Step 4A: Refining your argument

After researching and further developing your ideas, you can start to plan your essay. Look back at your brainstorm and see which ideas have the most research evidence and could form the strongest points. Then, group and prioritize these ideas.

Thinking about the brainstorming activity earlier, there were more arguments against having a global language than in favour of it. Therefore, it would be logical argue, “There should not be a global language.” However, some of the ideas brainstormed for having a global language can still be addressed in your essay to show critical thinking and a balanced argument.

Look at how some of the ideas link together to start to form the main points of your argument. Rephrase these points as full sentences in support of your argument. These will become the topic sentences for your essay body paragraphs. In the next step, you can see how to put these ideas into the essay structure.

When you have your main points, go back and refine your thesis from, “There should not be a global language” to something like, “While the prospect of a global language appears superficially attractive in terms of ease of international communication, any advantages are outweighed by the devastating loss of national and cultural identity and traditions that would result for many countries”