A. Assignment Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: Refer to the list below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
1. Argumentative Thesis Statement❒ Have you included a thesis in your introduction includes a clear, arguable stance and supporting reasons?2. Argument Development❒ Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?
❒ Is the argument supported using persuasive rhetorical appeals and page/paragraph-numbered source material (i.e., direct quotations, paraphrasing, and summary)?
❒ Is your essay 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words, not including your references or reflection question responses)? If not, which details do you need to add or remove?
❒ Does the essay consist of at least seven paragraphs – an introduction, five body paragraphs (with at least one for the counterarguments and rebuttals), and a conclusion? Are the body paragraphs ordered logically to strengthen the argument, and do they all contain accurate evidence from credible sources?
❒ Do your topic sentences make original and supportable points? Do your topic sentences directly support your thesis statement?3. Research❒ Have you introduced, contextualized, and cited outside sources effectively using at least some direct quotation, summary, and paraphrase techniques and included page/paragraph-numbered parenthetical citations?
❒ Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the source information?
❒ Have you referenced a range of at least 7 credible sources, and does each source have at least one accurate in-text citation in the essay?
❒ Have you properly formatted your citations according to APA style guidelines?
❒ Have you included an APA style reference page below your essay and do the sources listed there match those cited in the essay?4. Reflection❒ Have you answered all reflection questions thoughtfully and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses?
❒ Are your answers included on a separate page below the main assignment?
B. Reflection
DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.
Provide one example of a place where you have used rhetorical appeals or source material to support your argument. How does this enhance your essay? (2-3 sentences)Touchstone 4 is a revision of this draft. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you as you revise? Are there parts of your draft that you’re uncertain of? (3-4 sentences)
C. Rubric
Advanced (100%)Proficient (85%)Acceptable (75%)Needs Improvement (50%)Non-Performance (0%)Argument Development and Support (40 points)Provide a clear argument with sufficient support.The argument is thoroughly developed with highly relevant details to support it, including the use of rhetorical appeals and accurately cited source material (with page or paragraph numbers included).The argument is well-developed with relevant details to support it, including the use of rhetorical appeals and accurately cited source material (with page or paragraph numbers included).The argument is not fully developed; while it is supported by some relevant details, including rhetorical appeals and accurately cited source material (with page or paragraph numbers included)l, some aspects of the argument are neglected.The argument is poorly developed with irrelevant details that frequently distract from the argument; there is little evidence of the use of rhetorical appeals and/or source material. Source material included is still accurately cited (with page or paragraph numbers included).The argument is not developed and/or the composition is not argumentative; details are irrelevant and distract from the argument OR are not supported with accurately cited source material.Research (30 points)Incorporate sources through effective quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.Cites all outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources smoothly and effectively through some direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Primarily cites outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources effectively through some direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Generally cites outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources adequately through some direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Cites outside sources, but most are cited improperly; incorporates sources through some direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary, but the integration is not smooth and/or the credibility of the sources is unclear.Does not cite or reference sources with page/paragraph numbers, citation is consistently inappropriate and/or inaccurate, and/or sources are not credible or appropriate.Organization (15 points)Exhibit competent organizational writing techniques.Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with relevant and engaging background information and an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement.Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with background information, an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement.Includes nearly all of the required components of an argumentative research paper; however, one component is missing.Includes most of the required components of an argumentative research paper, but is lacking two components; sequences ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are sometimes unclear and the reader may have difficulty following the progression of the argument.Lacks several or all of the components of an argumentative research paper; sequences ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are often unclear and the reader has difficulty following the progression of the argument.Style (5 points)Establish a consistent, informative tone and make thoughtful stylistic choices.Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices, avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a wide variety of sentence structures.Demonstrates effective word choices, primarily avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a variety of sentence structures.Demonstrates generally effective style choices, but may include occasional redundancies, imprecise language, poor word choice, and/or repetitive sentence structures.Frequently includes poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures.Consistently demonstrates poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures.Conventions (5 points)Follow conventions for standard written English.There are only a few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.Reflection (5 points)Answer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses, following or exceeding response length guidelines.Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and/or examples, following response length guidelines.Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; primarily follows response length guidelines.Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight, with some questions left unanswered or falling short of response length guidelines.No reflection responses are present.
D. Requirements
The following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:
Composition must be 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words, not including your references or reflection question responses).Double-space the composition and use one-inch margins.Use a readable 12-point font.All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.Composition must be original and written for this assignment.Use of generative chatbot artificial intelligence tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard) in place of original writing is strictly prohibited for this assignment.Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.Include all of the assignment components in a single file.Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.
Research Question: What is the impact of gun control policies on gun violence in the United States?
Working Thesis: While there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing gun violence in the U.S., evidence suggests that stricter gun control measures, such as background checks and assault weapons bans, can help decrease the number of gun-related deaths.
Outline
I. Introduction: While there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing gun violence in the U.S., evidence suggests that stricter gun control measures, such as background checks and assault weapons bans, can help decrease the number of gun-related deaths
A. Background information on gun control in the U.S.
B. Importance of the issue
C. Thesis statement
II. Gun violence in the U.S.
A. Statistics on gun violence
B. Causes of gun violence
C. Factors contributing to gun violence.
III. Gun control policies in the U.S.
A. History of gun control policies
B. Current gun control policies
C. Debate over gun control policies
IV. Impact of gun control policies on gun violence
A. Evidence supporting gun control policies.
B. Criticisms of gun control policies
C. Case studies of gun control policies in action
V. Alternatives to gun control policies
A. Mental health initiatives
B. Community-based violence prevention programs
C. Gun safety education
VI. Conclusion
A. Summary of findings
B. Implications for the future
C. Call to action
Annotated Bibliography
Effects of State-Level Firearm Seller Accountability Policies on Firearm Trafficking.
