Argumentative Essay Rough Draft: Rhetorical Devices in "I Have a Dream"

In this assignment, you will first complete an argumentative outline to organize your ideas. Then, you will write a three to four paragraph rough draft essay responding to the prompt below. Your essay will be graded using the attached rubric, which is based on the Tennessee EOC Writing Assessment. Remember, this is a rough draft, so focus on developing your ideas and supporting them with evidence from Dr. King's speech.

Complete the outline below to help organize your thoughts before writing your essay. Use bullet points or brief phrases for each section.

Claim: Which rhetorical device (repetition, parallelism, allusion, or analogy) do you think is the most persuasive in Dr. King's speech? State your claim clearly.

Reason 1: What is your first reason for choosing this rhetorical device?

Evidence 1: Provide a specific example from the speech that supports your first reason.

Reason 2: What is your second reason for choosing this rhetorical device?

Evidence 2: Provide a specific example from the speech that supports your second reason.

Conclusion: How does your evidence show that this rhetorical device is the most persuasive? Summarize your argument.

Using your completed outline, write a three to four paragraph rough draft essay responding to the following prompt:

"In his speech, 'I Have a Dream,' Dr. Martin Luther King argues for freedom and equality for all Americans. Dr. King uses repetition, parallelism, allusion and analogy to persuade his audience about his vision for America. Which of these rhetorical devices do YOU think is the most persuasive? Use evidence from the text to support your argument."

Be sure to:

• Clearly state your claim (thesis)
• Support your claim with at least two reasons and evidence from the speech
• Organize your essay into paragraphs
• Use clear and logical transitions
• Write in complete sentences

Write your argumentative rough draft essay (three to four paragraphs) based on your outline and the prompt above.

Review the rubric below. This is how your rough draft will be graded. Use it to check your work before submitting.

Argumentative Essay Rough Draft Rubric (Based on TN EOC Writing Assessment)

| Criteria | 4 - Exceeds Expectations | 3 - Meets Expectations | 2 - Approaching Expectations | 1 - Below Expectations | |----------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------| | Focus/Claim | Clear, strong claim; fully addresses prompt | Clear claim; addresses prompt | Weak or unclear claim; partially addresses prompt | No claim or off-topic | | Evidence/Support | Relevant, thorough evidence from text; strong explanation | Relevant evidence from text; adequate explanation | Limited or unclear evidence; weak explanation | Little or no evidence; no explanation | | Organization | Well-organized; clear paragraphs and transitions | Organized; paragraphs and some transitions | Some organization; weak transitions | Disorganized; no clear paragraphs | | Conventions | Few or no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation | Some minor errors; do not interfere with meaning | Frequent errors; somewhat interfere with meaning | Many errors; interfere with understanding |

No response needed here. Use this rubric to self-assess your draft before turning it in.