Assignment Prompt & Instructions
– ## RevisionEditingChecklist5.pdf
– ## ENGL140SignatureAssignment.pdf
– ## Submitthefinaldraftofyourresearchpaper.pdf
– ## FastFashion1.docx
**## RevisionEditingChecklist5.pdf**
Revision & Editing Checklist
–– Revision ––
Content & Organization
☐ My introduction includes an academic hook, sufficient background information, and a one-sentence
thesis statement at the end.
☐ My thesis statement makes an argument, chooses a side, and is specific enough.
☐ My topic sentences all clearly introduce a new subtopic supporting my thesis, and none of my
subtopics overlap with one another.
☐ Starting with the second topic sentence, my topic sentences include sophisticated transitions.
☐ Each body paragraph contains sufficient supporting evidence that backs up my topic sentence.
☐ The supporting evidence in my body paragraphs does not rely on assumptions, generalizations,
personal anecdotes, or faulty logic.
☐ My conclusion restates my thesis in a new way, and leaves my reader with a sense of the significance
of my argument.
Research
☐ I use the minimum required number of sources in my paper.
☐ Some of my references are academic, peer-reviewed articles from scholarly journals (the library
databases).
☐ My website references are only from .org, .gov, or .edu URLs.
☐ I use more than one source per body paragraph.
☐ I use the “quote sandwich” formula for all of my quotes and paraphrases.
☐ I do more paraphrasing than quoting.
–– Editing ––
Style
☐ My paper includes no personal pronouns – I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, us, our, ours.
☐ My paper includes no contractions – don’t, can’t, won’t, haven’t, etc.
☐ My paper includes no vague or cliché words or phrases such as: a lot, huge, good, more and more, as a
matter of fact, all in all, at the end of the day, this day and age, etc.
☐ None of my sentences are unnecessarily wordy.
☐ My overall tone is formal. It never sounds like I’m having a chat with my reader.
APA
☐ My document is formatted in APA style with 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point font,
double spacing, page numbering, a title page, and indented paragraphs.
☐ My references are on a separate page at the end of my document.
☐ My references are listed in alphabetical order.
☐ I include a reference entry for every single source that I cite in my paper.
☐ Every single source that is in my references is cited at least once in my paper.
☐ My references are formatted in correct APA style.
☐ All of my quoted sentences include a citation, and all my citations for quotes include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
o Page number or paragraph number if no page numbers are available
☐ All of my paraphrases include a citation, and all my citations for paraphrases include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
Grammar & Mechanics
☐ My paper does not contain any fragments (incomplete sentences), run-on sentences, or
awkward/confusing sentence constructions.
☐ My paper does not contain any capitalization errors.
☐ My paper does not contain any spelling errors.
**## ENGL140SignatureAssignment.pdf**
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 1 of 3
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment (Argumentative Essay)
The Argumentative Essay assignment is broken into two key parts:
• Part A: Argumentative Essay Components (due each week on Sunday):
• Part B: Argumentative Essay Final Draft, which is the Signature Assignment for
this course.
Purpose: Your Argumentative essay, otherwise known as a persuasive essay, will
begin with a controversial topic. You will select a topic of interest, take a stand on the
topic, and persuade your audience to agree with the stance taken. Avoid presenting
both sides of the argument, but instead focus on the best arguments to convince your
audience to agree with your chosen stance on the topic.
The topic must be debatable and relate to current social, political, or cultural topics.
Alternatively, you may choose to write on a topic specific to your field of study. Topic
choices will be submitted to your instructor for final approval.
Finally, your essay should present the argument without using first or second person
pronouns (I, me, mine, we, us, ours, you, or yours). Though your opinion will be given,
statements such as “I think” or “I would argue” should be avoided.
Topic Selection: Selecting a topic that is debatable and of interest is really important.
Use the list below to help you begin brainstorming topics.
• Mandatory vaccination
• LGBT rights
• Gun control
• Socialized health care
• Abortion
• Separation of church and state
• Immigration
• Common Core Standards
• Standardized testing
• Online vs. ground education
• eTextbooks
• Societal dependence on
technology
• Topic related to field of study
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 2 of 3
Signature Assignment Requirements: Argumentative Paper
1. You will write an essay designed to convince your audience to agree with your
viewpoint on a controversial topic of current interest in the world.
2. You will be required to incorporate a minimum of five outside sources, two of
which should be scholarly, for this assignment.
3. You must include an APA-formatted reference page, otherwise known as a
bibliography.
4. You must include APA-formatted in-text citations for each outside source listed
on your reference page.
5. Your essay must be a minimum of three pages long, not including your title page
or reference page.
6. Your paper should be written using APA formatting, typed in Times New Roman
using 12-point font, double spaced with one-inch margins, and indented first lines
for each new paragraph. An APA-formatted title page is required.
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 3 of 3
Self-assessment: Reflect upon the questions below while you work through the
process of writing your Argumentative paper. If you can answer “yes” to each question,
then you are off to a good start. If you answer “no” to the questions below, try a new
approach.
Self-assessment Questions YES NO
1. Am I making an argument instead of simply stating facts?
2. Is my argument, or topic stance, debatable?
3. Does my chosen topic have significance?
4.
Will I be able to find credible outside source information on this topic
to provide support for my ideas?
5.
Can I write about this topic without being overly negative toward the
opposing view?
**## Submitthefinaldraftofyourresearchpaper.pdf**
Submit the final draft of your research paper, incorporating the feedback you previously
received on your draft, as well as further revisions you have made. Use the revision and
editing checklist in order to ensure you have applied all the lessons learned throughout the
term:
Revision & Editing ChecklistDownload Revision & Editing Checklist
Signature Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)Download Signature
Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)
See the rubric for specific grading criteria.
Resource: Use the Grammarly tool to catch and correct mistakes in your writing
assignments.
Points: 200
Due Sunday, 11: 59 p.m. (Pacific time)
Rubric
Final Draft Rubric
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly](https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly)
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeContent
60 to >53.4 ptsThe writer demonstrates original thought and
critical thinking skills. He/she presents a clear, focused central
argument (thesis) and supports it effectively with concrete
details, examples, and sound logic. Other authors’ ideas are
skillfully paraphrased. Direct quotations are minimal and well-
chosen. All sources are relevant and appropriate, and the
writer’s ideas are convincing, even for those who disagree with
his/her premise.
53.4 to >47.4 ptsThe writer presents and supports a clear and
focused central argument (thesis), but ideas may not be
consistently convincing. Supporting details are relevant and
logical but may lack depth. Other authors’ ideas are effectively
paraphrased, and direct quotations are minimal. All sources are
relevant and appropriate.
47.4 to >43.2 ptsThe writer presents a central argument (thesis),
but it may be overly general/broad. He/she adequately supports
the central argument, but supporting points may at times be
vague, too obvious, or otherwise unconvincing. The writer
makes an effort to paraphrase but at times struggles to express
ideas in his/her own words. The essay lacks interesting details,
and/or not all sources are relevant and appropriate.
43.2 to >0 ptsThe writer’s central argument (thesis) is unclear or
missing, and the essay lacks focus. Supporting details are
insufficient, not relevant, and/or not based on sound logic.
Attempts to paraphrase do not always reflect understanding.
