholders)? Who in the community is in the best position to bring about a change? What challenges have kept them from solving this problem already?
Share your preliminary thesis statement.
Share the thesis that you created in the “Writing Your Problem-Solution Thesis” Learning Activity.
In your thesis, be sure to identify your target audience, a concrete action the audience can take to solve the problem [solution], and a reason for action [problem/benefit].
Example: The San Antonio School District [target audience] should provide every high school student with an electronic tablet [solution] because this will encourage more learning outside of the classroom, increase mastery of skills, and increase college acceptance rates [benefit].
Don’t worry about getting your thesis perfect this week. At this stage, your thesis is more of a hypothesis that needs to be tested and refined as you dig further into the problem you will attempt to solve.
Finally, wrap your post up with an open-ended question.
For an extra challenge in your peer feedback this week, try to determine the underlying assumption of your classmate’s thesis by using what you learned from the “Enthymeme section” of the Logical Argument Tutorial and then tell the class if you agree with the assumption or if you have some concerns with it. Those concerns can help your peers fine-tune the thesis statement. Hint: To determine the assumption (major premise), you can replace the “action” in the solution part of the thesis with “something” and the word “because” with “if.” The minor premise is the problem statement.
Example: The San Antonio School District should provide every high school student with an electronic tablet because this will encourage more learning outside of the classroom, increase mastery of skills, and increase college acceptance rates.
Major premise: The San Antonio School District should do something if it encourages more learning outside of the classroom, increases mastery of skills, and increase college acceptance rates.
Minor Premise: Tablets encourage learning outside of the classroom, increase mastery of skills, and increase college acceptance rates.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 4 Discussion
As we have talked about, arguments are often shared to benefit a group of people rather than just to prove that we are “right” or “win” a debate. When we engage in persuasive exercises with people who share a community with us, whether at work, in our families, at school, or in our town, we have a greater chance of success when we carefully consider the different stakeholders and how our recommendations may affect them.
For this unit’s Discussion, you will analyze different stakeholders’ positions in your argument and find one source that demonstrates an area of common ground you expect to find among the many stakeholders. Then, respond to the following prompts in at least two well-developed paragraphs:
Share your revised thesis and tell us who the key stakeholders are. Who is affected by this issue that we don’t often hear from? What aspects of the argument do you expect most stakeholders to agree about? Identify three search terms you could use to find evidence that helps to illustrate the common ground between stakeholders. Hint: The Learning Activity “Choosing & Using Keywords” can help you figure out what search terms to use as you seek out common ground sources.
Using the search terms above, find one source in the Purdue Global library that helps to illustrate the problem and establish common ground with stakeholders. Identify one main idea from the source you want to use and why you selected that source.
Ask an open-ended question to classmates based on what help you need either finding common ground or doing the background research on your topic.
Finally, wrap up your post by sharing the author’s name, the title of the source, and the link to the source.
For peer feedback this week, think about what stakeholders may be missing from the post. Offer some other ideas about what the different stakeholders might agree about or answer the open-ended question.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 5 Discussion
As seen in the Reading this week, conducting research requires critical thinking and can be a time-intensive process if not planned properly. However, there are various tools that can help you conduct your research more efficiently. It is ideal to have a research strategy or plan in place before looking for sources. In this Discussion, you will build your research strategy. After completing this week’s Reading and Learning Activities, respond to the following questions in at least two well-developed paragraphs:
Last week, you sought out research that addressed common ground among different stakeholders in your community. This week, you will seek out hidden/underrepresented voices in community conversations about this issue. You are welcome to use a source that you found when you completed the “Research in the Purdue Global Library” Learning Activity or try searching the Web for “experience of X [underrepresented stakeholder]” such as “Experience of homeless veterans” or “Experience of students who have been bullied.” Once you have selected your source, write a discussion post that addresses the following items:
Include the revised version of your thesis statement for an argument for change in your community and identify at least three search terms you can use in the Library or an Internet search engine to find sources that address underrepresented perspectives in your community that will be affected by your argument.