Authors: Webster, Daniel W., Vernick, Jon S., Bulzacchelli, Maria T
Source: Journal of Urban Health, 2009 Jul; 86(4): 525–537.
This study examines the impact of state-level firearm seller accountability policies, such as licensing requirements and inspections, on firearm trafficking. The authors analyze data from 55 U.S. cities, considering factors such as law enforcement activity, illegal firearm recoveries, and firearm trace data. The results suggest that stronger accountability policies are associated with lower levels of firearm trafficking. This source provides evidence for the effectiveness of specific gun control policies, namely accountability measures, in reducing firearm trafficking. It supports the thesis statement by highlighting the importance of comprehensive approaches to gun control and their potential to decrease gun-related deaths.
(Peer-reviewed article)
Firearm-related laws in all 50 US states, 1991-2016.
Authors: Siegel, M., Pahn, M., Xuan, Z., & Fleegler, E. (2017).
Sources: American Journal of Public Health, 107(7), 1122-1129.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of firearm-related laws in all 50 US states between 1991 and 2016. The authors find that states with stricter gun control laws have lower rates of firearm-related deaths and that policies such as background checks and waiting periods are associated with lower rates of firearm-related deaths. I will use this source to support my thesis that stricter gun control policies can help reduce gun violence in the United States.
(Peer-reviewed article)
The Association Between Gun Ownership and Firearm Homicide Rates in the United States: A State-Level Analysis.
Authors: Siegel, Michael, Ross, Craig S, King, Charles III
Source: American Journal of Public Health, vol. 103, no. 11, 2013, pp. 2098-2105.
This study explores the relationship between gun ownership rates and firearm homicide rates at the state level in the United States. The authors analyze data from 2007-2010, considering factors such as gun ownership rates, firearm legislation, and socioeconomic variables. The findings indicate that higher levels of gun ownership are associated with higher firearm homicide rates. This source provides additional support for the thesis statement. It demonstrates the correlation between gun ownership rates and firearm homicide rates, suggesting that stricter gun control policies, which can help reduce gun ownership, may contribute to a decrease in gun-related deaths.
(Peer-reviewed article)
The Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws: Multivariate Statistical Analysis.
Authors: Ik-Whan G. Kwon, Bradley Scott, Scott R. Safranski, Muen Bae
Source: The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Jan. 1997), pp. 41-50 (10 pages)
The authors conduct a statistical analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of various gun control laws in reducing crime rates, including gun violence. They examine data from all 3,054 U.S. counties, taking into account factors such as gun ownership rates, arrest rates, and socioeconomic factors. The study concludes that gun control laws do not significantly affect crime rates, suggesting a limited impact on gun violence reduction. This source presents a counterargument to the thesis statement, indicating that gun control laws may not be effective in reducing gun violence. It will be used to acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints, providing a balanced perspective on the ongoing debate.
(Peer-reviewed article)
The Impact of Gun Control Policies on Firearm Deaths in the United States.
Authors: Webster, Daniel W.,
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine, vol. 173, no. 9, 2013, pp. 732-740.
This study examines the relationship between state-level gun control policies and firearm deaths in the United States. The authors analyze data from 2007-2010, focusing on the effects of four specific policies: universal background checks, firearm identification requirements, ammunition background checks, and discretionary concealed handgun permits. The findings suggest that states with more comprehensive gun control policies have lower firearm death rates. This source provides statistical evidence to support the thesis statement. It demonstrates the positive impact of stricter gun control policies, particularly background checks, on reducing firearm deaths. It will be used to strengthen the argument for the effectiveness of such measures.
(Peer-reviewed article)
The Politics of Gun Control, 8th Edition 2012-2021.
Author: Robert J. Spitzer
The book covers the latest developments in American gun policy including the most recent shooting incidents that persist in plaguing the American landscape. Mass shootings have increased in both number and lethality, stoking greater support for gun laws among the public. Two seismic political events are highlighted in the book. I will use this source to support my thesis that gun control policies can be effective in reducing gun violence.
(Book)
The relative frequency of offensive and defensive gun uses: results from a national survey.
Authors: Hemenway, D., & Azrael, D.
Source: Violence and Victims 2000, 15(3), 257-272.
This article examines the relative frequency of offensive and defensive gun use in the United States. The authors find that defensive gun uses are relatively rare and that most gun owners are more likely to use their guns for offensive purposes. I will use this source to argue against the idea that widespread gun ownership can be an effective means of self-defense.
(Peer-reviewed article)
The social costs of gun ownership.
Authors: Philip J Cook and Jens Ludwig
Source: Journal of Public Economics, 90(1-2), 379-391.
This article argues that the social costs of gun ownership are substantial and that policies aimed at reducing gun ownership could have significant benefits. It provides evidence that gun ownership leads to increased rates of homicide, suicide, and accidental death and that stricter gun control policies could reduce these rates. I will use this source to support my thesis that gun control policies can be effective in reducing gun violence.
(Peer-reviewed article)
Updated evidence and policy developments on reducing gun violence in America.
Authors: edited by Daniel W. Webster and Jon S. Vernick 2014
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence and policy developments related to reducing gun violence in America. It discusses the impact of various gun control policies, including background checks, assault weapons bans, and gun buyback programs. I will use this source to provide an overview of the different policies that have been proposed to reduce gun violence and to evaluate their effectiveness.
(Book)