The writer has not used enough sources, and/or the sources are
not all relevant and appropriate.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeOrganization 40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a clear sense of
direction. The paper includes an engaging introduction and
conclusion. Paragraphs are unified and arranged in a logical
order. Each paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence that
introduces the main idea of that paragraph. The writer smoothly
transitions from paragraph to paragraph, showing connections
between related ideas. Supporting details within paragraphs
are well-organized, and research is well-integrated.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a sense of direction.
The paper includes a strong introduction and conclusion.
Paragraphs are unified and include topic sentences, but they
may lack smooth transitions between ideas. The organization of
supporting details within paragraphs may need improvement.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer demonstrates some direction and
includes an adequate introduction and conclusion, but topic
sentences and transitions are weak. The paragraphs show
unity, but they are not arranged in any discernable order, and
supporting details may not always be well-organized.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer demonstrates little or no direction. The
introduction and conclusion are weak. It is difficult to identify a
single subtopic for each paragraph because paragraphs are not
unified and lack clear topic sentences or transitions. The order
of body paragraphs seems random, as do the supporting details
within them.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeStyle/Language
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is confident, engaging, and
appropriate for the assignment and/or the intended audience.
The text demonstrates strong vocabulary skills and does not
suffer from errors in word choice. The writer expresses ideas
concisely, only using as many words as necessary to
communicate a point. The writer achieves flow and readability
by employing sentence variety successfully.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is appropriate and effective
overall. The text demonstrates good use of vocabulary and
contains few (if any) errors in word choice. The writer expresses
ideas concisely and clearly most of the time. The writer makes
an effort to employ sentence variety.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer’s tone suffers from one or more
possible problems. Depending on the assignment, it may be too
informal, too personal, not authoritative enough, etc.
Numerous sentences suffer from lack of variety, awkward
constructions, wordiness, limited vocabulary, and/or errors in
word choice.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer often fails to communicate ideas
effectively because the paper suffers from significant problems
with tone, language use, and/or wordiness.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeSentence Structure and
Mechanics
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in
grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation. There are no fragments
or run-on sentences.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer makes some errors in grammar,
spelling, and/or punctuation, but these errors do not
significantly distract the reader from the substance of the text.
The paper contains few (if any) fragments and/or run-on
sentences.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in grammar,
spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure, which at
times distract the reader from the substance of the text.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer makes a significant number of errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure,
regularly distracting the reader from the substance of the text
and hindering comprehension.
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeFormat/Crediting Sources
20 to >17.8 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
17.8 to >15.8 ptsThe writer makes some errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
15.8 to >14.4 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
14.4 to >0 ptsThe writer makes significant errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
Total Points: 200
**## FastFashion1.docx**
2
**Fast Fashion**
Alondra Rivera
West Coast University
English 140 Written
Melissa Cueto
9/27/2025
Fast fashion has revolutionized clothing shopping by offering trendy styles at affordable prices and fast delivery. Stores may stock new runway-inspired clothes within weeks, satisfying consumers' constant demand to look stylish. While accessibility looks desirable, the structure that allows it is based on hidden costs. Fast fashion's cost and ease hide its drawbacks. It harms people and the environment rather than just looking good. Behind fast fashion's low costs and fast turnover is a system that affects garment workers and the environment. Furthermore, it pushes customers to buy more than they need while undercutting sustainable alternatives. Fast fashion affects worker rights, ecosystems, and the economy worldwide. Fast fashion mistreats workers, hurts the environment, promotes overconsumption, and discourages sustainable alternatives.
**First Body Paragraph**
One of the most significant difficulties with fast fashion is the exploitation of developing country labor. Garment workers work long hours in dangerous circumstances for low wages. Sweatshops, or factories, lack fundamental safety requirements, leaving workers vulnerable to accidents, building collapses, and fires. This sector is dangerous, as shown by the 2013 Rana Plaza accident in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers (Alam, 2025). Despite public attention to such deaths, many factories have comparable conditions. Firms often put profit before workers' rights in the rush for fast production. Studies reveal that fashion brands' ethical pledges rarely affect behavior. Worker exploitation continues, with low salaries and no healthcare or union representation (Lebaron, 2021). Workers' inability to escape poverty while corporations and retailers profit reinforces it. Because supply chains are purposely complicated and opaque, customers are frequently ignorant of this exploitation (DuHadway et al., 2021). This hidden mistreatment raises ethical concerns, showing that quick fashion sacrifices human dignity. Corporate accountability, greater labor law enforcement, and consumer understanding of the human consequences of their clothing choices are needed to address this issue.
**Second Body Paragraph**
Moreover, fast fashion causes significant harm to the environment. Large volumes of natural resources are needed to produce inexpensive clothing, which strains communities and ecosystems. For instance, growing cotton requires enormous amounts of water, and making textiles releases harmful chemicals into the air and waterways while consuming a significant amount of energy (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Additionally, fast fashion's quick production cycle results in inexpensively made clothing being thrown out quickly. After just a few wears, most clothing ends up in landfills, and materials like polyester and nylon do not break down naturally, leaving behind toxic residues that persist for decades (Stein-Rachmil, 2022). In addition to landfills, synthetic fibers pollute the ocean. Tiny plastic microfibers are discharged into water systems every time polyester clothing is washed. These microplastics damage aquatic life and build up in marine ecosystems, which upsets food chains and compromises human health. One of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world is fast fashion because it relies on synthetic materials, short garment lifespans, and resource-intensive production.
**Third Body Paragraph**
Fast fashion's promotion of waste and overproduction is another significant problem. Customers are under pressure to buy more than they need because they believe that clothes become outdated in a matter of weeks due to constantly shifting trends. By encouraging consumers to switch out perfectly wearable clothing for new styles, social media platforms speed up this cycle (Atik & Ozdamar Ertekin, 2023). As a result, a great deal of textile waste is produced as barely used items are promptly thrown away. Sustainable fashion alternatives are also harmed by this overproduction. Fast fashion's low prices make it difficult for thrift stores, small companies, and ethical brands to compete, trapping customers in a cycle of purchasing short-lived, low-quality clothing (Yu et al., 2023). Additionally, excessive consumption has long-term effects by decreasing the demand for long-lasting, better-quality clothing and cluttering homes and landfills. Fast fashion's unsustainable cycle of production and waste contributes to both environmental deterioration and economic inefficiencies.
**Fourth Body Paragraph**
Additionally, fast fashion hinders the expansion of sustainable practices in the apparel sector. Consumers are less inclined to buy eco-friendly alternatives that are more expensive initially but are produced ethically and have longer lifespans because fast fashion items are readily available and inexpensive. Businesses that produce large quantities of inexpensive goods eclipse ethical clothing brands, which frequently highlight fair wages, eco-friendly textiles, and less waste (Dhir, 2022). Because of this imbalance, fast, disposable fashion continues to dominate the market, making it challenging for sustainable businesses to thrive. Over time, fast fashion's dominance normalizes bad consumer habits and inhibits innovation in sustainable production. Additionally, the ongoing demand for unsustainable low-cost apparel slows down the advancement of moral industry reforms by sending a message to businesses that using abusive labor practices and damaging environmental effects is profitable (Dhir, 2022). Consumer choice for ethical products will be limited if there is not a cultural shift away from fast fashion. Sustainable options will continue to face systemic disadvantages.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, fast fashion is a global issue due to its mistreatment of workers, environmental harm, promotion of overproduction, and suppression of sustainable alternatives. It promotes the exploitation of garment workers who toil in hazardous conditions for meagre compensation, while pollution, excessive water use, and wasteful production practices harm the environment. Constant trend cycles, meanwhile, encourage waste and overconsumption, making it difficult for sustainable brands to compete. The cycle of rapid disposal and low-cost production puts profit ahead of ecological balance and human dignity. It will take a team effort to solve these problems: governments must impose stricter labor and environmental laws, companies must answer for supply chain violations, and consumers must take responsibility by buying used, mending clothing, and patronizing eco-friendly companies. Society can prevent harm, safeguard vulnerable workers, and protect the environment for future generations by slowing down and choosing clothing with greater awareness.