Tell us about the source you selected. Using your own words rather than quoting from the source, explain how the author’s position or experience relates to your argument for change. How has this influenced your thinking about this topic?
What criteria helped you decide if this source is credible and useful for your research?
Wrap up the narrative portion of your post with an open-ended question to foster conversation or help you figure out additional research opportunities.
Finally, watch the video Creating APA Citations and create an APA formatted References page citation for the source.
To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. Challenge yourself this week by offering additional search terms or new stakeholders for your classmate to consider as they seek out those underrepresented voices.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 6 Discussion
Plagiarism is often thought of only in the context of academic institutions, but there are many reported situations outside of the classroom where individuals use ideas from other people without giving proper credit. While in school, the consequences may be reflected in a student’s grade. Outside of school, the consequences may tarnish a professional’s reputation and potentially bring legal action. This week’s Reading and Learning Activities included resources to help you avoid plagiarism, and this Discussion will give you an opportunity to practice those skills. For another helpful overview of plagiarism, review the TED Talks Punishable Perils of Plagiarism.
For this week’s Discussion, you will find a credible source that presents a rival perspective to your argument for change, share a key passage from the source, and then paraphrase that information using a signal phrase and in-text citation. Respond to the following prompts in at least two well-developed paragraphs (not including the copied-and-pasted material from your secondary source):
Describe the rival source you found and why you selected that source. What makes this a reliable source?
Copy and paste a 1-5 sentence passage from the source and label it as the “Original Passage.”
Paraphrase the short passage you shared. Be sure to use in-text citations with any sentences paraphrasing ideas from the source, e.g., (Doe, 2013) or According to Jane Doe (2013). Remember from your Reading, an effective paraphrase sets up the information and explains it in a way that connects it to your argument (Krause, 2007).
Ask an open-ended question related to how you can effectively address the disagreement in your argument or related to paraphrasing and using sources.
At the end of your post, provide a complete APA 6th Edition style reference page citation for the source.
To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. For an extra challenge this week, compare the meaning of the source to the original passage and see if you can identify any minor shifts in meaning that may need to be resolved to ensure an effective paraphrase.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 7 Discussion
Writers often face the challenge of too many ideas swirling around their heads when they sit down to draft an essay or another document. The swirling ideas can lead to writer’s block or a disorganized draft. This Discussion will help you bring order to an argument for change by using a graphic organizer or writing an outline. Your outline or graphic organizer should include at least four key points (not including the introduction and conclusion) that will help you to support your essay’s thesis statement.
Be sure to include your most recent thesis statement in the outline or organizer in addition to the four supporting points.
Begin by reviewing the Unit 8 Assignment instructions, and then respond to all of the following prompts:
Post your most recent thesis revision.
Share an outline or graphic organizer that captures and organizes at least four supporting ideas for your persuasive essay. Include at least one misconception or opposition point to your argument that you will need to rebut in the essay.
Use complete sentences for each of the main points and tell the class what evidence you can use to support that point.
Ask an open-ended question related to something you need help with for your argument or the ideas associated with drafting and organizing essays from the Unit 7 Reading.
For peer feedback this week, challenge yourself to identify gaps in the argument that may need to be filled or to offer suggestions about how to rework the organization to more effectively convey the issue or solution.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 8 Discussion
This Discussion gives you an opportunity to post a draft of your introduction and the first body paragraph of your persuasive essay so that you can receive feedback on their effectiveness from your peers and the instructor. You may find it helpful to post your paragraphs early in the unit so that you have time to revise them for the unit’s Assignment based on the feedback you receive and the insights you find from the Reading and Learning Activities.
Include all of the following in your Discussion post:
A draft of your introduction for your persuasive essay using one of the techniques described in “Crafting Effective Introductions and Conclusions”
A thesis statement as the last sentence of your introduction.
A draft of the first body paragraph for your argument.
