ENG 123 Journal Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: The journal activity in this course is private between you and the instructor. However, you will be discussing your work with your topic in future
discussions with your peers. 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 assignment.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
1. After exploring the Opposing Viewpoints Database and reviewing your brainstorming activity, identify two issues that are related to your career or
degree:
a. Write a fully developed paragraph for issue one (5–8 sentences).
i. Explain at least two clear arguable sides to the issue.
ii. Explain how the issue relates to your field or degree, or your potential field or degree.
b. Write a fully developed paragraph for issue two (5–8 sentences).
i. Explain at least two clear arguable sides to the issue.
ii. Explain how the issue relates to your field or degree, or your potential field or degree.
2. After exploring the arguments related to your issues, take a moment to consider the bigger picture. Then, briefly reflect (in 1 to 2 paragraphs) on the
importance of persuasion for the issue you are most likely to write about. Be specific in your assignment; this information will help guide you as you
work on your project in the coming weeks.
a. Identify which side you might argue if you plan to pursue this issue in your final persuasive essay.
b. Identify your potential audience and why your topic would be relevant to them.
Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Submit the assignment as a Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins.
Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Issue One Identifies first potential issue that
has two clear arguable sides and
demonstrates relation to career
or degree
Identifies the first potential issue,
but it is missing information that
explains the two clear arguable
sides to the issue or does not
demonstrate relation to career or
degree
Does not clearly explain why the
potential issue was chosen
25
Critical Elements Proficient (100%) Needs Improvement (75%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Issue Two Identifies second potential issue
that has two clear arguable sides
and demonstrates relation to
career or degree
Identifies the second potential
issue, but it is missing
information that explains the two
clear arguable sides to the issue,
or does not demonstrate relation
to career or degree
Does not clearly explain why the
potential issue was chosen
25
Argue Identifies which side might be
argued if this issue is pursued in
final persuasive essay
Identifies which side might be
argued if this issue is pursued in
final persuasive essay, but lacks
details or does not discuss
relation to the potential topic
Does not identify which side
might be argued
20
Audience Identifies potential audience and
why topic would be relevant to
them
Identifies potential audience and
why topic would be relevant to
them, but discussion contains
inaccuracies or lacks details
Does not identify potential
audience and does not discuss
why topic would be relevant to
them
20
Articulation of
Response
Journal assignment is mostly free
of errors of organization and
grammar; existing errors are
marginal and rarely interrupt the
flow
Journal assignment contains
errors of organization and
grammar, but they are limited
enough that assignment can be
understood
Journal assignment contains
errors of organization and
grammar that make the journal
difficult to understand
10
Total 100%
ENG 123 Journal Guidelines and Rubric
Rubric