Embedded Assessment 5

Embedded Assessment 5.2: The Two Sides to Hot Button Issues

Everyone has to deal with issues of justice. Sometimes these are questions that happen in your lives every day: Is it wrong to cheat on a test, do you have freedom of speech in a classroom, can the administration search lockers randomly? And sometimes the issues are larger, dealing with crime and punishment, war, and social issues. In this assignment you will be required to research and present a Hot Button Issue in a number of ways.

Part I: The Persuasive Paper

Write a paper that captures the arguments and rationales of one side of the issue you have researched. In doing so, you must persuade your reader/audience to adopt the position presented in the paper. Include credible research, minimum three sources, correctly cited. Your paper must have a focused thesis statement and be organized in a logical and meaningful way. You may choose from the following formats for your paper:

~An editorial

~A newspaper article

~A magazine article,

~ An advice column (Dear Abby)

~ A speech

~ Letters to or from people and characters real orimagined

~ Letter to or from the President or other gov't. official

~ Interviews or transcripts of interviews

Part II: The Product – Multi-Genre Publicity Campaign

Create a publicity campaign for the other side of the argument you made in the essay. In this campaign you must include, at least, three different genres that capture the arguments and rationales for this side of the issue. Consider the list below for ideas; you must have a balance of both visually appealing and textually informative products:

An editorial

A newspaper or magazine column, an advice column

(Dear Abby)

A Web page or Internet article

Poems, descriptive paragraphs, short stories

Photographs accompanied by captions, poems, or

other explanatory writing

A script or scene of a play

Dialogue or speech

A pamphlet or brochure

Letters to or from people and characters real or

imagined, Letter to or from the President

Personal reactions

Journals, diary entries

Songs or ballads, CD cover, book jacket

Newspaper inserts or advertisements

Children’s book

Critical review

Interviews or transcripts of interviews

Directions, including how-to

Science notes

Cartoons or a comic strip

Puzzles or word searches, a game

Recipes, grocery lists, or to-do lists

Telegram or e-mail

Instant Messaging conversation, text-messaging

dialogue

Documentary script

Storyboard with director’s notes

Prophecies or predictions, horoscopes

Resumes

Stories

A manual

A map with a legend

Poster

Pamphlet

Protest Song

Political Road Signs

Buttons

Clothing

Billboards

Bookmarks

Bumper stickers

Video or pod cast

30 sec. commercial

Event Program

Postcard

Mailings

Telemarketing Speech

Coupons/Flyers

Research: Your research must include at least three citations from a variety of sources for each side of your issue (equaling a total of 6 sources, three for each side). Of course, you may always include more. At least one source, overall, must be a print source.

Scoring Rubric for Persuasive Essay	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Does Not Yet Meet Expectations
Argumentation	Title emphasizes main idea. Accurate and detailed explanations prove thesis/topic sentences. Clear introduction and explanation of quotes and evidence. Specific examples are used to support main ideas. Persuasive argument and rationale are presented in a concise, logical way; relates evidence back to thesis. Supporting commentary are relevant.	Title is present. Explanations attempt to prove thesis/topic sentences. Quotes may lack a clear intro or explanation. Some examples are used, but lack specificity. Persuasive argument and rationale are present but lack concise support. Commentary may veer off topic, lack some relevance or is limited.	There is no title or any originality in title. Explanations and evidence is not used properly or is irrelevant. Argument and rationale lacks persuasion. Some examples may exist but are not linked back to the argument
Organization	Relevant, engaging introduction. Clear, focused, and relevant thesis statement that clearly captures the argument and rationale. Topic Sentences clearly support the thesis. Fluid and logical structure; employs effective transitions to link ideas. Conclusion provides sense of closure. Structure of essay adds to persuasiveness of the argument.	There is an introduction and multiple supporting paragraphs. Thesis statement may lack significance and/or topic sentences may or may not align with argument or rationale. Structure is present, but does not help reader understand argument clearly. A conclusion is present. Transitions exist.	Paper may be lacking introduction, supporting paragraphs and/or conclusion. Thesis does not capture the argument or rationale for the issue. Transitions are all but non-existent. There is little to no structure and the lack of organization makes reading the essay difficult.
Use of Evidence and Work(s) Cited	Main arguments are supported with evidence/quotes (min. of 3 internal citations). Proper MLA (both internal and works cited) is used.	Evidence is present, support is limited or may not relate to argument. There are 3 or fewer internal citations and citations may not be formatted properly.	Little to no evidence and/or support of argument exists. There are fewer than 3 citation and they are not properly formatted.
Conventions/Mechanics	Author demonstrates excellent understanding of standard writing conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.)	There are very few errors in conventions and mechanics. Proofreading has been utilized; and errors do not impede readability. Author shows overall understanding of basic writing conventions with some deviation.	There are significant errors in grammar, conventions and mechanics. Proofreading is inadequate.

