Respond to a Current Event or Issue
Task: Write a 750 word paper in response to an issue of your choice in
which you take a stance.
Identify an issue that interests you. You may want to consider a topic related to your
eventual field of study.
Research : Begin by browsing hardcopy and online newspapers/journals. You will need
three sources that consider your selected issue. Consider searching for editorials, follow
up letters, and articles to help you formulate an educated opinion about the issue to
which you will respond.
For more detail about the research process, the Online Writing Lab at Purdue
University provides a guide to conducting research that can be helpful:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/8/
Make sure to:
● Clearly identify the issue.
● Provide sufficient background on the issue.
● Present an informed position on the issue.
● Present the counterargument to your position.
● Conclude with a call to action.
Use the knowledge you acquired from the Canadian Practical Stylist and subsequent
assignments to structure your writing.
Your response should be approximately 750 words and conform to the rules of writing.
Be sure to properly format your paper and submit it on classroom.
Due: Tuesday, November 20, 2018
1
Evaluation Rubric
Content
● Clearly Identified
issue
● Sufficient
background on
the issue
● Presents an
informed position
● Conclude with
call to action
The student has
presented an issue that
is highly cohesive and
coherent and reflects a
thorough understanding
of an issue.
(compelling)
The student has
presented an idea
that is cohesive and
coherent
Assignment reflects
an adequate
understanding of an
issue.
The student has
selected and
developed an idea
that may be lacking
cohesion and
coherence.
Assignment reflects
some
understanding of
an issue.
The student may
not have
developed or
understood the
idea presented
in the
assignment.
20-19 18-17-16 15-14 13>
Organization &
Transitions of
Paragraphs and Ideas
The student has
organized ideas into
highly coherent
paragraphs with smooth
transitions.
The student has
organized ideas into
coherent paragraphs
with adequate
transitions.
The student may
have shown some
evidence of
organized
paragraphs, but
transitions are
weak.
The student has
not
demonstrated an
understanding of
paragraph
structure or
transitions.
12-11 10-9 8 7>
Mechanics The student consistently
uses correct sentence
structure, grammar,
spelling, punctuation,
and capitalization.
The student has a
few grammar,
sentence structure,
spelling,
punctuation, or
capitalization errors.
The student has
made numerous
errors in sentence
structure, grammar,
spelling,
punctuation, and
capitalization.
The student has
excessive errors
in sentence
structure,
grammar,
spelling,
punctuation, and
capitalization.
10 9-8 7 6>
Originality The student has dealt
with a current issue in a
manner that sets this
assignment apart from
the rest.
(Can be sent to Globe!!)
The student has
selected a current
and/or interesting
idea or issue.
The student’s
response contains
clichés. Ideas may
be commonplace
and lack depth.
The student has
selected an
issue but the
response is not
competent.
4 3 2 1
Details
Properly Formatted
Printed
Includes Related Title
Submitted On Time
All
4
Detail (s) missing
3
Detail (s) missing
2-1
All Details
Missing
0
Score
/50
2
3