RHET 1320 Academic Research and Writing

Major Assignment
Ms. Richard
Proposal
Overview
A proposal identifies a problematic situation that merits your taking a stand and then advocating
a plan of action. For this assignment, your goal is to identify a problem and then advocate for a
solution to address that problem. The problem is to be related to the issue in your logical
argument essay.
This assignment meets our learning outcomes in the following ways. Rhetorical Knowledge:
Write with purpose to produce a document that is rhetorically effective by targeting a specific
audience, purpose, genre, content and rhetorical appeals. Critical Reading, Thinking and
Writing: engage in critical writing to effectively communicate an argument for your topic.
Writing Process Strategies: generate multiple drafts of this assignment and integrate feedback
from your peers. Knowledge of conventions: adhere to the required format as specified by the
instructor, control surface features, and document appropriately.

Organizing, Drafting, Invention, and Planning

In order to convince your audience to adopt your proposed solution, you will want to convince
them that a problem does, indeed, exist. Then youll argue that a certain action should be taken to
respond to or resolve that problem. The proposed plan of action should be both possible and
desirable. See Chapter 14, pp. 283-295 for help. Your proposal must incorporate the following
sections as an effective way to organize the content:

Introductionidentifying the problem.

ProblemAnalyzing the problems causes
Plan sectiondescribing your solution
Qualification sectiondescribe who will do the work
ConclusionConclude costs and benefits

Outside Sourcesthis assignment requires that you use ten credible outside sources to supply
the data and authority that often persuade contemporary audiences. The sources must be
attributed and cited. Refer to Chapter 18 or Purdue Owl online help for correct MLA
documentation, format and style. Chapter 15 will help with incorporating research into your
proposal argument. Refer to Chapter 17 for help with crediting, quoting, paraphrasing, and
summarizing.

Submission Guidelines
You are required to have 1500 words for this assignment which is about six pages. This essay
should incorporate at least 10 supportive sources from your research, and be documented in
MLA format.
All assignment materials should be submitted into blackboard under the appropriate heading.
Assignment components contain evidence of your writing process. The total of these components
add up to 200 points. Components and corresponding points are listed below.

Brainstorm activity (5 pts)

Rough draft (10 pts)
Peer review (10 pts)
Reflection (25 pts)
Final draft (150 pts)

Extra CreditWriting is a process and we improve with practice. Often times Getting
feedback and incorporating it into our writing will produce better papers. You have the
opportunity to revise and re-submit your final draft one time. The final revision must be
substantial and it is worth up to 10 points of extra Credit.
Formatting of the final copy should include:

Times New Roman font, 12 point, double-spaced, 1 inch margins

MLA Format

Rubric for Evaluating Your Proposal

Component

Exceptional (30 Effective (25 pts) Acceptable

pts)
(20pts)

Unsatisfactory (10)

Introduces the
Topic so that it
Appeals to
Audience and
Addresses
Purpose

The topic and

your treatment of
it are very
interesting to a
group of readers
and All tone and
style choices are
appropriate for
the audience.

The topic and your

treatment of it are
moderately
interesting to a
group of readers
and most tone and
style choices are
appropriate for the
audience.

Your treatment
of the topic has
limited interest to
readers and style
choices are
moderately
appropriate for the
audience.

You dont seem that

interested in the topic,
and you dont make it
very interesting to
readers. Document does
not meet assignment
criteria.

Proposal
Components

1)purpose is
clear, 2)problem
is outlined 3)a
convincing
argument for
solution is
presented, 4)plan
for solution is
plainly stated,
5)Conclusion
restates problem,
solution,
encourages
audience to act.

Proposal
components are
discussed but lack
substantial data to
fully support the
claims discussed.

Proposal
components are
moderately
discussed.

Failed to address proposal

components effectively.
Insufficient information
was obtained and/or
sources lack validity.

Organization

The organization
is very clear to
readers, and it is
easy to follow.

The organization
may be clear, but it
is only moderately
easy to follow.

The organization is The organization is so

somewhat unclear, unclear that it is difficult
and it is not easy to to follow.
follow.

Development
and Support

Proposal uses a
rich array of
details from the
research to
support your
general
statements.

Proposal uses an
array of details to
support general
statements.

Proposal uses
Proposal uses few details
details to support
to support general
some but not most statements.
general statements.

Sentences are
grammatical but
lack variety; your
diction lacks
precision in places;
youve attended to
most conventions
of citation,
punctuation and

Sentences are
ungrammatical and
lack variety; your
diction is vague or
imprecise in places;
youve not
consistently
attended to
conventions of

Expression and Sentences are

Conventions
grammatical and
varied; your
diction is precise;
youve carefully
attended to
conventions of
citation,
punctuation, and

Sentences are
ungrammatical and lack
variety; your diction is
imprecise in many places;
youve not paid much
attention to conventions
of citation, punctuation,
and mechanics. No
attempt at MLA

mechanics. Uses
proper MLA
formatting. Works
Cited page is
included.

mechanics.
Attempts MLA
formatting. Works
Cited page is
included.

citation,
formatting.
punctuation, and
mechanics. Minimal
MLA formatting.
Works Cited page is
included.