Grendel Argumentative Essay Check In

So far in the first draft of my argumentative essay, I've been focusing on concise writing, but enough that my point is still conveyed to the reader. I have heeded the advice Dr. Clark, my instructor, has given me and I have tried to change the way I color-coded my essay in order to separate claims, counterclaims, background and unnecessary sentences. I think my essay is well put together so far, but I still think it could be a bit shorter, and closer to the two page limit (I'm a bit over 2 pages), but I'm not entirely sure what I can shorten or take out. I think I can make some of the longer claims and counterclaims shorter by using shorter words or something like that, but I don't think it will be enough. I think I may have to completely go over the entire essay and rewrite the longer portions into shorter and concise sentences. There may be some more problems, things that I didn't notice, with my first draft, but it's a draft, so I still have room and time to improve it.