**References**
Alam, S. (2025). Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Practices in the Ready-Made Garment Industry: Unravelling the Impact of the Rana Plaza Catastrophe.
_SSRN Electronic Journal_. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5325424
Atik, D., & Ozdamar Ertekin, Z. (2023). The restless desire for the new versus sustainability: the pressing need for social marketing in fashion industry
_. Journal of Social Marketing_, 13(1), 1-19.
[https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036](https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036)
Dhir, Y. J. (2022). Ethical Fashion: A Route to Social and Environmental Well-Being.
_In Sustainable Approaches in Textiles and Fashion: Consumerism, Global Textiles and Supply Chain_ (pp. 221-235). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
[https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13)
DuHadway, S., Mena, C., & Ellram, L. M. (2021). Let the buyer beware: how network structure can enable (and prevent) supply chain fraud.
_International Journal of Operations & Production Management_,
_42_(2), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-05-2021-0310
Lebaron, G. (2021). Wages: An Overlooked Dimension of Business and Human Rights in Global Supply Chains.
_Business and Human Rights Journal_,
_6_(1), 1–20.
[https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32](https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32)
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion.
_Nature reviews earth & environment_, 1(4), 189-200.
[https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9)
Stein-Rachmil, S. (2022). The Impact of Fast Fashion Ecosystem Destruction: Can Sustainability Become Fashionable?
_Sunny.edu_
Yu, Y., Gomez-Borquez, C. L., & Zaichkowsky, J. L. (2023). Mitigating trendy cheap fast fashion’s negative impact.
_Journal of Sustainable Marketing_, 4(2), 128-148.
[https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf](https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf)
**## FastFashion1.docx**
2
**Fast Fashion**
Alondra Rivera
West Coast University
English 140 Written
Melissa Cueto
9/27/2025
Fast fashion has revolutionized clothing shopping by offering trendy styles at affordable prices and fast delivery. Stores may stock new runway-inspired clothes within weeks, satisfying consumers' constant demand to look stylish. While accessibility looks desirable, the structure that allows it is based on hidden costs. Fast fashion's cost and ease hide its drawbacks. It harms people and the environment rather than just looking good. Behind fast fashion's low costs and fast turnover is a system that affects garment workers and the environment. Furthermore, it pushes customers to buy more than they need while undercutting sustainable alternatives. Fast fashion affects worker rights, ecosystems, and the economy worldwide. Fast fashion mistreats workers, hurts the environment, promotes overconsumption, and discourages sustainable alternatives.
**First Body Paragraph**
One of the most significant difficulties with fast fashion is the exploitation of developing country labor. Garment workers work long hours in dangerous circumstances for low wages. Sweatshops, or factories, lack fundamental safety requirements, leaving workers vulnerable to accidents, building collapses, and fires. This sector is dangerous, as shown by the 2013 Rana Plaza accident in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers (Alam, 2025). Despite public attention to such deaths, many factories have comparable conditions. Firms often put profit before workers' rights in the rush for fast production. Studies reveal that fashion brands' ethical pledges rarely affect behavior. Worker exploitation continues, with low salaries and no healthcare or union representation (Lebaron, 2021). Workers' inability to escape poverty while corporations and retailers profit reinforces it. Because supply chains are purposely complicated and opaque, customers are frequently ignorant of this exploitation (DuHadway et al., 2021). This hidden mistreatment raises ethical concerns, showing that quick fashion sacrifices human dignity. Corporate accountability, greater labor law enforcement, and consumer understanding of the human consequences of their clothing choices are needed to address this issue.
**Second Body Paragraph**
Moreover, fast fashion causes significant harm to the environment. Large volumes of natural resources are needed to produce inexpensive clothing, which strains communities and ecosystems. For instance, growing cotton requires enormous amounts of water, and making textiles releases harmful chemicals into the air and waterways while consuming a significant amount of energy (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Additionally, fast fashion's quick production cycle results in inexpensively made clothing being thrown out quickly. After just a few wears, most clothing ends up in landfills, and materials like polyester and nylon do not break down naturally, leaving behind toxic residues that persist for decades (Stein-Rachmil, 2022). In addition to landfills, synthetic fibers pollute the ocean. Tiny plastic microfibers are discharged into water systems every time polyester clothing is washed. These microplastics damage aquatic life and build up in marine ecosystems, which upsets food chains and compromises human health. One of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world is fast fashion because it relies on synthetic materials, short garment lifespans, and resource-intensive production.
**Third Body Paragraph**
Fast fashion's promotion of waste and overproduction is another significant problem. Customers are under pressure to buy more than they need because they believe that clothes become outdated in a matter of weeks due to constantly shifting trends. By encouraging consumers to switch out perfectly wearable clothing for new styles, social media platforms speed up this cycle (Atik & Ozdamar Ertekin, 2023). As a result, a great deal of textile waste is produced as barely used items are promptly thrown away. Sustainable fashion alternatives are also harmed by this overproduction. Fast fashion's low prices make it difficult for thrift stores, small companies, and ethical brands to compete, trapping customers in a cycle of purchasing short-lived, low-quality clothing (Yu et al., 2023). Additionally, excessive consumption has long-term effects by decreasing the demand for long-lasting, better-quality clothing and cluttering homes and landfills. Fast fashion's unsustainable cycle of production and waste contributes to both environmental deterioration and economic inefficiencies.
**Fourth Body Paragraph**
Additionally, fast fashion hinders the expansion of sustainable practices in the apparel sector. Consumers are less inclined to buy eco-friendly alternatives that are more expensive initially but are produced ethically and have longer lifespans because fast fashion items are readily available and inexpensive. Businesses that produce large quantities of inexpensive goods eclipse ethical clothing brands, which frequently highlight fair wages, eco-friendly textiles, and less waste (Dhir, 2022). Because of this imbalance, fast, disposable fashion continues to dominate the market, making it challenging for sustainable businesses to thrive. Over time, fast fashion's dominance normalizes bad consumer habits and inhibits innovation in sustainable production. Additionally, the ongoing demand for unsustainable low-cost apparel slows down the advancement of moral industry reforms by sending a message to businesses that using abusive labor practices and damaging environmental effects is profitable (Dhir, 2022). Consumer choice for ethical products will be limited if there is not a cultural shift away from fast fashion. Sustainable options will continue to face systemic disadvantages.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, fast fashion is a global issue due to its mistreatment of workers, environmental harm, promotion of overproduction, and suppression of sustainable alternatives. It promotes the exploitation of garment workers who toil in hazardous conditions for meagre compensation, while pollution, excessive water use, and wasteful production practices harm the environment. Constant trend cycles, meanwhile, encourage waste and overconsumption, making it difficult for sustainable brands to compete. The cycle of rapid disposal and low-cost production puts profit ahead of ecological balance and human dignity. It will take a team effort to solve these problems: governments must impose stricter labor and environmental laws, companies must answer for supply chain violations, and consumers must take responsibility by buying used, mending clothing, and patronizing eco-friendly companies. Society can prevent harm, safeguard vulnerable workers, and protect the environment for future generations by slowing down and choosing clothing with greater awareness.
