How to Make Every Reason Count in Your Arguments

Ever sat through an argument that felt busy but went nowhere? You've experienced the frustration of noise masquerading as substance. The truth is, most weak arguments fail not because they lack reasons, but because those reasons don't actually support the main point. The fix is beautifully simple: make every reason earn its place by showing exactly how it strengthens your claim.

Here's your step-by-step method to filter ruthlessly and build arguments that genuinely convince.

Define Your Claim

Before you can judge whether a reason is relevant, you need absolute clarity on what you're trying to prove. Think of your claim as a bullseye target. Write it down in one clear sentence, and underline the key parts. What exactly are you asking your audience to believe or do?

This precision matters because relevance is always relative to your specific claim. A reason that's brilliant for one argument might be completely useless for another. Your claim is your North Star—everything you include must point directly towards it.

List Your Reasons

Now, let yourself brainstorm freely. Write down every reason, example, and piece of evidence that comes to mind. Don't filter yet—just get it all out. This is your raw material, your messy scroll of possibilities.

You'll likely notice that some reasons feel stronger than others, and that's perfectly normal. The goal at this stage isn't quality; it's quantity. You're creating options for yourself, building a pool from which you'll select only the very best.

Test for Relevance

This is where the magic happens. For each reason on your list, ask yourself two critical questions: 'So what?' and 'How does this show that?' If you can't answer both in one or two clear sentences, that reason is noise.

Here's the test in action: imagine you're arguing that a new study technique saves time. A reason about how many students use it? That's popularity, not time-saving—it fails the test. A reason showing it cuts revision time by 30%? That hits the target perfectly.

• Use simple link words—because, therefore, so—to make the connection obvious
• If the connection feels forced or requires elaborate explanation, cut it
• Ask: does this reason directly support my claim, or am I hoping the audience will make that leap themselves?

If your reason doesn't touch your claim, it's like bringing a spoon to a knife fight—technically cutlery, completely unhelpful.

Build a Strong Argument

You're left with only the reasons that directly hit your target. Arrange them in a logical order, starting with a short framing statement that sets the context. Then present each relevant point clearly, showing the explicit link to your claim.

When every reason is relevant, something remarkable happens: your thinking feels clean and convincing. Your audience follows your logic without getting lost. They don't have to wonder how a point relates—it's obvious. This clarity is what separates weak arguments from powerful ones.

The discipline of relevance transforms not just your arguments, but your entire thinking process. You learn to cut the extras and keep the links clear, making every word count.

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