Wrap up with an open-ended question about something you need help with, specific feedback you would like to receive, or introductions strategies.
For peer feedback this week, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement in the discussion as described in the grading rubric. Challenge yourself to go beyond grammar and mechanics corrections and instead identify which introduction strategy your classmates used. Offer at least one piece of constructive feedback that can help your classmate revamp their introduction for the essay and consider whether a different introduction strategy may be more effective. Alternatively, provide feedback on the body paragraph and/or the transition between the body paragraph and introduction.
When responding to a peer, exercise tact and be specific in what you say. Take your time and develop your thoughts so that you can help out a fellow writer. Please do not focus on or mark GUM (grammar, usage, and mechanics) issues.
Be sure to address any lingering questions you have about your classmate’s argument for change.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 9 Discussion
This week’s discussion is going to mix things up a bit by placing a heavier emphasis on peer feedback than on the initial post. A different rubric will be applied for the unit 9 discussion, and your ability to engage as a team member will be assessed for Professional Competency 1.1.
In your initial post for this Discussion, you will provide your first draft of your digital media presentation. This presentation will be based on the argument for change you wrote about in Unit 8. You can create a video or slide presentation to highlight your main message. Then, you will provide a minimum of two thorough, detailed peer responses according to the guidelines below. To earn full credit and demonstrate mastery of Professional Competency 1.1, you will need to go beyond the minimum expectations by responding to feedback on your post and/or providing feedback to more than two classmates.
For this week’s initial post, you will share a draft of your digital media presentation to receive feedback from your classmates and the instructor. You will receive peer feedback on your draft of your digital media presentation, much like you may well receive comments and feedback from your community members or coworkers if they are provided access to the digital media presentation. When you upload your presentation, please post at least one question to your classmates based on what you still need help with in your presentation. This question will give your peer reviewers some direction and help to ensure the feedback you get is based on the feedback you want.
If you are not readily familiar with digital media tools, the WC has resources that you can review, and one of them is “Creating Effective PowerPoints.” If you want to try different tools beyond the basic slide presentation, the Internet has several free tools to consider, such as Animoto®, Prezi®, PowToon®, WeVideo®, or GoAnimate®.
When considering both the tools and visuals to include, keep in mind the requirements of this unit’s digital media Assignment. You can review the Unit 9 Assignment guidelines.
As noted in the Reading, a great deal of thought should be put into the selection and use of visuals and text in digital media presentations. When you engage in a team presentation, whether for work or school, you want to provide support for your teammates, acknowledge their contributions by pointing out strengths in their work, and offer original, thoughtful feedback that will benefit the entire team. The ability to collaborate effectively is a crucial professional skill, and this week’s discussion will help you to build those skills.
To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at least two peers’ initial Discussion posts and show active engagement by responding to feedback about your presentation. Responding in a timely manner is essential this week as students will need time to revise their presentations based on your feedback. These responses should stay on topic and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant examples, and referencing concepts from the Reading. Address each of the following questions in your peer feedback responses and offer specific examples to help students revise their presentations effectively.
What is the main message of the digital media presentation?
Who is the target audience and how might they respond to the presentation’s text and visuals?
What are the strengths of the presentation?
What are at least two areas that need improvement?
Identify one visual design strategy from your Reading that your classmate used especially well or could apply to enhance the presentation.
Answer the question(s) your classmate shared with his/her draft.
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 10 Discussion
Timothy’s video The inspiration for change can come from unexpected circumstances, yet the idea can then be catapulted into communities through digital media and social networking opportunities. With your digital media presentation, you have the opportunity to share your idea for change with your community or colleagues.
This week is also an opportunity to reflect on what you have accomplished this term and how it has contributed to your growth as a writer. Consider Gilbert’s (2014) video, Success, Failure, and the Drive to Keep Creating and Timothy’s video or Nathan’s videos from your Learning Activities as you explore the opportunity to continue advocating for change and growing as a writer. Then, respond to the questions below:
In the first paragraph, reflect on your presentation by answering one of the questions below and connecting it to this unit’s Reading:
What did you learn about digital media design?
