What Is The Second Step In The Prewriting Process For An Argumentative Essay?A. Forming A Claim B. Finding Evidence C. Creating An Outline D. Developing An Opinion

Feb 25, 2025 by ADMIN 169 views

Understanding the Prewriting Process for Argumentative Essays

When it comes to writing an argumentative essay, the prewriting process is a crucial step that sets the foundation for a well-structured and persuasive piece of writing. The prewriting process involves several key steps that help writers develop their ideas, organize their thoughts, and create a clear direction for their essay. In this article, we will explore the second step in the prewriting process for an argumentative essay.

The Prewriting Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

The prewriting process typically involves several key steps, including:

Brainstorming: This is the initial step in the prewriting process where writers generate ideas and explore different perspectives on a topic.
Developing an opinion: This is the second step in the prewriting process, where writers form a clear opinion or stance on the topic.
Forming a claim: This is the third step in the prewriting process, where writers create a clear and concise statement that summarizes their opinion.
Finding evidence: This is the fourth step in the prewriting process, where writers gather evidence to support their claim.
Creating an outline: This is the final step in the prewriting process, where writers organize their ideas and create a clear structure for their essay.

Developing an Opinion: The Second Step in the Prewriting Process

Understanding the topic: Writers should have a clear understanding of the topic and its various aspects.
Considering different perspectives: Writers should consider different perspectives on the topic and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective.
Forming a clear opinion: Writers should form a clear and well-supported opinion on the topic, which will serve as the foundation for the rest of the essay.

Why Developing an Opinion is Important

Developing an opinion is an important step in the prewriting process for argumentative essays because it helps writers:

Create a clear direction: Developing an opinion helps writers create a clear direction for their essay, which is essential for a well-structured and persuasive piece of writing.
Establish credibility: Developing an opinion helps writers establish credibility with their readers, which is essential for building trust and convincing readers of their argument.
Support their claim: Developing an opinion helps writers support their claim, which is essential for a well-supported and persuasive argument.

Tips for Developing an Opinion

Developing an opinion can be a challenging step in the prewriting process, but there are several tips that writers can use to make it easier:

Read and research: Reading and researching the topic can help writers gain a deeper understanding of the topic and its various aspects.
Consider different perspectives: Considering different perspectives on the topic can help writers evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and form a well-supported opinion.
Use evidence: Using evidence to support their opinion can help writers build a strong and persuasive argument.

Conclusion

Developing an opinion is a critical step in the prewriting process for argumentative essays. This step involves forming a clear and well-supported opinion on the topic, which will serve as the foundation for the rest of the essay. By understanding the topic, considering different perspectives, and forming a clear opinion, writers can create a clear direction for their essay, establish credibility with their readers, and support their claim. By following the tips outlined in this article, writers can make developing an opinion easier and create a well-structured and persuasive argumentative essay.

The Next Step: Forming a Claim

Once writers have developed an opinion, the next step in the prewriting process is to form a claim. A claim is a clear and concise statement that summarizes the writer's opinion and serves as the foundation for the rest of the essay. In the next article, we will explore the process of forming a claim and provide tips and strategies for creating a clear and persuasive claim.

References

Lunsford, A. A., & Connors, R. J. (2015). The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (2000). The Elements of Style. New York: Longman.
Zinsser, W. (2006). On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. New York: HarperCollins.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Prewriting Process for Argumentative Essays

In our previous article, we explored the prewriting process for argumentative essays, including the second step of developing an opinion. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the prewriting process and provide additional tips and strategies for writers.

Q: What is the prewriting process for argumentative essays?

A: The prewriting process for argumentative essays involves several key steps, including brainstorming, developing an opinion, forming a claim, finding evidence, and creating an outline. These steps help writers develop their ideas, organize their thoughts, and create a clear direction for their essay.

Q: Why is developing an opinion important in the prewriting process?

A: Developing an opinion is important in the prewriting process because it helps writers create a clear direction for their essay, establish credibility with their readers, and support their claim. A clear opinion also helps writers to focus their ideas and create a well-structured and persuasive argument.

Q: How do I develop an opinion on a topic?

A: To develop an opinion on a topic, writers should consider the following key factors:

Understanding the topic: Writers should have a clear understanding of the topic and its various aspects.
Considering different perspectives: Writers should consider different perspectives on the topic and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective.
Forming a clear opinion: Writers should form a clear and well-supported opinion on the topic, which will serve as the foundation for the rest of the essay.

Q: What is a claim, and how do I form one?

A: A claim is a clear and concise statement that summarizes the writer's opinion and serves as the foundation for the rest of the essay. To form a claim, writers should:

Identify the main point: Writers should identify the main point of their essay and create a clear and concise statement that summarizes their opinion.
Use evidence: Writers should use evidence to support their claim and make it more persuasive.
Make it specific: Writers should make their claim specific and avoid general statements.

Q: How do I find evidence to support my claim?

A: To find evidence to support your claim, writers should:

Conduct research: Writers should conduct research on the topic and gather evidence from credible sources.
Use primary and secondary sources: Writers should use both primary and secondary sources to gather evidence and provide a well-rounded argument.
Evaluate the evidence: Writers should evaluate the evidence and use it to support their claim.

Q: What is an outline, and how do I create one?

A: An outline is a visual representation of the writer's ideas and the structure of their essay. To create an outline, writers should:

Identify the main points: Writers should identify the main points of their essay and create a clear and concise statement that summarizes their opinion.
Create a structure: Writers should create a structure for their essay, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Use headings and subheadings: Writers should use headings and subheadings to organize their ideas and create a clear and concise outline.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid in the prewriting process?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid in the prewriting process include:

Not developing a clear opinion: Writers should avoid not developing a clear opinion on the topic and instead focus on creating a well-supported and persuasive argument.
Not using evidence: Writers should avoid not using evidence to support their claim and instead focus on gathering credible sources to support their argument.
Not creating an outline: Writers should avoid not creating an outline and instead focus on organizing their ideas and creating a clear structure for their essay.

Conclusion

The prewriting process for argumentative essays is a crucial step in creating a well-structured and persuasive piece of writing. By understanding the key steps in the prewriting process, including developing an opinion, forming a claim, finding evidence, and creating an outline, writers can create a clear direction for their essay, establish credibility with their readers, and support their claim. By avoiding common mistakes and following the tips and strategies outlined in this article, writers can create a well-structured and persuasive argumentative essay.

Additional Resources

Lunsford, A. A., & Connors, R. J. (2015). The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (2000). The Elements of Style. New York: Longman.
Zinsser, W. (2006). On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. New York: HarperCollins.