Final answer:
Spend 5-10 minutes analyzing your prompt and forming an initial thesis, claim, and counterclaim. Use academic databases to support your argument and consider varied perspectives. The essay should balance analysis and evidence with strong counterclaims and correct citations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before you read your sources, it is important to spend some time analyzing your prompt and formulating a possible thesis, claim, and counterclaim. Option A, 5-10 minutes, is generally a sufficient amount of time for this initial step. However, keep in mind that as you engage with your sources, your initial ideas may evolve. Therefore, use this time to create a preliminary road map for your research rather than a definitive plan. It is crucial to search academic databases to find a range of scholarly sources that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic. These sources will help you to shape your thesis and arguments more fully. In this stage, focus on selecting sources that support your argument, offer a counterargument, or add significant information to your research. Once you have a draft of your thesis and claims, the body of your essay should support your points through specific details, concrete examples, and sufficient evidence. When integrating these sources into your essay, aim for a balance between summary, paraphrase, quotation, and synthesis. Additionally, make sure to include a combination of sufficient and accurate support for claims with strong counterclaims and complete and correct citations. Your reading strategy should involve multiple reads to understand the arguments and evidence fully, identifying areas where you agree or disagree and asking probing questions throughout the process.