**References**
Alam, S. (2025). Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Practices in the Ready-Made Garment Industry: Unravelling the Impact of the Rana Plaza Catastrophe.
_SSRN Electronic Journal_. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5325424
Atik, D., & Ozdamar Ertekin, Z. (2023). The restless desire for the new versus sustainability: the pressing need for social marketing in fashion industry
_. Journal of Social Marketing_, 13(1), 1-19.
[https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036](https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036)
Dhir, Y. J. (2022). Ethical Fashion: A Route to Social and Environmental Well-Being.
_In Sustainable Approaches in Textiles and Fashion: Consumerism, Global Textiles and Supply Chain_ (pp. 221-235). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
[https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13)
DuHadway, S., Mena, C., & Ellram, L. M. (2021). Let the buyer beware: how network structure can enable (and prevent) supply chain fraud.
_International Journal of Operations & Production Management_,
_42_(2), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-05-2021-0310
Lebaron, G. (2021). Wages: An Overlooked Dimension of Business and Human Rights in Global Supply Chains.
_Business and Human Rights Journal_,
_6_(1), 1–20.
[https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32](https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32)
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion.
_Nature reviews earth & environment_, 1(4), 189-200.
[https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9)
Stein-Rachmil, S. (2022). The Impact of Fast Fashion Ecosystem Destruction: Can Sustainability Become Fashionable?
_Sunny.edu_
Yu, Y., Gomez-Borquez, C. L., & Zaichkowsky, J. L. (2023). Mitigating trendy cheap fast fashion’s negative impact.
_Journal of Sustainable Marketing_, 4(2), 128-148.
[https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf](https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf)
**## RevisionEditingChecklist5.pdf**
Revision & Editing Checklist
–– Revision ––
Content & Organization
☐ My introduction includes an academic hook, sufficient background information, and a one-sentence
thesis statement at the end.
☐ My thesis statement makes an argument, chooses a side, and is specific enough.
☐ My topic sentences all clearly introduce a new subtopic supporting my thesis, and none of my
subtopics overlap with one another.
☐ Starting with the second topic sentence, my topic sentences include sophisticated transitions.
☐ Each body paragraph contains sufficient supporting evidence that backs up my topic sentence.
☐ The supporting evidence in my body paragraphs does not rely on assumptions, generalizations,
personal anecdotes, or faulty logic.
☐ My conclusion restates my thesis in a new way, and leaves my reader with a sense of the significance
of my argument.
Research
☐ I use the minimum required number of sources in my paper.
☐ Some of my references are academic, peer-reviewed articles from scholarly journals (the library
databases).
☐ My website references are only from .org, .gov, or .edu URLs.
☐ I use more than one source per body paragraph.
☐ I use the “quote sandwich” formula for all of my quotes and paraphrases.
☐ I do more paraphrasing than quoting.
–– Editing ––
Style
☐ My paper includes no personal pronouns – I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, us, our, ours.
☐ My paper includes no contractions – don’t, can’t, won’t, haven’t, etc.
☐ My paper includes no vague or cliché words or phrases such as: a lot, huge, good, more and more, as a
matter of fact, all in all, at the end of the day, this day and age, etc.
☐ None of my sentences are unnecessarily wordy.
☐ My overall tone is formal. It never sounds like I’m having a chat with my reader.
APA
☐ My document is formatted in APA style with 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point font,
double spacing, page numbering, a title page, and indented paragraphs.
☐ My references are on a separate page at the end of my document.
☐ My references are listed in alphabetical order.
☐ I include a reference entry for every single source that I cite in my paper.
☐ Every single source that is in my references is cited at least once in my paper.
☐ My references are formatted in correct APA style.
☐ All of my quoted sentences include a citation, and all my citations for quotes include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
o Page number or paragraph number if no page numbers are available
☐ All of my paraphrases include a citation, and all my citations for paraphrases include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
Grammar & Mechanics
☐ My paper does not contain any fragments (incomplete sentences), run-on sentences, or
awkward/confusing sentence constructions.
☐ My paper does not contain any capitalization errors.
☐ My paper does not contain any spelling errors.
**## ENGL140SignatureAssignment.pdf**
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 1 of 3
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment (Argumentative Essay)
The Argumentative Essay assignment is broken into two key parts:
• Part A: Argumentative Essay Components (due each week on Sunday):
• Part B: Argumentative Essay Final Draft, which is the Signature Assignment for
this course.
Purpose: Your Argumentative essay, otherwise known as a persuasive essay, will
begin with a controversial topic. You will select a topic of interest, take a stand on the
topic, and persuade your audience to agree with the stance taken. Avoid presenting
both sides of the argument, but instead focus on the best arguments to convince your
audience to agree with your chosen stance on the topic.
The topic must be debatable and relate to current social, political, or cultural topics.
Alternatively, you may choose to write on a topic specific to your field of study. Topic
choices will be submitted to your instructor for final approval.
Finally, your essay should present the argument without using first or second person
pronouns (I, me, mine, we, us, ours, you, or yours). Though your opinion will be given,
statements such as “I think” or “I would argue” should be avoided.
Topic Selection: Selecting a topic that is debatable and of interest is really important.
Use the list below to help you begin brainstorming topics.
• Mandatory vaccination
• LGBT rights
• Gun control
• Socialized health care
• Abortion
• Separation of church and state
• Immigration
• Common Core Standards
• Standardized testing
• Online vs. ground education
• eTextbooks
• Societal dependence on
technology
• Topic related to field of study
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 2 of 3
Signature Assignment Requirements: Argumentative Paper
1. You will write an essay designed to convince your audience to agree with your
viewpoint on a controversial topic of current interest in the world.
2. You will be required to incorporate a minimum of five outside sources, two of
which should be scholarly, for this assignment.
3. You must include an APA-formatted reference page, otherwise known as a
bibliography.
4. You must include APA-formatted in-text citations for each outside source listed
on your reference page.
5. Your essay must be a minimum of three pages long, not including your title page
or reference page.
6. Your paper should be written using APA formatting, typed in Times New Roman
using 12-point font, double spaced with one-inch margins, and indented first lines
for each new paragraph. An APA-formatted title page is required.
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 3 of 3
Self-assessment: Reflect upon the questions below while you work through the
process of writing your Argumentative paper. If you can answer “yes” to each question,
then you are off to a good start. If you answer “no” to the questions below, try a new
approach.
Self-assessment Questions YES NO
1. Am I making an argument instead of simply stating facts?
2. Is my argument, or topic stance, debatable?
3. Does my chosen topic have significance?
4.
Will I be able to find credible outside source information on this topic
to provide support for my ideas?
5.
Can I write about this topic without being overly negative toward the
opposing view?
