Study Success at Sussex (S3)

What is an argument?

Basically, you need to produce a line of reasoning that supports your point of view. Tutors and lecturers need to see that you can:

• critically analyse and evaluate your subject, including your responses to it;
• present your reasoning and evidence in a clear, well structured manner;
• make sure your line of reasoning moves logically and coherently to your conclusion.

In effect this is about finding your academic 'voice' (what you think and argue in relation to your subject).

Being able to critically analyse and evaluate your subject is your starting point here. You can't expect to know what your argument is going to be before you've done your critical investigation (reading, experimenting etc) into the subject. This often involves making judgements about the validity of different authors' positions and the way they uphold them. You need to stand back and scrutinise issues, looking at both sides of a case, strengths and weaknesses, patterns and connections in ideas, evidence, arguments and findings. You will need to analyse and evaluate your own ideas (which will probably be developing and changing as you carry out your research). Your argument emerges from this research and analysis. For help with this visit the Critical thinking and Reading strategies sections of this site.

Methods of investigation depend on the subject and your approach. What's important is that the methods used allow you to establish effective reasons, evidence and examples for your arguments.

Conclusions need to follow logically from your reasoning and evidence. Make sure that the steps to your conclusions are clearly laid out.