Eng 123 from problem to persuasion

ENG 123 Module One Journal Guidelines and Rubric

1-6 From Problem to Persuasion Overview: The journal activity in this course is private between you and the instructor. This week, you spent some time reflecting on persuasion in your everyday life, and you shared some potential topic ideas with your peers and instructor. But why is persuasion so important? Let’s think about that a little bit in this journal entry. Reviewing your brainstorming activity, select two potential problems that a) have two logical sides to the issue (your viewpoint and an opposing viewpoint); b) are researchable; and c) are related to your career or degree. In your journal, write a fully developed paragraph for each problem (5–8 sentences each) explaining the two sides to the issue (how is it argumentative?); how you plan to approach the problem in your project (what side are you going to take?); and why you are personally interested in the problem (of all the potential problems in your field or degree, why did you choose this?). When writing the paragraphs, feel free to express any other thoughts or concerns you may have about the topic choices. After exploring the argumentativeness of your problems, take a moment to consider the bigger picture. Then, in one to two paragraphs, briefly reflect on the importance of persuasion with the potential topic you are most likely to write about. Why is it important that people consider your side with your selected topic? Who is your audience, and why is it important to convince them that your view on your topic is the better (or more correct) view? Remember to try to be specific in your entry; this information will help guide you as you work on your project in the coming weeks.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Potential Problem #1

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides additional rich, engaging details and reflections on the potential problem

Identifies first potential problem that has two clear sides to the issue, is researchable, and is related to student’s career or degree

Identifies a potential problem, but is missing information that explains the two sides to the issue, explains how it is researchable, and/or explains how it is related to student’s intended career or degree

Does not clearly explain why the potential problem was chosen

25

Potential Problem #2

Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides additional rich, engaging details and reflections on the second potential problem

Identifies second potential problem that has two clear sides to the issue, is researchable, and is related to student’s career or degree

Identifies second potential problem, but is missing information that explains the two sides to the issue, explains how it is researchable, and/or explains how it is related to student’s intended career or degree

Does not clearly explain why the second potential problem was chosen

25

Importance of

Persuasion Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides detailed examples to support claims

Examines why it is important to persuade an audience using the potential topic that student is most likely to write about

Examines the importance of persuading an audience but lacks details or does not discuss in relation to the student’s potential topic

Does not examine the importance of persuasion

20

Audience Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides detailed examples to support claims

Accurately identifies audience in regards to topic selected and discusses importance of convincing audience that the selected view on the topic is the better (or more correct) view

Identifies an audience and discusses importance of convincing audience but discussion contains inaccuracies or lacks details

Does not identify audience and does not discuss the importance of convincing audience that the selected view on the topic is the better (or more correct) view

20

Articulation of Response

Journal entry is free of errors in organization and grammar

Journal entry is mostly free of errors of organization and grammar which are marginal and rarely interrupt the flow

Journal entries contain errors of organization and grammar but are limited enough so that entries can be understood

Journal entry contains errors of organization and grammar making the journal difficult to understand

10

Earned Total 100%