BeastScholar · fictional course pair
College Composition + Writing Studio
Dr. Maya Chen · standard course / Jordan Ellis · corequisite
Essay workspace · assignment 01
Write an argument about whether a college should extend library hours. State a qualified claim, support it with specific evidence, and address a counterargument. The reading below is fictional.
Claim and qualification: 25 points Evidence and explanation: 30 points Counterargument: 25 points Clarity and precision: 20 points
Fictional reading: Campus Study Survey — 42 of 60 voluntary respondents, recruited inside the library, wanted more evening study space.
Our college should extend library hours because students need a quiet place to study. Everyone will earn better grades if the library stays open late.
In the fictional Campus Study Survey, 42 of 60 respondents said they wanted evening study space. This proves that every student wants longer hours. The survey was shared only with students already using the library.
Some people worry about staffing costs. Longer hours would be good and beneficial for students. A four-week pilot could compare evening attendance with staffing costs.
Exact quotation anchors · sample analysis, not an automatic grade
Context-dependent
“Everyone will earn better grades”
The universal claim is stronger than the evidence supplied. Longer access does not establish improved grades for every student.
Practice qualifying claims, then revisit the scope of paragraph 1.
Open existing beast practiceClear evidence mismatch
“every student wants longer hours”
A voluntary sample of 60 existing library users cannot establish what every student wants.
Practice connecting claims to evidence, then explain the limits of this sample.
Open existing beast practiceCraft choice
“good and beneficial”
These words overlap in this context. Deliberate emphasis can be valid; consider whether both words help the reader.
Practice concise wording; choose your own revision and explain it.
Open existing beast practiceAwaiting faculty review. Beast practice and essay revision are separate records.