Expressing one’s ideas and creating a logically structured argument is a crucial skill without which one cannot function in modern society. People often have to present their point of view in a well-arranged and prepared manner, which is why the ability to write papers and provide a coherent description of one’s course of thinking is critical for any individual in literally any area, from scholarly discussions to the workplace downright to casual communication. Therefore, understanding how to build a clear and cohesive argument is indispensable. Due to the need to embrace not only the argued point of view but also the opposing one, as well as the multitude of factors that shape decision-making, one should approach the process of structuring an argument by brainstorming and using creativity to provide proof for the key statement made.
The first step in devising a compelling argument on any subject is to do preliminary research. Thus, one will avoid making typical errors and promoting common myths when making a specific statement. The research should not be restricted to commonplace sources and encyclopedias but, instead, include a wide array of databases, mainly, scholarly ones. Remarkably, one may not need to brush off the use of encyclopedias entirely; the specified source is perfect as the starting point of one’s preliminary research (Xiao and Watson 95). However, when delving into the academic part of the process, one needs to consider solely the verified data sources.
The next step in preparing an argument would be arranging the located opinions into several categories according to the statements that they make. Thus, one will be able to see the key points that one will need to cover when establishing one’s point of view. The third step will require transitioning from the preparation part to the actual writing. Specifically, one will need to create the statement that allows introducing the audience to the subject matter and provides a succinct point that the speaker is going to make. At this point, it is important to list the key points, providing the examples that illustrate the main idea. Moreover, one will need to refer to trustworthy resources as the references used to build the argument.
Next, one should incorporate additional perspectives that expand one’s main argument and offer new ways of looking at the issue at hand. For instance, social, political, economic, and technological viewpoints may be incorporated into an argument addressing an important social topic. Introducing creativity into the process of assessing the available viewpoints is essential since it will help one to give their argument a distinguished look and make it relatable, appealing, and unique to its target audience.
Finally, the process of developing an argument should end with revising the statement that has been made and correcting inaccuracies, errors, and inconsistencies (Rigby et al. 1091). The process of revisiting the created statement is, in fact, crucial to the entire task of building an argument since one may develop new insights when making it, which, in turn, will shape the final idea significantly.
By offering a multifaceted overview of the available opinions when structuring an argument, specifically, by utilizing brainstorming and creative thinking, one will develop the statement that will be compelling and informative. Although the specified approach toward building an argument does not imply immediately that the resulting statement will be completely true, it will still lead to the argument that will generate interesting discussions. Therefore, the process of structuring an argument should be based on a careful evaluation of the existing opinions and the careful consideration of the validity of each.
Works Cited
- Rigby, John, et al. “Journal Peer Review: A Bar or Bridge? An Analysis of a paper’s Revision History and Turnaround Time, and the Effect on Citation.” Scientometrics, vol. 114, no. 3, 2018, pp. 1087-1105.
- Xiao, Yu, and Maria Watson. “Guidance on Conducting a Systematic Literature Review.” Journal of Planning Education and Research, vol. 39, no. 1, 2019, pp. 93-112.