**## Submitthefinaldraftofyourresearchpaper.pdf**
Submit the final draft of your research paper, incorporating the feedback you previously
received on your draft, as well as further revisions you have made. Use the revision and
editing checklist in order to ensure you have applied all the lessons learned throughout the
term:
Revision & Editing ChecklistDownload Revision & Editing Checklist
Signature Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)Download Signature
Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)
See the rubric for specific grading criteria.
Resource: Use the Grammarly tool to catch and correct mistakes in your writing
assignments.
Points: 200
Due Sunday, 11: 59 p.m. (Pacific time)
Rubric
Final Draft Rubric
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly](https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly)
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeContent
60 to >53.4 ptsThe writer demonstrates original thought and
critical thinking skills. He/she presents a clear, focused central
argument (thesis) and supports it effectively with concrete
details, examples, and sound logic. Other authors’ ideas are
skillfully paraphrased. Direct quotations are minimal and well-
chosen. All sources are relevant and appropriate, and the
writer’s ideas are convincing, even for those who disagree with
his/her premise.
53.4 to >47.4 ptsThe writer presents and supports a clear and
focused central argument (thesis), but ideas may not be
consistently convincing. Supporting details are relevant and
logical but may lack depth. Other authors’ ideas are effectively
paraphrased, and direct quotations are minimal. All sources are
relevant and appropriate.
47.4 to >43.2 ptsThe writer presents a central argument (thesis),
but it may be overly general/broad. He/she adequately supports
the central argument, but supporting points may at times be
vague, too obvious, or otherwise unconvincing. The writer
makes an effort to paraphrase but at times struggles to express
ideas in his/her own words. The essay lacks interesting details,
and/or not all sources are relevant and appropriate.
43.2 to >0 ptsThe writer’s central argument (thesis) is unclear or
missing, and the essay lacks focus. Supporting details are
insufficient, not relevant, and/or not based on sound logic.
Attempts to paraphrase do not always reflect understanding.
The writer has not used enough sources, and/or the sources are
not all relevant and appropriate.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeOrganization 40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a clear sense of
direction. The paper includes an engaging introduction and
conclusion. Paragraphs are unified and arranged in a logical
order. Each paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence that
introduces the main idea of that paragraph. The writer smoothly
transitions from paragraph to paragraph, showing connections
between related ideas. Supporting details within paragraphs
are well-organized, and research is well-integrated.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a sense of direction.
The paper includes a strong introduction and conclusion.
Paragraphs are unified and include topic sentences, but they
may lack smooth transitions between ideas. The organization of
supporting details within paragraphs may need improvement.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer demonstrates some direction and
includes an adequate introduction and conclusion, but topic
sentences and transitions are weak. The paragraphs show
unity, but they are not arranged in any discernable order, and
supporting details may not always be well-organized.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer demonstrates little or no direction. The
introduction and conclusion are weak. It is difficult to identify a
single subtopic for each paragraph because paragraphs are not
unified and lack clear topic sentences or transitions. The order
of body paragraphs seems random, as do the supporting details
within them.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeStyle/Language
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is confident, engaging, and
appropriate for the assignment and/or the intended audience.
The text demonstrates strong vocabulary skills and does not
suffer from errors in word choice. The writer expresses ideas
concisely, only using as many words as necessary to
communicate a point. The writer achieves flow and readability
by employing sentence variety successfully.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is appropriate and effective
overall. The text demonstrates good use of vocabulary and
contains few (if any) errors in word choice. The writer expresses
ideas concisely and clearly most of the time. The writer makes
an effort to employ sentence variety.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer’s tone suffers from one or more
possible problems. Depending on the assignment, it may be too
informal, too personal, not authoritative enough, etc.
Numerous sentences suffer from lack of variety, awkward
constructions, wordiness, limited vocabulary, and/or errors in
word choice.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer often fails to communicate ideas
effectively because the paper suffers from significant problems
with tone, language use, and/or wordiness.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeSentence Structure and
Mechanics
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in
grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation. There are no fragments
or run-on sentences.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer makes some errors in grammar,
spelling, and/or punctuation, but these errors do not
significantly distract the reader from the substance of the text.
The paper contains few (if any) fragments and/or run-on
sentences.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in grammar,
spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure, which at
times distract the reader from the substance of the text.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer makes a significant number of errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure,
regularly distracting the reader from the substance of the text
and hindering comprehension.
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeFormat/Crediting Sources
20 to >17.8 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
17.8 to >15.8 ptsThe writer makes some errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
15.8 to >14.4 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
14.4 to >0 ptsThe writer makes significant errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
Total Points: 200
**## FastFashion1.docx**
2
**Fast Fashion**
Alondra Rivera
West Coast University
English 140 Written
Melissa Cueto
9/27/2025
Fast fashion has revolutionized clothing shopping by offering trendy styles at affordable prices and fast delivery. Stores may stock new runway-inspired clothes within weeks, satisfying consumers' constant demand to look stylish. While accessibility looks desirable, the structure that allows it is based on hidden costs. Fast fashion's cost and ease hide its drawbacks. It harms people and the environment rather than just looking good. Behind fast fashion's low costs and fast turnover is a system that affects garment workers and the environment. Furthermore, it pushes customers to buy more than they need while undercutting sustainable alternatives. Fast fashion affects worker rights, ecosystems, and the economy worldwide. Fast fashion mistreats workers, hurts the environment, promotes overconsumption, and discourages sustainable alternatives.
**First Body Paragraph**
One of the most significant difficulties with fast fashion is the exploitation of developing country labor. Garment workers work long hours in dangerous circumstances for low wages. Sweatshops, or factories, lack fundamental safety requirements, leaving workers vulnerable to accidents, building collapses, and fires. This sector is dangerous, as shown by the 2013 Rana Plaza accident in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers (Alam, 2025). Despite public attention to such deaths, many factories have comparable conditions. Firms often put profit before workers' rights in the rush for fast production. Studies reveal that fashion brands' ethical pledges rarely affect behavior. Worker exploitation continues, with low salaries and no healthcare or union representation (Lebaron, 2021). Workers' inability to escape poverty while corporations and retailers profit reinforces it. Because supply chains are purposely complicated and opaque, customers are frequently ignorant of this exploitation (DuHadway et al., 2021). This hidden mistreatment raises ethical concerns, showing that quick fashion sacrifices human dignity. Corporate accountability, greater labor law enforcement, and consumer understanding of the human consequences of their clothing choices are needed to address this issue.
**Second Body Paragraph**
Moreover, fast fashion causes significant harm to the environment. Large volumes of natural resources are needed to produce inexpensive clothing, which strains communities and ecosystems. For instance, growing cotton requires enormous amounts of water, and making textiles releases harmful chemicals into the air and waterways while consuming a significant amount of energy (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Additionally, fast fashion's quick production cycle results in inexpensively made clothing being thrown out quickly. After just a few wears, most clothing ends up in landfills, and materials like polyester and nylon do not break down naturally, leaving behind toxic residues that persist for decades (Stein-Rachmil, 2022). In addition to landfills, synthetic fibers pollute the ocean. Tiny plastic microfibers are discharged into water systems every time polyester clothing is washed. These microplastics damage aquatic life and build up in marine ecosystems, which upsets food chains and compromises human health. One of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world is fast fashion because it relies on synthetic materials, short garment lifespans, and resource-intensive production.
