ENGLISH 101 – ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY TOPICS:

1. The K-12 Education System: Has It Improved the Quality 1-10

of Education in the Philippines?
2. The Role of the Philippines in the South China Sea 11-20
Dispute: Should the Country Strengthen Its Alliance with
the U.S. to Counter China’s Aggression?
3. Stigma vs. Awareness: Has the Philippines Made 21-30
Significant Progress in Reducing the Stigma Around
Mental Health?
4. "Is Social Media a Major Cause of Mental Health Issues 31-40
Among Young People?"
5. "Should the Voting Age in the Philippines Be Lowered to 41-last seat
16?" number

Instruction for Writing Your Argumentative Essay

Objective: Complete your argumentative essay independently, and then use AI tools
for final improvements before submission.
Steps to Follow:
1. Draft Your Essay Without AI Assistance:
o Begin by researching your topic thoroughly and gathering evidence
from credible sources.
o Write your essay from scratch, focusing on your original ideas,
arguments, and analysis.
o Ensure your essay includes a clear thesis statement, structured body
paragraphs, and a compelling conclusion.
2. Review and Revise Your Draft:
o After completing your initial draft, take a break and then read through
your essay with fresh eyes.
o Look for areas that need improvement, such as clarity, coherence, and
argument strength. Make necessary revisions.
3. Use AI as a Final Touch:
o After you are satisfied with your original draft, you may use AI tools for
final proofreading and enhancement.
o Input your completed essay into the AI tool to check for grammar,
spelling, and stylistic improvements.
o Review the AI suggestions carefully and make adjustments that align
with your voice and argument.
4. Submit Your Work:
o Prepare two versions for submission:
 Original Essay: Your independently crafted argumentative essay.
 Improved Essay: The version that has been enhanced with AI
assistance, clearly indicating the changes made.
Important Notes:
 Maintain Academic Integrity: The goal is to use AI as a support tool, not as a
substitute for your own critical thinking and writing skills.
 Ensure Originality: Your original essay should reflect your understanding and
perspective on the topic.
 Follow Submission Guidelines: Ensure both versions are formatted correctly
according to your instructor's requirements.

Writing Guidelines for a College-Level Argumentative Essay

1. Understanding the Assignment
 Topic Selection: Ensure you fully understand the assigned topic and its scope.
If it's open-ended, choose a specific angle that interests you.
 Purpose: Your goal is to present a well-reasoned argument supported by
evidence, persuading your reader to adopt your viewpoint.
2. Research and Preparation
 Conduct Thorough Research: Gather credible sources (books, academic
journals, reputable websites) to support your argument.
 Evaluate Sources: Ensure your sources are relevant, reliable, and up-to-date.
 Take Notes: Summarize key points and evidence that you might use in your
essay.
3. Thesis Statement
 Develop a Clear Thesis: Your thesis should state your main argument or
position on the topic. It should be specific, debatable, and guide the direction
of your essay.
4. Outline Structure
 Introduction
o Start with a hook to engage the reader.
o Provide background information on the topic.
o Clearly state your thesis at the end of the introduction.
 Body Paragraphs
o Topic Sentences: Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that
relates to your thesis.
o Evidence: Present evidence to support your claims (facts, statistics,
quotes, examples).
o Analysis: Explain how your evidence supports your argument. Address
potential counterarguments and refute them.
o Transitions: Use transitional phrases to connect ideas and maintain
flow.
 Conclusion
o Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new light.
o Emphasize the significance of your argument and its implications.
o End with a thought-provoking statement or call to action.
5. Writing Style and Tone
 Formal Language: Use an academic tone and avoid colloquialisms or overly
casual expressions.
  Clarity and Precision: Be concise and clear. Avoid ambiguity and unnecessary
jargon.
 Variety in Sentence Structure: Use a mix of simple, compound, and complex
sentences to enhance readability.
6. Citations and References
 Follow Citation Guidelines: Use the appropriate citation style APA 7 for in-text
citations and your reference list. Do this on your final submission.
 Avoid Plagiarism: Always give credit to the original authors of your sources.
7. Revision and Editing
 Review Content: Check if your arguments are coherent and effectively
support your thesis.
 Edit for Grammar and Mechanics: Look for grammatical errors, awkward
phrasing, and typos.
 Seek Feedback: If possible, ask peers or instructors for feedback on your
essay.
8. Final Checklist
 Ensure your essay meets the required length and format.
 Verify that all sources are properly cited.
 Confirm that your thesis and arguments are clear and persuasive.

First draft should be written during the face-to-face session. In a one whole sheet
of paper, each group should brainstorm, research, and compose their draft.

Final AI-Improvised essay should be a printed document considering the format:

 A4 bond paper
 Times New Roman
 Font size: 12
 Single spacing
 Margin left and right is 1

Use the headline address

University of Cebu – Main

Campus

ENGLISH 101 – FINAL PERIOD

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
WRITING
Argumentative Essay Grading Rubric

Criteria Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs

(4 points) (3 points) (2 points) Improvement
(1 point)
Thesis Clear, Clear thesis; Thesis is Weak thesis;
Statement specific, and mostly present but unclear
arguable specific and vague or not direction for
thesis; sets arguable. entirely the essay.
direction. arguable.
Argument Strong, Logical Some logical Weak
Developmen logical arguments arguments, arguments;
t arguments with some but lacks minimal
supported by evidence; sufficient evidence;
evidence; develops evidence; points are
thoroughly most points. underdevelo unclear or
develops ped points. poorly
points. developed.
Organization Well- Organized; Some Poor
organized; clear organization organization;
clear sections but ; sections difficult to
introduction, some are present follow the
body, and transitions but lack argument.
conclusion; may be clear flow.
logical flow. awkward.
Counterargu Anticipates Recognizes Mentions Little to no
ments and counterargu counterargu recognition
effectively ments; ments but of
addresses addresses does not counterargu
counterargu them address ments.
ments. somewhat. effectively.
Language Clear, Mostly clear Basic clarity; Language is
and Style engaging, and tone may be unclear or
and appropriate informal; inappropriat
appropriate tone; some limited e for an
academic variation in sentence academic
tone; varied structure. variety. setting.
sentence
structure.
Grammar Few or no Some Several Frequent
and grammatical grammatical errors that grammatical
Mechanics errors; errors but do may distract errors that
correct not impede from the interfere
spelling and understandin argument. with
punctuation. g. understandin
g.