What changes would you make to your digital media presentation, including visual enhancements, if you wanted to disseminate it to a wider audience via social media sites? Revisit Creating Effective PowerPoints from last week to get some specific ideas about what you could improve.
Do you think your presentation could generate change, and do you foresee pursuing this argument for change in the future?
In the second paragraph, reflect on your growth as a persuasive communicator this term by answering at least two questions in a well-developed paragraph. How have your ideas about persuasive communication changed?
How did what you learned about effective persuasion and logical argument in CM 220 help you in your current job or in other classes you have taken? How might it benefit you in your future career?
What did you learn about research that you think will be beneficial in the future?
What improvements did you see in your writing after completing CM 220?
What advice would you like to share with future students in CM 220 about the class?
Do you think you will be more likely to advocate for changes in your community because of this course?
All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete sentences using Standard English. Before posting, proofread for grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every aspect of the Discussion.
When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Reading, be sure to use a signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly quoting the Reading or another source, be sure to use quotation marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full references. The PGWC has resources on APA citation formatting.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 2 Assignment
In this Assignment, you will write three paragraphs describing examples of effective persuasive communication that you have encountered in personal, professional, and academic contexts. In each of the three paragraphs, include a description of at least one concrete example of effective persuasive writing that you have encountered or produced yourself to illustrate your points and consider issues like audience, speaker, text, purpose, and context. You can also include information on tone, style, formality, voice, correctness, evidence, and word choice as you develop your responses to the prompts below.
Follow APA 6th edition formatting guidelines, outlined below, for the document. Paragraphs should be well developed, cohesive, and edited for clarity and correctness. If any sources are referenced, they should be cited in APA 6th edition style, but sources are not required.
The following situations provide examples to help you brainstorm about your own persuasive writing experiences:
A post on a social media site about the need for sidewalks in a neighborhood so kids can get to school safely
An email to one’s boss proposing a new safety procedure
An academic persuasive essay about a community’s need for a free spay/neuter program
In all of these situations, a writer needs to choose the most appropriate audience, method of communication, and evidence to create an effective argument.
In the first paragraph, describe an example of persuasive communication you have written or encountered in a personal context such as social media posts, emails to friends, or communications to your child’s teachers, and explain the considerations you must keep in mind to communicate effectively in this context.
In the second paragraph, describe an example of effective persuasive communication you have written or encountered in a professional context. You might consider your own field of study and the expectations for writing effectively in that field and explain how that communication example illustrates the expectations for professional persuasive communication.
In the third paragraph, describe an example of effective persuasive communication you have written or encountered in an academic context like a Discussion Board, assignment, or group presentation. In this paragraph, consider how academic persuasive standards differ from personal and professional writing.
In each paragraph, be sure to draw connections to concepts from the readings in Units 1 and 2, such as the rhetorical situation. How did considering the audience and context or the audience’s situated knowledge ensure the communication was successful?
Self-Assessment
Review the grading rubric (linked below). You will copy and paste the rubric into your Assignment, identify how many points you think you earned for each part of the rubric based upon how you feel you performed in each of the areas, and assign yourself a grade. It would be useful to engage in this self-assessment prior to submission so that you can make revisions in any areas that you feel need improvement.
You can review this video highlighting the steps in the self-assessment process for the Unit 2 Assignment, and a sample Assignment is also linked below. You can also review the video transcript.
APA and Plagiarism
See the PGWC “Citation Guides” for further guidance on APA manuscript formatting and APA citation formatting.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. It violates the Code of Student Conduct, and the offense is subject to disciplinary action. You are expected to be the sole author of your work. Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied by specific citations and references. Whether the action is intentional or not, it still constitutes plagiarism.
For more information on academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism, refer to Purdue Global’s “Plagiarism Information” page and the PG Code of Conduct.
