MARVIN H. SWIFT; LOGICAL THINKING AND ARGUEMENTATION

MARVIN H. SWIFT notes in the article that very few people possess the capacity to write flawlessly and effortlessly. Most of us struggle through the stages of putting words on paper, editing, drafting, and redrafting until we achieve perfection or what we believe to be perfection. Similarly, very few people have the ability to think clearly enough for simple transcriptions of “what they have in mind” to pass for intelligent communication. The author here makes the observation that we frequently edit both our words and our ideas at the same time. The changes we make to both our thinking and our style reinforce one another and cannot be separated.

In today’s world, effective communication is a crucial skill as what we say should be perceived as what we mean. This skill is necessary for every area of life, be it academic settings, personal relationships or the workplace. Logical reasoning and persuasive speaking are essential elements of effective communication. The ability to articulate a convincing argument or pass along information is crucial for success in both professional and interpersonal settings.

Good communication also requires a keen awareness of the audience and context. To be effective communicators, individuals must be able to tailor their arguments to the specific needs and interests of their audience, and adapt their communication style to the context in which they are communicating. This requires a deep understanding of the audience’s values, beliefs, and knowledge, as well as an awareness of the cultural, social, and political factors that shape the communication context.

One of the key challenges of good communication is the prevalence of biases and cognitive errors. Humans are inherently prone to biases and fallacies, and these can distort our reasoning and lead us to make poor decisions. Common biases include confirmation bias (the tendency to seek out information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs), availability bias (the tendency to overestimate the importance of information that is readily available), and framing bias (the tendency to be influenced by the way information is presented).

In this text, the case given shows that the understudy went through three specific steps before he finalized his memo to ensure he puts down what he means in order to achieve effective communication with his staff.

ELIMINATING WORDINESS

This is an interesting point as what we need to say can be expressed in not too many words so the intent or purpose of the written is not lost or buried. The choice of words used should not diffuse the intent of the writer.

CORRECTING/MODULATING THE TONE

The tone of what is written should match the intent of the of the information to be passed. A reflection of the first draft written is always important.

REVISION OF POLICY

Is the writer’s position clear?

These are the understudy’s process of logical thinking whilst analyzing the memo he wrote.

All three come down to intent. Why am I writing? What information do I want to pass along?

To improve our communication skills, it is important to build a critical and reflective mindset, and to be open to new information and perspectives. This requires a willingness to challenge our assumptions and beliefs, and to subject them to rigorous scrutiny.

The establishing of objective and purpose before writing gives practice in utilizing procedures required to solve problems. Considering a reader’s desires and needs is a good habit to improve any human relations.

Logical thinking fundamentally requires the application of reason and critical thought to study information, assess arguments, and reach optimal decisions. This method enables people to recognize the most pertinent and convincing arguments and to reach evidence-based conclusions.