Inductive reasoning and critical thinking complement each other as they are necessary to make arguments based on specific observations to reach general conclusions. For example, if we have a group of students who learn better using visual resources, we could generalize the idea that visual resources are much better than other teaching methods. This is a clear example of how we apply inductive generalization. However, although inductive generalization is a useful tool for drawing general conclusions, its major disadvantage is that it does not guarantee truth or specific data, it only suggests something that is probable.
Statistical arguments could be interpreted as inductive reasoning since we use numerical data. For example, ‘'80% of the respondents prefer to attend classes in an early schedule, therefore, we conclude that most students prefer that schedule and not the afternoon schedule’' is a statistical statement. In order to make statistical arguments it is very important that we interpret the data correctly and consider the context, since the strongest advantage of this type of arguments is that we can base them on real evidence (numbers), however, if we collect those data wrongly, our statistical argument would be wrong and would have no value.
Reasoning by analogy reaches conclusions after comparing two similar situations. For example, if a new educational plan worked in an educational institution in another city with similar characteristics to ours, we can assume that it can also work in our educational institution. Although analogies are persuasive, we must be careful when interpreting this information to reach a conclusion. To make a good analogy we must make sure that the similarities are relevant to what we are arguing.
Finally, if we want to write a good argumentative essay, the first step is to have reliable sources, so we should not worry about what we are going to write, but how we are going to write it. When referring to reliable sources we must check authors, dates, credibility and evidence. In addition, a good essay should have a good thesis and an organized structure starting from the introduction, development with arguments and counterarguments, and finally a strong conclusion that impacts the reader.
Statistical arguments could be interpreted as inductive reasoning since we use numerical data. For example, ‘'80% of the respondents prefer to attend classes in an early schedule, therefore, we conclude that most students prefer that schedule and not the afternoon schedule’' is a statistical statement. In order to make statistical arguments it is very important that we interpret the data correctly and consider the context, since the strongest advantage of this type of arguments is that we can base them on real evidence (numbers), however, if we collect those data wrongly, our statistical argument would be wrong and would have no value.
Reasoning by analogy reaches conclusions after comparing two similar situations. For example, if a new educational plan worked in an educational institution in another city with similar characteristics to ours, we can assume that it can also work in our educational institution. Although analogies are persuasive, we must be careful when interpreting this information to reach a conclusion. To make a good analogy we must make sure that the similarities are relevant to what we are arguing.
Finally, if we want to write a good argumentative essay, the first step is to have reliable sources, so we should not worry about what we are going to write, but how we are going to write it. When referring to reliable sources we must check authors, dates, credibility and evidence. In addition, a good essay should have a good thesis and an organized structure starting from the introduction, development with arguments and counterarguments, and finally a strong conclusion that impacts the reader.