Sample Assignment
Review a sample Unit 2 Assignment. Reviewing this sample will give you an idea of how your instructor will assess the Assignment based on the grading rubric and the type of feedback you can expect.
Assignment Rubric
Review the Unit 2 Assignment Rubric for more information about how your instructor will assess your Assignment.
Submitting your Assignment:
Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location on your computer and with a name that you will remember. Be sure to copy and paste the grading rubric into your Assignment prior to submission and complete the self-evaluation.
When you are ready to submit it, click on “Assignments” at the top of the page and complete the steps below:
Select the Unit 2 AssignmentDropbox.
Review the Assignment directions and enter a brief note to the instructor in the Comment Box (like “Attached is my Assignment for Unit 4.”).
Select the Add a File button.
Select the upload button. Find the file you saved.
Double click on your file name.
Select the Add button.
Select Submit.
To view your graded work, come back to the Assignments tab so that you can see the attached document with your feedback.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 4 Assignment
In this Assignment, you will write a persuasive thesis statement related to the argument for change you have been developing in previous units and evaluate the effectiveness of that argument using the rhetorical situation and the rhetorical appeals. You will complete a worksheet for this Assignment.
In Part I, you will revise the provisional thesis statement that you generated in the previous unit’s Discussion and identify the underlying assumption. Make sure the thesis is concise (one or two sentences) and clearly expresses a persuasive argument that offers a solution to a problem in your community or workplace.
For more on creating effective persuasive thesis statements, review the following PGWC resources:
“Writing a Thesis Statement: The Central Step in the Writing Process”
“Writing an Effective Thesis Statement”
In Part II, describe your purpose, audience, and setting. You will provide details about whom you need to convince to bring about change and describe the community about which you are writing.
Finally, in Part III, you will evaluate your argument based on the three rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos). For Part III, be sure to use complete sentences and offer specific examples in a well-developed paragraph for each of the appeals. Aim for 5–7 sentences for each appeal and discuss how you can avoid a specific logical fallacy in the “logos” paragraph.
Use this worksheet to complete the Assignment. If any references are made to sources, they should be cited in APA 6th edition style both in text and on a separate reference page. However, sources are not required.
See the following PGWC Citation Guides for further guidance on APA citation formatting.
Self-Assessment
Review the grading rubric (linked below). You will copy and paste the rubric into your Assignment, identify how many points you think you earned for each part of the rubric based upon how you feel you performed in each of the areas, and assign yourself a grade. It would be useful to engage in this self-assessment prior to submission so that you can make revisions in any areas that you feel need improvement.
You can review this video highlighting the steps in the self-assessment process for the Unit 4 Assignment, and a sample Assignment is also linked below. You can also review the video transcript.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. It violates the Code of Student Conduct, and the offense is subject to disciplinary action. You are expected to be the sole author of your work. Use of another person’s work or ideas must be accompanied by specific citations and references. Whether the action is intentional or not, it still constitutes plagiarism.
For more information on academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism, refer to Purdue Global’s “Plagiarism Information” page and the PG Code of Conduct.
Sample Assignment
Review a sample Unit 4 Assignment. Reviewing this sample will give you an idea of how your instructor will assess the Assignment based on the grading rubric and the type of feedback you can expect.
Assignment Rubric
Review the Unit 4 Assignment Rubric for more information about how your instructor will assess your Assignment.
Submitting your Unit 4 Assignment:
Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location on your computer and with a name that you will remember. Be sure to copy and paste the grading rubric into your Assignment prior to submission and complete the self-evaluation.
When you are ready to submit it, click on “Assignments” at the top of the page and complete the steps below:
Select the Unit 4 AssignmentDropbox.
Review the Assignment directions and enter a brief note to the instructor in the Comment Box (like “Attached is my Assignment for Unit 4.”).
Select the Add a File button.
Select the upload button. Find the file you saved.
Double click on your file name.
Select the Add button.
Select Submit.
