by Paul Lines

Created on: January 17, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

In my view, when one is writing any material that calls for the establishment, argument or defence of one's own viewpoint, the most important thing to remember is that there will be opposing views amongst those who read your material. Therefore, it is important to follow a few basic rules.

1) Preparation. Even before the writing starts, it is important to research the subject carefully. This means that you should study material that both supports and opposes your view. The purpose of this is to not only ensure that your view is well covered in the text, but that you are also in a position to be able to provide your reasoning for not agreeing with the opposing position. There is nothing worse than reading a piece that has not made any attempt to establish why counter arguments are being disagreed with.

2) Understand and fully explain your viewpoint. Before you start to write you need to understand your own viewpoint. This may seem a strange thing to say, but if you have done your preparation, you should be able to sit down and say, "This is what I my viewpoint is" and explain it in detail to yourself first. Otherwise, you will not be able to explain it to others. A point of view is not necessarily black or white. It could have exceptions that need to be identified and explained.

For example, let us take the death penalty. There are those for it and those against. That seems straightforward enough. However, there are those opposed to it who will make exceptions, for instance in the case of Sadam Hussain. Similarly, there are those for it who will call for certain exceptions, such as crimes of passions.

You need to explain in detail what your viewpoint is and, if there are exceptions, the reasons for those.

3) Don't be dogmatic. No opinion is totally right or wrong and no argument is one-sided. There may well be parts of an opposing viewpoint that you will find that you agree with. If so, say so. It does not weaken your case; it only serves to show that you have considered the subject carefully. It also provides a better foundation from which you can show where your own opinion differs.

4) Construction. The way that an argument or opinion is presented in a particular article or study is also important. It is essential that in the introduction you clearly outline your opinion and indicate how you are going to use the rest of the writing to show the basis on which that opinion has been formulated.

In the main body of your writing you need to build your points in a logical

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