Should Canada’s electoral system be replaced with another type of electoral system?

Argumentative Essays Rubric
You will write two argumentative essays for this course, each worth 20% of your final grade. In the papers you will be taking a position on a topic and writing your paper in such a way as to provide a supporting argument for that position.
Each essay will be typewritten, double-spaced, and approximately 1,500 words long.
Each essay should be based on at least 7 peer-reviewed resources, which should be included in-text and in the list of references. Assignments should use the APA reference style as outlined on
Papers will be graded on (i) argument structure and flow (10/20), (ii) depth, breadth, and originality of the analysis (5/20), (iii) research and sources (2.5/20), and (iv) style, spelling, and grammar (2.5/20).

Essay 1, 20% of the final grade

Should Canada’s electoral system be replaced with another type of electoral system?

Late essays will be accepted without penalty only in the case of illness, family emergency, compassionate reasons or authorized university business, and require proper documentation. All late essays will be penalized one grade fragment per each day or part-day late.
Please note that 5% will be deducted from the grade of the essay for every 100 words in excess of or below the prescribed limit.
Students are required by the Department to retain a copy of each assignment submitted to their instructors. Please retain a copy of your essay, both in hard copy and digital form. As you work on your assignment, please back up computer files on a regular basis because neglecting to perform backing up is not an acceptable reason for failing to hand in your work.
Please note the following:
➢ Each essay should include four key parts: (1) an introduction, (2) main body, (3) conclusion, (4) references.

• ➢An introduction should include a statement of the issue that will be addressed or the thesis that will be defended in the essay. This will be followed by a ‘roadmap’ – a short description of how it will be addressed – normally one sentence about each section. In longer assignments, it is recommended that you include headings for different sections. This argumentative essay is relatively short, so each section of the main body of the essay should be addressed in one or two separate paragraphs (section headings are not required). Be direct, concise, and make sure your claims are supported. Introduce transitions and links between sections. Offer a conclusion with a summary of your results and highlight their significance.
• ➢Do not forget about the form (grammar, syntax, etc.), and please include your name, date, and page numbers in your assignment (the latter is helpful for commentaries).
• ➢You are encouraged to contact your instructor regarding the essay. Please email your questions and I will be happy to discuss your essays and any concerns you might have. Please do not wait until the last minute to ask essay-related questions.
An A+ paper has the following characteristics:
1. The essay has a clearly stated thesis or central claim, which it defends. It is tightly focused on its topic and is free from major digressions. Where a question has been set, the essay answers the question.
2. The essay contains an effective introduction and proceeds systematically to its conclusion. Each main idea has its own paragraph, and the overall progression of the discussion is clear. The essay is of the appropriate length.
3. The essay offers arguments in support of its assertions, where this is needed. Arguments are clearly and persuasively stated.
4. The essay demonstrates a solid command of the ideas and arguments it considers. Where the essay considers the views of others, it demonstrates a close engagement with, and accurate understanding of, the relevant texts.
5. The essay shows that you have thought critically about the issues you are discussing. It goes beyond a simple restatement of claims and arguments covered in class.
6. The essay uses a range and selection of sources appropriate to its topic and length. All sources are acknowledged and cited correctly. Quotations are well integrated into the discussion.
7.The essay uses specific and detailed examples to illustrate your arguments and key points.
8.The essay is free from persistent “sentence-level” errors in spelling, punctuation, or grammar. It is fluently written and is easy and enjoyable to read.