*Once your paper is uploaded, it will go through Turnitin.com and then worksheet instructions will show up as a match in your Similarity Report. All you need to worry about is your responses. Those should be original.
To view your graded work, come back to the Assignments tab so that you can see the attached document with your feedback.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 6 Assignment
AAn annotated bibliography organizes your research by way of APA references and a short paragraph about each source. For this Assignment, you will create an annotated bibliography for four sources related to an argument for change. One of the sources should address a rival viewpoint or misconception related to your topic.
Your instructor will provide insightful feedback on the sources you find so you can determine whether to use them in the Unit 8 Assignment, a persuasive research essay.
The following aspects are required for your Annotated Bibliography Assignment:
Title page in APA manuscript format.
Your revised thesis statement for an argument for change in your community.
Four primary and secondary sources; one source should be from the Purdue Global Library, one source should include a visual or graphic from a credible .org, .gov, or .edu site, and another should address an opposing viewpoint or misconception.
You are welcome to use sources that you have already tracked down, like the common ground source from Unit 4, the underrepresented stakeholder source from Unit 5, and the rival viewpoint from Unit 6.
Sources that would be appropriate are as follows:
Book, ebook, article, or a chapter from book or ebook
Periodical (e.g., newspaper, magazine, journal article)
Internet source (e.g., blog, organization website, article from Internet site)
Video or audio source (e.g., documentary, video blog, TED Talk, podcast)
Primary source in which the authors of the content are the primary researchers (the ones who conducted research), such as a government report, case study, or speech
Interview with an expert source either published online or conducted by you
Each source should be referenced in APA format.
Directly below the APA reference for each source, provide an annotation paragraph that includes the following:
Brief summaryof the source (no direct quotes from the source) and a parenthetical citation after the summary; for example, (Smith, 2014).
Evaluation of the source’s credibility, including the author’s credentials and the verifiability of the source’s information; this should include where you found the source (Library, Google search engine, government website, etc.)
Discussion about how you will use the sourceto support your argument for community change.
All writing must be in Standard English.
To help you complete this Assignment successfully, please review the resources noted below, including relevant articles from the PGWC that discuss how to write an annotated bibliography, find/evaluate research, and use APA citations.
The previously noted Learning Activities related to evaluating sources will also help in your writing of this Assignment:
“How to Write an Annotated Bibliography”
“Common Citations in APA Format”
“APA Citations Tutorial”
“Internet-Only Sources”
“APA Title Page Tutorial”
Self-Assessment
Review the grading rubric (linked below). You will copy and paste the rubric into your Assignment, identify how many points you think you earned for each part of the rubric based upon how you feel you performed in each of the areas, and assign yourself a grade. It would be useful to engage in this stage of the self-assessment prior to submission so that you can make revisions in any areas that you feel need improvement.
You will also write a well-developed paragraph indicating what changes you have made (for example, to your thesis statement) based on previous feedback you have received from your instructor and classmates.
You can review a video highlighting the steps in the self-assessment process, and a sample Assignment is also linked below. You can also review the video transcript.
Sample Assignment
Review a sample Unit 6 Assignment. Reviewing this sample will give you an idea of how your instructor will assess the Assignment based on the grading rubric and the type of feedback you can expect.
Assignment Rubric
Review the Unit 6 Assignment Rubric for more information about how your instructor will assess your Assignment.
Submitting your Unit 6 Assignment:
Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location on your computer and with a name that you will remember. Be sure to copy and paste the grading rubric into your Assignment prior to submission and complete the self-evaluation.
When you are ready to submit it, click on “Assignments” at the top of the page and complete the steps below:
Select the Unit 6 AssignmentDropbox.
Review the Assignment directions and enter a brief note to the instructor in the Comment Box (like “Attached is my Assignment for Unit 4.”).
Select the Add a File button.
Select the upload button. Find the file you saved.
Double click on your file name.
Select the Add button.
Select Submit.
To view your graded work, come back to the Assignments tab so that you can see the attached document with your feedback.
