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A Closer Look at Arguments

The information that follows will help you develop strong arguments.

1. Start with a worthy topic.

A persuasive writing assignment is often based on a subject your class is studying. You will, however, need to choose a topic that is controversial (something people disagree about) and specific enough for an essay. The following chart shows the difference between weak and strong topics.

2. Know the difference between fact and opinion.

An opinion is a personal belief that can’t be directly proven. A good opinion is based on facts, but it is not a fact itself. Facts are statements that can be checked or proven to be true.