**Third Body Paragraph**
Fast fashion's promotion of waste and overproduction is another significant problem. Customers are under pressure to buy more than they need because they believe that clothes become outdated in a matter of weeks due to constantly shifting trends. By encouraging consumers to switch out perfectly wearable clothing for new styles, social media platforms speed up this cycle (Atik & Ozdamar Ertekin, 2023). As a result, a great deal of textile waste is produced as barely used items are promptly thrown away. Sustainable fashion alternatives are also harmed by this overproduction. Fast fashion's low prices make it difficult for thrift stores, small companies, and ethical brands to compete, trapping customers in a cycle of purchasing short-lived, low-quality clothing (Yu et al., 2023). Additionally, excessive consumption has long-term effects by decreasing the demand for long-lasting, better-quality clothing and cluttering homes and landfills. Fast fashion's unsustainable cycle of production and waste contributes to both environmental deterioration and economic inefficiencies.
**Fourth Body Paragraph**
Additionally, fast fashion hinders the expansion of sustainable practices in the apparel sector. Consumers are less inclined to buy eco-friendly alternatives that are more expensive initially but are produced ethically and have longer lifespans because fast fashion items are readily available and inexpensive. Businesses that produce large quantities of inexpensive goods eclipse ethical clothing brands, which frequently highlight fair wages, eco-friendly textiles, and less waste (Dhir, 2022). Because of this imbalance, fast, disposable fashion continues to dominate the market, making it challenging for sustainable businesses to thrive. Over time, fast fashion's dominance normalizes bad consumer habits and inhibits innovation in sustainable production. Additionally, the ongoing demand for unsustainable low-cost apparel slows down the advancement of moral industry reforms by sending a message to businesses that using abusive labor practices and damaging environmental effects is profitable (Dhir, 2022). Consumer choice for ethical products will be limited if there is not a cultural shift away from fast fashion. Sustainable options will continue to face systemic disadvantages.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, fast fashion is a global issue due to its mistreatment of workers, environmental harm, promotion of overproduction, and suppression of sustainable alternatives. It promotes the exploitation of garment workers who toil in hazardous conditions for meagre compensation, while pollution, excessive water use, and wasteful production practices harm the environment. Constant trend cycles, meanwhile, encourage waste and overconsumption, making it difficult for sustainable brands to compete. The cycle of rapid disposal and low-cost production puts profit ahead of ecological balance and human dignity. It will take a team effort to solve these problems: governments must impose stricter labor and environmental laws, companies must answer for supply chain violations, and consumers must take responsibility by buying used, mending clothing, and patronizing eco-friendly companies. Society can prevent harm, safeguard vulnerable workers, and protect the environment for future generations by slowing down and choosing clothing with greater awareness.
**References**
Alam, S. (2025). Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Practices in the Ready-Made Garment Industry: Unravelling the Impact of the Rana Plaza Catastrophe.
_SSRN Electronic Journal_. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5325424
Atik, D., & Ozdamar Ertekin, Z. (2023). The restless desire for the new versus sustainability: the pressing need for social marketing in fashion industry
_. Journal of Social Marketing_, 13(1), 1-19.
[https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036](https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036)
Dhir, Y. J. (2022). Ethical Fashion: A Route to Social and Environmental Well-Being.
_In Sustainable Approaches in Textiles and Fashion: Consumerism, Global Textiles and Supply Chain_ (pp. 221-235). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
[https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13)
DuHadway, S., Mena, C., & Ellram, L. M. (2021). Let the buyer beware: how network structure can enable (and prevent) supply chain fraud.
_International Journal of Operations & Production Management_,
_42_(2), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-05-2021-0310
Lebaron, G. (2021). Wages: An Overlooked Dimension of Business and Human Rights in Global Supply Chains.
_Business and Human Rights Journal_,
_6_(1), 1–20.
[https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32](https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32)
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion.
_Nature reviews earth & environment_, 1(4), 189-200.
[https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9)
Stein-Rachmil, S. (2022). The Impact of Fast Fashion Ecosystem Destruction: Can Sustainability Become Fashionable?
_Sunny.edu_
Yu, Y., Gomez-Borquez, C. L., & Zaichkowsky, J. L. (2023). Mitigating trendy cheap fast fashion’s negative impact.
_Journal of Sustainable Marketing_, 4(2), 128-148.
[https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf](https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf)
**## RevisionEditingChecklist5.pdf**
Revision & Editing Checklist
–– Revision ––
Content & Organization
☐ My introduction includes an academic hook, sufficient background information, and a one-sentence
thesis statement at the end.
☐ My thesis statement makes an argument, chooses a side, and is specific enough.
☐ My topic sentences all clearly introduce a new subtopic supporting my thesis, and none of my
subtopics overlap with one another.
☐ Starting with the second topic sentence, my topic sentences include sophisticated transitions.
☐ Each body paragraph contains sufficient supporting evidence that backs up my topic sentence.
☐ The supporting evidence in my body paragraphs does not rely on assumptions, generalizations,
personal anecdotes, or faulty logic.
☐ My conclusion restates my thesis in a new way, and leaves my reader with a sense of the significance
of my argument.
Research
☐ I use the minimum required number of sources in my paper.
☐ Some of my references are academic, peer-reviewed articles from scholarly journals (the library
databases).
☐ My website references are only from .org, .gov, or .edu URLs.
☐ I use more than one source per body paragraph.
☐ I use the “quote sandwich” formula for all of my quotes and paraphrases.
☐ I do more paraphrasing than quoting.
–– Editing ––
Style
☐ My paper includes no personal pronouns – I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, us, our, ours.
☐ My paper includes no contractions – don’t, can’t, won’t, haven’t, etc.
☐ My paper includes no vague or cliché words or phrases such as: a lot, huge, good, more and more, as a
matter of fact, all in all, at the end of the day, this day and age, etc.
☐ None of my sentences are unnecessarily wordy.
☐ My overall tone is formal. It never sounds like I’m having a chat with my reader.
APA
☐ My document is formatted in APA style with 1-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point font,
double spacing, page numbering, a title page, and indented paragraphs.
☐ My references are on a separate page at the end of my document.
☐ My references are listed in alphabetical order.
☐ I include a reference entry for every single source that I cite in my paper.
☐ Every single source that is in my references is cited at least once in my paper.
☐ My references are formatted in correct APA style.
☐ All of my quoted sentences include a citation, and all my citations for quotes include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
o Page number or paragraph number if no page numbers are available
☐ All of my paraphrases include a citation, and all my citations for paraphrases include the following:
o Author(s) or organization name if no author is available
o Year or n.d. if no date is available
Grammar & Mechanics
☐ My paper does not contain any fragments (incomplete sentences), run-on sentences, or
awkward/confusing sentence constructions.
☐ My paper does not contain any capitalization errors.
☐ My paper does not contain any spelling errors.
**## ENGL140SignatureAssignment.pdf**
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 1 of 3
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment (Argumentative Essay)
The Argumentative Essay assignment is broken into two key parts:
• Part A: Argumentative Essay Components (due each week on Sunday):
• Part B: Argumentative Essay Final Draft, which is the Signature Assignment for
this course.
