You’ll now begin writing your own argumentative essay by crafting a
strong argument. You’ll go through the process of learning about a
topic, analyzing information on that topic, making a strong claim on the
topic, supporting that claim with evidence, and drafting an argument
essay. You’ll see an example of this process on the topic of graffiti,
and you’ll write your own essay that argues for either attending college
or entering the workforce.
Before you can form an argument, though, you’ll need to gain some
knowledge on the topic. When it comes to academic and professional
writing, you’ll need to read or watch credible sources to make sure
facts back up your claim and your argument. These sources are where
you’ll get the evidence to support your claim and argue against any
counterclaims—that is, claims that would argue the opposite of your main
point. The first step in this process is doing a close reading of your
sources.