Let's argue together!

John and Mary have been best friends since the first day of high school.

Every day after school, they walk home together, chatting about their day. As they walk, they share stories, jokes, and dreams for their future. They also couldn’t help but talk about their favorite food and plan their next food adventure together!

“Have you ever considered going vegan?” John asked Mary.

“No, I haven’t. I don’t see the point. Why would I want to limit myself to only eating plants?” she replied.

“Well, being vegan is about more than just what you eat. It’s a lifestyle that promotes compassion and sustainability,” John argued.

“I get that, but I don’t think I could give up meat and dairy. They’re a big part of my diet. Thanks for asking though.” Mary then said.

Soft skills refer to personal and social skills that improve our interactions and relationships. At the same time, soft skills can help us both get hired and succeed at work (Herrity, 2023). One such soft skill is argumentation, which refers to the ability to present and defend a point of view in a logical and convincing manner (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.). This skill has become increasingly important in a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and opinions from various sources.

Argumentation is critical in children as it helps them develop critical thinking skills and improves their ability to communicate and persuade others (Hasnunidah, Susilo, Irawati & Suwono, 2020). By learning to argue effectively, children can learn how to articulate their thoughts and opinions and defend their beliefs. They also learn to consider alternative perspectives and weigh the evidence to support their arguments, which helps them become better problem-solvers and critical thinkers (Armstrong, Moyer, Stanton, n.d.).

There are numerous benefits of having argumentation skills, including:

Improved communication: Argumentation requires clear and concise communication, which can help children develop better communication skills. This is especially important as they grow up and enter the workforce where they will need to be able to articulate their ideas and opinions in a professional setting (Seehorn, n.d.).

Enhanced critical thinking: Argumentation helps children develop critical thinking skills by teaching them to analyze evidence, consider alternative perspectives, and weigh the pros and cons of different arguments (Seehorn, n.d.). For example, when children are learning to support their arguments with evidence, they may be asked to provide examples from a text or their personal experience to support their point of view. This process can help them develop skills in identifying relevant evidence, evaluating its credibility, and using it to support their arguments.

Improved problem-solving skills: Children who are able to argue effectively are also better problem-solvers. They learn to consider different options and find the best solution by evaluating all the available evidence (University of Pittsburg, n.d.). For instance, a kid who complains that it’s unjust to be asked to tidy up their bedroom might propose solutions like alternating with their siblings or having a fixed cleaning day each week. This aids in honing their analytical skills and their capability to view a scenario from various viewpoints, resulting in better aptitude to solve problems.

Enhanced confidence: Children who are able to argue effectively are more confident in expressing their opinions and are less likely to be intimidated by others. This can lead to improved relationships and better outcomes in both personal and professional settings (Trouche, Sander & Mercier, 2014). Children who are able to argue effectively might be able to convince their parents to buy a new toy or stay up late on a weekend. This can help them feel more confident in expressing their opinions and can lead to improved relationships with their parents.

Morphoses programs are designed to help children develop their soft skills, including argumentation. The programs offer interactive and fun classes that expose children to real mysteries and challenges while providing them with the fundamental tools to enhance their soft skills. This approach allows children to not only learn what to learn but also how to learn, providing them with the tools they need to become more confident, extroverted, and happy.

Through these programs, children learn to present and defend their point of view in a logical and convincing manner. This helps them develop the skills needed to become effective communicators and problem-solvers.

One example of a Morphoses activity is “Debate…with a twist.” In this activity, the tutor gives all teenagers the opportunity to debate not on the basis of logic, but on the basis of emotion. The opposing sides are allowed to use personal opinions, emotions, and moral values to convince each other.

So what are you waiting for? Enrol now in one of our free demo classes!

References

Armstrong, Moyer, Stanton, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ideaedu.org/idea-notes-on-learning/learning-to-analyze-and-critically-evaluate-ideas-arguments-and-points-of-view/

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/argumentationHasnunidah, N., Susilo, H., Irawati, M., & Suwono, H. (2020). Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/jutlp/vol17/iss1/6/

Herrity, J. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/soft-skills

Seehorn, A. (2020). Retrieved from https://classroom.synonym.com/rhetorical-triangle-8435954.html

Trouche, E., Sander, E., & Mercier, H. (2014). Arguments, more than confidence, explain the good performance of reasoning groups. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(5), 1958–1971. doi:10.1037/a0037099 https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/xge-a0037099.pdfUniversity of Pittsburg. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.comm.pitt.edu/argument-basics