Purpose: Your Argumentative essay, otherwise known as a persuasive essay, will
begin with a controversial topic. You will select a topic of interest, take a stand on the
topic, and persuade your audience to agree with the stance taken. Avoid presenting
both sides of the argument, but instead focus on the best arguments to convince your
audience to agree with your chosen stance on the topic.
The topic must be debatable and relate to current social, political, or cultural topics.
Alternatively, you may choose to write on a topic specific to your field of study. Topic
choices will be submitted to your instructor for final approval.
Finally, your essay should present the argument without using first or second person
pronouns (I, me, mine, we, us, ours, you, or yours). Though your opinion will be given,
statements such as “I think” or “I would argue” should be avoided.
Topic Selection: Selecting a topic that is debatable and of interest is really important.
Use the list below to help you begin brainstorming topics.
• Mandatory vaccination
• LGBT rights
• Gun control
• Socialized health care
• Abortion
• Separation of church and state
• Immigration
• Common Core Standards
• Standardized testing
• Online vs. ground education
• eTextbooks
• Societal dependence on
technology
• Topic related to field of study
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 2 of 3
Signature Assignment Requirements: Argumentative Paper
1. You will write an essay designed to convince your audience to agree with your
viewpoint on a controversial topic of current interest in the world.
2. You will be required to incorporate a minimum of five outside sources, two of
which should be scholarly, for this assignment.
3. You must include an APA-formatted reference page, otherwise known as a
bibliography.
4. You must include APA-formatted in-text citations for each outside source listed
on your reference page.
5. Your essay must be a minimum of three pages long, not including your title page
or reference page.
6. Your paper should be written using APA formatting, typed in Times New Roman
using 12-point font, double spaced with one-inch margins, and indented first lines
for each new paragraph. An APA-formatted title page is required.
ENGL 140 Signature Assignment Page 3 of 3
Self-assessment: Reflect upon the questions below while you work through the
process of writing your Argumentative paper. If you can answer “yes” to each question,
then you are off to a good start. If you answer “no” to the questions below, try a new
approach.
Self-assessment Questions YES NO
1. Am I making an argument instead of simply stating facts?
2. Is my argument, or topic stance, debatable?
3. Does my chosen topic have significance?
4.
Will I be able to find credible outside source information on this topic
to provide support for my ideas?
5.
Can I write about this topic without being overly negative toward the
opposing view?
**## Submitthefinaldraftofyourresearchpaper.pdf**
Submit the final draft of your research paper, incorporating the feedback you previously
received on your draft, as well as further revisions you have made. Use the revision and
editing checklist in order to ensure you have applied all the lessons learned throughout the
term:
Revision & Editing ChecklistDownload Revision & Editing Checklist
Signature Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)Download Signature
Assignment: Argumentative Essay (Full Instructions)
See the rubric for specific grading criteria.
Resource: Use the Grammarly tool to catch and correct mistakes in your writing
assignments.
Points: 200
Due Sunday, 11: 59 p.m. (Pacific time)
Rubric
Final Draft Rubric
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265772/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?wrap=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1](https://canvas.westcoastuniversity.edu/courses/65707/files/28265808/download?download_frd=1)
[https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly](https://guides.westcoastuniversity.edu/grammarly)
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeContent
60 to >53.4 ptsThe writer demonstrates original thought and
critical thinking skills. He/she presents a clear, focused central
argument (thesis) and supports it effectively with concrete
details, examples, and sound logic. Other authors’ ideas are
skillfully paraphrased. Direct quotations are minimal and well-
chosen. All sources are relevant and appropriate, and the
writer’s ideas are convincing, even for those who disagree with
his/her premise.
53.4 to >47.4 ptsThe writer presents and supports a clear and
focused central argument (thesis), but ideas may not be
consistently convincing. Supporting details are relevant and
logical but may lack depth. Other authors’ ideas are effectively
paraphrased, and direct quotations are minimal. All sources are
relevant and appropriate.
47.4 to >43.2 ptsThe writer presents a central argument (thesis),
but it may be overly general/broad. He/she adequately supports
the central argument, but supporting points may at times be
vague, too obvious, or otherwise unconvincing. The writer
makes an effort to paraphrase but at times struggles to express
ideas in his/her own words. The essay lacks interesting details,
and/or not all sources are relevant and appropriate.
43.2 to >0 ptsThe writer’s central argument (thesis) is unclear or
missing, and the essay lacks focus. Supporting details are
insufficient, not relevant, and/or not based on sound logic.
Attempts to paraphrase do not always reflect understanding.
The writer has not used enough sources, and/or the sources are
not all relevant and appropriate.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeOrganization 40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a clear sense of
direction. The paper includes an engaging introduction and
conclusion. Paragraphs are unified and arranged in a logical
order. Each paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence that
introduces the main idea of that paragraph. The writer smoothly
transitions from paragraph to paragraph, showing connections
between related ideas. Supporting details within paragraphs
are well-organized, and research is well-integrated.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer demonstrates a sense of direction.
The paper includes a strong introduction and conclusion.
Paragraphs are unified and include topic sentences, but they
may lack smooth transitions between ideas. The organization of
supporting details within paragraphs may need improvement.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer demonstrates some direction and
includes an adequate introduction and conclusion, but topic
sentences and transitions are weak. The paragraphs show
unity, but they are not arranged in any discernable order, and
supporting details may not always be well-organized.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer demonstrates little or no direction. The
introduction and conclusion are weak. It is difficult to identify a
single subtopic for each paragraph because paragraphs are not
unified and lack clear topic sentences or transitions. The order
of body paragraphs seems random, as do the supporting details
within them.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeStyle/Language
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is confident, engaging, and
appropriate for the assignment and/or the intended audience.
The text demonstrates strong vocabulary skills and does not
suffer from errors in word choice. The writer expresses ideas
concisely, only using as many words as necessary to
communicate a point. The writer achieves flow and readability
by employing sentence variety successfully.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer’s tone is appropriate and effective
overall. The text demonstrates good use of vocabulary and
contains few (if any) errors in word choice. The writer expresses
ideas concisely and clearly most of the time. The writer makes
an effort to employ sentence variety.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer’s tone suffers from one or more
possible problems. Depending on the assignment, it may be too
informal, too personal, not authoritative enough, etc.
Numerous sentences suffer from lack of variety, awkward
constructions, wordiness, limited vocabulary, and/or errors in
word choice.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer often fails to communicate ideas
effectively because the paper suffers from significant problems
with tone, language use, and/or wordiness.
Final Draft Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeSentence Structure and
Mechanics
40 to >35.6 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in
grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation. There are no fragments
or run-on sentences.
35.6 to >31.6 ptsThe writer makes some errors in grammar,
spelling, and/or punctuation, but these errors do not
significantly distract the reader from the substance of the text.
The paper contains few (if any) fragments and/or run-on
sentences.
31.6 to >28.8 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in grammar,
spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure, which at
times distract the reader from the substance of the text.
28.8 to >0 ptsThe writer makes a significant number of errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and/or sentence structure,
regularly distracting the reader from the substance of the text
and hindering comprehension.
This criterion is linked to a Learning
OutcomeFormat/Crediting Sources
20 to >17.8 ptsThe writer makes minimal (if any) errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
17.8 to >15.8 ptsThe writer makes some errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
15.8 to >14.4 ptsThe writer makes numerous errors in APA
format, citations, or references.