Turnitin Analysis
A special feature is available to help you with reviewing your Unit 6 Assignment for plagiarism. When you submit your Assignment to the Unit 6 Dropbox, it will automatically be analyzed by the plagiarism detection tool Turnitin. Soon after you submit your Assignment, you will be able to view the Turnitin Similarity Report.
Review the following instructions for how to access and interpret your Similarity Report: Reviewing the Turnitin Similarity Report.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 8 Assignment
The academic essay Assignment in this unit will be a written, cohesive argument for the change in your community that you have been writing about throughout the course. The Assignment should take the form of a persuasive academic essay, in which you will provide reliable evidence from at least four sources to support the argument for change that you are advocating. You will also need to address counterarguments or misconceptions about your topic within the essay, as the ability to do so is a key component of a strong argument. Essentially, the essay will reflect what you have learned about writing effectively, using research, and creating a logical argument to influence an audience.
In accordance with the Plagiarism Policy, students must not self-plagiarize by submitting an Assignment for two different grades; therefore, you must not submit a paper for this Assignment that has been graded in whole or in part for another class, whether at this University or another institution. For further insights on self-plagiarism, please review the Writing Center resource “Self-Plagiarism”.
Your persuasive essay should include the following:
APA 6th edition format for the document, including an appropriately formatted title page and reference page
A thesis statement at the end of the introduction
Well-developed paragraphs that include evidence from sources to support your argument for a specific change in your community
Four reliable sources should be cited within the text of the Assignment; at least one of the cited sources should be either an academic book/ebook or a periodical article, preferably from the Purdue Global Library.
All cited sources need to have full references on the reference page (except for any interviews you conduct, which only require in-text citations).
Use Standard English and a formal tone throughout the writing.
Only the third-person point of view should be used.
Achieving the above criteria should be your main goal with your academic essay. A strong and well-supported argument will be at least 3–4 pages, not including the title page and reference page.
If you are interested in receiving feedback on a draft version of your persuasive essay, reach out to the PGWC for tutoring services. You can find further information about the available services on the WC website: Paper Review and Q&A Services. Also, review the following WC resources for guidance on APA manuscript formatting, APA citation and reference formatting, using evidence from sources, and revising:
“Common Citations in APA Format”
“APA Citations Tutorial”
“Internet-Only Sources”
“APA Title Page Tutorial”
“Self-Plagiarism”
“Reference Elements”
“APA Reference Page Checklist”
Self-Assessment
Review the grading rubric (linked below). You will copy and paste the rubric into your Assignment, identify how many points you think you earned for each part of the rubric based upon how you feel you performed in each of the areas, and assign yourself a grade. It would be useful to engage in this stage of the self-assessment prior to submission so that you can make revisions in any areas that you feel need improvement.
You will also write a well-developed paragraph indicating what changes you have made (for example, to your thesis statement or the introduction and body paragraphs) based on previous feedback you have received from your instructor and classmates.
You can review a video highlighting the steps in the self-assessment process, and a sample Assignment is also linked below. You can also review the video transcript.
Sample Assignment
Review a sample Unit 8 Assignment. Reviewing this sample will give you an idea of how your instructor will assess the Assignment based on the grading rubric and the type of feedback you can expect.
Assignment Rubric
Review the Unit 8 Assignment Rubric for more information about how your instructor will assess your Assignment.
Turnitin Analysis
A special feature is available to help you with reviewing your Unit 8 Assignment for plagiarism. When you submit your Assignment to the Unit 8 Dropbox, it will automatically be analyzed by the plagiarism detection tool Turnitin. Soon after you submit your Assignment, you will be able to view the Turnitin Similarity Report.
Review the following instructions for how to access and interpret your Similarity Report: Reviewing the Turnitin Similarity Report
Submitting your Unit 8 Assignment:
Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location on your computer and with a name that you will remember. Be sure to copy and paste the grading rubric into your Assignment prior to submission and complete the self-evaluation.
