History Motivates the Definition of Argument - Essay Example

Researching and making arguments History motivates the definition of argument. Tracing history of the term’s use and sketch derives a number of possible meanings that the term can adopt depending on the involved groups. An argument can potentially show that that a meaning is more correct as compared to others, or that none of the meanings are correct, or that definition are best revealed by actions of a specific group. An argument can postulate that lots of definitions of the term are in use and hence prove slipperiness or controversy surrounding the the term itself; or alternatively, the argument may posit that a number of different-sounding definitions are as a matter of extremely alike. Theoretically, an argument thoroughly traces its usage and then proposes a definition best suitable for the term, in light of articulate research. As a matter of fact, arguments take multiple approaches to achieve specific functions. Explicit thoughts of structures help identify ways of approaching issues. Different arguments help in creating start points for complex topics under scrutiny. It is important to find a purpose for writing an argument. Conventionally, rather than look into the real implied meaning in a sense, humans argue in ways that favor their desired thoughts. The main objective of a causal argument is to set a causal hypothesis through distinction of causally related events based mere correlations. In general, a causal argument is an argument with a causal statement as its conclusion. This is often an inductive argument considering that the truth of premises fails to guarantee the conclusion’s truth. Causal arguments can take three forms. One cause leading to one or more effects, one effect resulting into a number of causes and a series of events forming a chain, where one event leads to another, which then leads to a third, and so on. Causal arguments typically have a clear structure including a correlation premise which claims the existence of a correlation between a pair of events or states of affairs and either a plausible causation story or an elimination premise which seeks to prove that X causes Y by seeking to exclude the other three possible relationships between X and Y. A plausible causation story is a plausible explanation of the specific relationship between X and Y. Plausible causation stories can be used to substantiate the idea that X causes Y. For example, we could use a plausible causation story to argue that exercise prevents colds by saying that exercise stimulates the immune system, which prevents colds. Or we can use plausible causation stories to argue for a part of the elimination premise. The first type of causal argument attempts to establish a singular causal claim, either directly or by use an elimination premise. Provided is a sample argumentative essay. Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you agree? Many educationists, irrespective of area of specialization have often taken a deep look into the role of education in development of nations. While it is true that development in many areas stems from education, there exists little or no research at all to prove that all developments can be attributed to education. Nonetheless, let’s take a moment and ask an important question, “What does education really entail?” Generally, education can either be formal or informal. Many define education as the process through which knowledge is passed (Flacier, 2011). What about development? Well, development constitutes a process of growth, normally positive, through which a nation enhances its livelihood and takes a step towards a better future. Armed with this knowledge, there is no doubt that that education is an important factor in development of a country. Nonetheless, is it the single most important factor in development of a country? This paper disagrees with the statement. Firstly, development largely relies on a number of factors, one of them being availability of resources. Resources play an important role in ensuring development in any nation. Time and again, may nations have had immense educated labor but failed to prosper due to lack of resources. In a similar way, some nations have had immense resources but prosperity has remained a mirage, thanks to lack of professionals to manage skills. What does this imply? One may ask. Well, it simply explains an interconnection between education and resources and as such affirms that education cannot be the sole determinant of a nation’s growth. Other than resources, it is also important to assess other factors which could work hand in hand with education to create a developed nation. History has proven that good leadership is a pillar of development. Time and again, many nations have crumbled and continued to languish in poverty, all thanks to poor leadership. Interestingly, no studies have been able to peg good leadership to education. A fundamental issue arising from this argument is the role of leadership in management of not just the existing resources but also the human capital which is often derived from education. As a matter of fact, it becomes imperative to note that leadership is more important than education and resource availability in development of a nation. Many nations in the western world have largely developed due to good leadership which has been able to facilitate educational excellence, efficient resource utilization, as well as exploration of new opportunities. Like Donald (2009) says, a nation is just as good as its leadership and more often than not, leaders are the face of a nation. This aside though. Many previous studies, more especially in history have linked the rise of education to development in various parts of the world. As a matter of fact, a number of researchers have emphasized that a nation which heavily invest in education is more likely to prosper as compared to one which does not. United States offers evidence to this fact. Its prosperity has been largely pegged to its huge investments in education and research, a point which a new aspect of development. Research remains a pillar when it comes to national development. Many industrialized nations are known to spend millions of dollars every year in research. Once again, the US offers a good example. Most of the global researches are done in the United States and it comes as no surprise that it remains the largest economy across the globe. China has since followed trend and many will agree that they are already reaping the benefits of this endeavor. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that while education is an important factor in development of a nation, it would be improper to presume it is the sole important factor. Its role cannot be a success if not augmented by other areas such as research, resources availability and leadership, among others. The bottom line is education remains an indispensable aspect of development just like a number of other factors are. References Donald, R. The role of leadership in national development. Leadership Journal, 43.2 (2009):234 – 245. Flacier, J. (2011). Education and development. Development Journal, 11.3 (2011): 123-127. Read More