14.4 to >0 ptsThe writer makes significant errors in APA format,
citations, or references.
Total Points: 200
**## FastFashion1.docx**
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**Fast Fashion**
Alondra Rivera
West Coast University
English 140 Written
Melissa Cueto
9/27/2025
Fast fashion has revolutionized clothing shopping by offering trendy styles at affordable prices and fast delivery. Stores may stock new runway-inspired clothes within weeks, satisfying consumers' constant demand to look stylish. While accessibility looks desirable, the structure that allows it is based on hidden costs. Fast fashion's cost and ease hide its drawbacks. It harms people and the environment rather than just looking good. Behind fast fashion's low costs and fast turnover is a system that affects garment workers and the environment. Furthermore, it pushes customers to buy more than they need while undercutting sustainable alternatives. Fast fashion affects worker rights, ecosystems, and the economy worldwide. Fast fashion mistreats workers, hurts the environment, promotes overconsumption, and discourages sustainable alternatives.
**First Body Paragraph**
One of the most significant difficulties with fast fashion is the exploitation of developing country labor. Garment workers work long hours in dangerous circumstances for low wages. Sweatshops, or factories, lack fundamental safety requirements, leaving workers vulnerable to accidents, building collapses, and fires. This sector is dangerous, as shown by the 2013 Rana Plaza accident in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 garment workers (Alam, 2025). Despite public attention to such deaths, many factories have comparable conditions. Firms often put profit before workers' rights in the rush for fast production. Studies reveal that fashion brands' ethical pledges rarely affect behavior. Worker exploitation continues, with low salaries and no healthcare or union representation (Lebaron, 2021). Workers' inability to escape poverty while corporations and retailers profit reinforces it. Because supply chains are purposely complicated and opaque, customers are frequently ignorant of this exploitation (DuHadway et al., 2021). This hidden mistreatment raises ethical concerns, showing that quick fashion sacrifices human dignity. Corporate accountability, greater labor law enforcement, and consumer understanding of the human consequences of their clothing choices are needed to address this issue.
**Second Body Paragraph**
Moreover, fast fashion causes significant harm to the environment. Large volumes of natural resources are needed to produce inexpensive clothing, which strains communities and ecosystems. For instance, growing cotton requires enormous amounts of water, and making textiles releases harmful chemicals into the air and waterways while consuming a significant amount of energy (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Additionally, fast fashion's quick production cycle results in inexpensively made clothing being thrown out quickly. After just a few wears, most clothing ends up in landfills, and materials like polyester and nylon do not break down naturally, leaving behind toxic residues that persist for decades (Stein-Rachmil, 2022). In addition to landfills, synthetic fibers pollute the ocean. Tiny plastic microfibers are discharged into water systems every time polyester clothing is washed. These microplastics damage aquatic life and build up in marine ecosystems, which upsets food chains and compromises human health. One of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world is fast fashion because it relies on synthetic materials, short garment lifespans, and resource-intensive production.
**Third Body Paragraph**
Fast fashion's promotion of waste and overproduction is another significant problem. Customers are under pressure to buy more than they need because they believe that clothes become outdated in a matter of weeks due to constantly shifting trends. By encouraging consumers to switch out perfectly wearable clothing for new styles, social media platforms speed up this cycle (Atik & Ozdamar Ertekin, 2023). As a result, a great deal of textile waste is produced as barely used items are promptly thrown away. Sustainable fashion alternatives are also harmed by this overproduction. Fast fashion's low prices make it difficult for thrift stores, small companies, and ethical brands to compete, trapping customers in a cycle of purchasing short-lived, low-quality clothing (Yu et al., 2023). Additionally, excessive consumption has long-term effects by decreasing the demand for long-lasting, better-quality clothing and cluttering homes and landfills. Fast fashion's unsustainable cycle of production and waste contributes to both environmental deterioration and economic inefficiencies.
**Fourth Body Paragraph**
Additionally, fast fashion hinders the expansion of sustainable practices in the apparel sector. Consumers are less inclined to buy eco-friendly alternatives that are more expensive initially but are produced ethically and have longer lifespans because fast fashion items are readily available and inexpensive. Businesses that produce large quantities of inexpensive goods eclipse ethical clothing brands, which frequently highlight fair wages, eco-friendly textiles, and less waste (Dhir, 2022). Because of this imbalance, fast, disposable fashion continues to dominate the market, making it challenging for sustainable businesses to thrive. Over time, fast fashion's dominance normalizes bad consumer habits and inhibits innovation in sustainable production. Additionally, the ongoing demand for unsustainable low-cost apparel slows down the advancement of moral industry reforms by sending a message to businesses that using abusive labor practices and damaging environmental effects is profitable (Dhir, 2022). Consumer choice for ethical products will be limited if there is not a cultural shift away from fast fashion. Sustainable options will continue to face systemic disadvantages.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, fast fashion is a global issue due to its mistreatment of workers, environmental harm, promotion of overproduction, and suppression of sustainable alternatives. It promotes the exploitation of garment workers who toil in hazardous conditions for meagre compensation, while pollution, excessive water use, and wasteful production practices harm the environment. Constant trend cycles, meanwhile, encourage waste and overconsumption, making it difficult for sustainable brands to compete. The cycle of rapid disposal and low-cost production puts profit ahead of ecological balance and human dignity. It will take a team effort to solve these problems: governments must impose stricter labor and environmental laws, companies must answer for supply chain violations, and consumers must take responsibility by buying used, mending clothing, and patronizing eco-friendly companies. Society can prevent harm, safeguard vulnerable workers, and protect the environment for future generations by slowing down and choosing clothing with greater awareness.
**References**
Alam, S. (2025). Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Practices in the Ready-Made Garment Industry: Unravelling the Impact of the Rana Plaza Catastrophe.
_SSRN Electronic Journal_. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5325424
Atik, D., & Ozdamar Ertekin, Z. (2023). The restless desire for the new versus sustainability: the pressing need for social marketing in fashion industry
_. Journal of Social Marketing_, 13(1), 1-19.
[https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036](https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-02-2022-0036)
Dhir, Y. J. (2022). Ethical Fashion: A Route to Social and Environmental Well-Being.
_In Sustainable Approaches in Textiles and Fashion: Consumerism, Global Textiles and Supply Chain_ (pp. 221-235). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
[https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0874-3_13)
DuHadway, S., Mena, C., & Ellram, L. M. (2021). Let the buyer beware: how network structure can enable (and prevent) supply chain fraud.
_International Journal of Operations & Production Management_,
_42_(2), 125–150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijopm-05-2021-0310
Lebaron, G. (2021). Wages: An Overlooked Dimension of Business and Human Rights in Global Supply Chains.
_Business and Human Rights Journal_,
_6_(1), 1–20.
[https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32](https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2020.32)
Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion.
_Nature reviews earth & environment_, 1(4), 189-200.
[https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9)
Stein-Rachmil, S. (2022). The Impact of Fast Fashion Ecosystem Destruction: Can Sustainability Become Fashionable?
_Sunny.edu_
Yu, Y., Gomez-Borquez, C. L., & Zaichkowsky, J. L. (2023). Mitigating trendy cheap fast fashion’s negative impact.
_Journal of Sustainable Marketing_, 4(2), 128-148.
[https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf](https://luminousinsights.net/insights/content/doi/20231226162154.pdf)
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