When you are ready to submit it, click on “Assignments” at the top of the page and complete the steps below:
Select the Unit 8 AssignmentDropbox.
Review the Assignment directions and enter a brief note to the instructor in the Comment Box (like “Attached is my Assignment for Unit 4.”).
Select the Add a File button.
Select the upload button. Find the file you saved.
Double click on your file name.
Select the Add button.
Select Submit.
To view your graded work, come back to the Assignments tab so that you can see the attached document with your feedback.
CM220 College Composition II
Unit 9 Assignment
For this Assignment, you will use technology and the writing skills you have learned thus far to transform your Unit 8 argument into a digital media presentation appropriate for sharing outside of the classroom environment.
Develop a slide presentation or video that is designed to have a strong impact on the audience by revising the draft you shared in this week’s Discussion. Your digital media presentation is not necessarily testing your design skills, though you should certainly try to practice the design suggestions provided in the WC resources. More importantly, you are practicing your composition skills by applying persuasive strategies in a new context with visual media. You will demonstrate visual rhetoric skills by combining text and images to compel your audience to recognize the importance of your argument for change.
The digital media presentation should have the following characteristics:
A clear argument for change in your community (the one you have been writing about throughout the course)
Designed with a specific audience in mind in order to motivate your viewers to take action or change how they think about the topic
Slide presentation or video format (contact your instructor for prior approval if you have a different idea for your digital media presentation)
Contains at least 8–10 slides (slide presentation, not including the title and references slide) or lasts approximately 45 seconds to 1 minute (video)
Research from at least four reliable sources to support the main message, including graphics. These can be sources from previous units.
Minimally, two information-oriented visuals like a chart, diagram, or infographic (e.g., photo, table, diagram, chart, etc.) to represent key information in your argument.
Relevant clip art, stock photos, and design templates that are visually engaging and reinforce the overall theme of the presentation.
Research and visuals are cited in APA citation format, both in-text and on a References slide or in a separate Word document. You need to quote material taken directly from a source. The same standards for documenting sources apply to a presentation that apply to an essay.
Note: Do not use the “Notes” section for citation or adding details to help the audience understand. The presentation needs to be clear based on what the audience can see and “Notes” are meant only for the speaker. Your instructor will not review the “Notes” section if you use PowerPoint.
Images that require attribution should have an APA formatted in-text citation and APA formatted reference entry. Please provide the website logo with images that are freely available so that your instructor knows they do not require an APA reference entry.
Noted below are the specific requirements for this unit’s Assignment:
Title page/slide with the presentation title, your name, and course information
PowerPoints must be submitted in .ppt or .pptx format. Turnitin can’t read .pptm files or Keynote files.
If you are submitting a video, Vimeo®, PowToon, Prezi, etc., please submit a separate Word document with the title page, references page, a link to the presentation, and the text for your presentation
Be sure to copy the link to the presentation from the “Share” option rather than the top of your browser.
References to sources, including graphics, are cited in APA 6th Edition style both in-text and on a separate References slide
See the following WC resources for further guidance on APA manuscript formatting and APA citation formatting:
WC: “Common Citations in APA Format”
WC: “APA Citations Tutorial”
WC: “APA Formatting in PowerPoint”
Academic Writer Title page tutorial
PGWC: APA Reference Page Checklist
Sample Assignment
Review a sample Unit 9 Assignment.
Assignment Rubric
Review the Assignment Rubric for more information about how your instructor will assess your Assignment.
Submitting your Assignment:
Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location on your computer and with a name that you will remember. When you are ready to submit it, click on “Assignments” at the top of the page and complete the steps below:
Select the Unit 9 Assignment Dropbox
Review the Assignment directions and enter a brief note to the instructor in the Comment Box (like “Attached is my sample assignment for Unit 4.”)
Select the Add a File button.
Select the upload button. Find the file you saved.
Double click on your file name.
Select the Add button.
Select Submit.
To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.
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