Scoring for the Publicity Campaign:

EA 5.2: Publicity Campaign

Scoring for the Publicity Campaign:	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Does Not Yet Meet Expectations
Argumentation	The three pieces of the campaign clearly reflect a single side of the issue. Appropriate techniques are expertly used to persuade audiences to that point of view.	The three pieces of the campaign reflect a single side of the issue. Appropriate techniques are used to persuade audiences to that point of view, but may lack clarity.	The three pieces of the campaign somewhat reflect a single side of the issue. An attempt to use techniques to persuade audiences to that point of view is present.
Genres	Three uniquely different non-print or print genres are significantly used to capture one side of the hot button issue.	Three different non-print or print genres are used to capture one side of the hot button issue.	Three or fewer non-print or print genres are used to capture one side of the hot button issue.
Use of Evidence	Direct quotes, data, and other evidence are used to meaningfully embellish the other visual and persuasive techniques. Evidence clearly connects to the campaign.	Direct evidence is used to add to the visual and/or persuasive elements of the campaign. Evidence connects to the campaign.	While evidence may be used alongside visual and/or persuasive elements, it may detract from the campaign or lack connection.
Artistic Elements	Artistic elements are used in a sophisticated and professional way to capture the essential information on this side of the issue – color, form, content, etc. all work together to establish a clear message.	Artistic elements are used to capture the essential information on this side of the issue – color, form, content, etc. are used to create a message for this side of the issue.	Artistic elements are used to capture this side of the issue – color, form, content, etc. are used but may be lacking or distract from the message.

Scoring Rubric for Persuasive Essay

Exceeds Expectations

Meets Expectations

Does Not Yet Meet Expectations

Argumentation

There is no title or any originality in title. Explanations and evidence is not used properly or is irrelevant. Argument and rationale lacks persuasion. Some examples may exist but are not linked back to the argument

Organization

There is an introduction and multiple supporting paragraphs. Thesis statement may lack significance and/or topic sentences may or may not align with argument or rationale. Structure is present, but does not help reader understand argument clearly. A conclusion is present. Transitions exist.

Paper may be lacking introduction, supporting paragraphs and/or conclusion. Thesis does not capture the argument or rationale for the issue. Transitions are all but non-existent. There is little to no structure and the lack of organization makes reading the essay difficult.

Use of Evidence and Work(s) Cited

Main arguments are supported with evidence/quotes (min. of 3 internal citations). Proper MLA (both internal and works cited) is used.

Evidence is present, support is limited or may not relate to argument. There are 3 or fewer internal citations and citations may not be formatted properly.

Little to no evidence and/or support of argument exists. There are fewer than 3 citation and they are not properly formatted.

Conventions/Mechanics

Author demonstrates excellent understanding of standard writing conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.)

There are very few errors in conventions and mechanics. Proofreading has been utilized; and errors do not impede readability. Author shows overall understanding of basic writing conventions with some deviation.

There are significant errors in grammar, conventions and mechanics. Proofreading is inadequate.