What are the criteria scholars need for good writing and professionalism? In this article, i will identify and discuss those key elements / ingredients or criteria that must be put into consideration while writing a professional paper. There are five major criteria or elements needed to have an adequate mastery of writing a good paper, these criteria that are necessary to gunshot your professionalism are; Conceptual analysis, Critical thinking, Reconstruction of ideas, Precision and clarity and Logicality and coherency. (What are the criteria scholars need for good writing and professionalism)?…………
Conceptual Analysis
Remember we discussed that language is sacrosanct to doing or writing in research. However, together with language is the pursuit of meanings of language used. This has to do the ways we clarify our thoughts, concepts, ideas by analyzing them so as to be sure we are expressing that which we have in mind. The process of doing this is what is known as conceptual analysis. This goes beyond mere definitions of concepts but a way of establishing a logical relationship among concepts whose meanings are believed to be less problematic. The point here is that, in any writing you have to embark on, especially in research, as much as possible, analyze the different concepts involved; this is to avoid vagueness, ambiguity, and to be able to have clearer understanding of what the analyzed concepts designate. The goal of analysis in this broad sense is to make the subject matter less difficult than it otherwise would be.
Critical Thinking
If half of good writing is good grammar as we discussed in the previous unit, then the other half could be tagged good thinking. Critical thinking is a rational activity that has to do with examining or scrutinizing one’s claims, beliefs or idea in a very detailed manner. The reason for doing this is to be able to ascertain whether we can continue to hold on to them, that is, whether these beliefs are sustainable or not. Through the technique of critical thinking, we try to bring to lime light, hidden assumptions. Critical thinking is also the philosophical detection through pure reasoning. In doing critical thinking, you should consciously ensure that you do not leave any ideas or claims unexamined, no belief, even believe in God or gods should be tagged sacred from philosophical activity of critical thinking.
As some of you may have been thinking, critical thinking is not a negative activity of rejecting people’s beliefs, criticism is not synonymous with negative appraisal. Rather, it is, according to H.S Staniland “a rational, impartial and articulate appraisal whether positive or negative”. Our objective for engaging in this type of criticism is to enable us to have a new perspective on our ideas or issues to prompt us to reform or modify our beliefs and ideas when they cannot stand the sledge hammer of reasoning. Thus, critical thinking gives room for us to examine our lives, it is also an avenue through which a human society can regard its self as a reasonable one.
Reconstruction of Ideas
The third important step to a good research writing is that which put analysis and criticism that we have discussed into practice. This is called reconstruction of ideas. Having analyzed and criticized, the next line of action is to be able to employ this reworked ideas in a way that will promote a better understanding of human condition, through which the human capacity of coping with challenges of life can be enhanced.
Summarily, you can’t be a professional whereby you simply analyze and argue for the sake of it, but an enterprise in which you reconstruct or rework issues, ideas or beliefs and make use of these as the way forward. In your research writings as well, keep this in mind that you will not just argue and analyze in isolation of reconstructive thinking and an action plan.
Precision and Clarity
These are very germane to putting together a good project writing. As against conventional wisdom prevalent among students, being vague or verbose in language does not show profundity or astuteness but confusion. In research, endeavor to write in simple grammar that is well defined, clear-cut and to the point. Do not try to impress your audience or anyone whosoever with big vocabularies. Use simple prose and short sentences and avoid long-winding sentences. Say exactly what you mean, and no more than you need to say. Add example where it may help to clarify the meaning of a concept or to persuade a doubtful reader of something. A good paper should establish a modest point as clearly, carefully and concisely as possible. Since language is the expression of thought, clear language shows clear thought.
What are the criteria scholars need for good writing?
Logicality and Coherency
Our discourse on argument and logic applies enormously to achieve these two criteria. Errors in reasoning are usually a pointer to illogicality in arguments, avoid committing fallacy. In addition, the arguments you marshal in support of or against a claim or position, ensure that they follow sequentially and hierarchically, this will aid logicality and coherency of thoughts. Furthermore, be careful with specialized language, what we mean by this is that, there are certain terms and phrases for specific narrow meanings peculiar to the subject, such terms include but are not limited to deduction, valid, invalid, sound, unsound (mostly used to describe arguments), vague. It is important that you understand how these words are used in research before employing them in your writing.
In conclusion;
Always be sure to get the exegesis right, that is, when you are required to make an exposition of what a scholar allegedly said, ensure that you get what the author is saying right. It is extremely important when explaining the argument of other scorlar, that you interpret them charitably.
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Understanding the basic concepts of argument and critical thinking
