Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing, 2nd Ed

PLANNING AND CREATING YOUR REASONING 129

The analytical structure format as a plan for writing

The analytical structure format is different from (and, for purposes of smart
thinking, much better than) a mind-map or narrative plan. The ideas that
underpin it are used as the basis of the analytical questions that will guide every
stage of thinking, researching, and writing. The actual written-on-paper
format, with its list of claims and diagram, is then used, after initial research
but before we think about the narrative sequence. It can either guide further
research or guide the actual writing or presentation of our argument or
explanation. It allows us to externalise the analytical relationships between
ideas that are the heart of reasoning. Once on paper, these relationships and
ideas (the diagram and the claims) can be checked to see what mistakes we are
making, where more work needs to be done, how well we are analysing the
issues, and so on.
Now, throughout this book we have been using the analytical structure
format mainly as a way of understanding better what goes on within arguments
and explanations. When we use it as a planning tool, we need to be careful that
it does not 'take over' our project and become an end in itself. Always remember
that, like any planning tool, the analytical structure format simply provides
another way of helping to clarify and express your ideas in a form that assists you
to complete the final task: writing the full, narrative expression of your reasoning.
We must make sure that what is written in the plan can be easily translated into
this final product.
With this in mind, I will use an example from chapter 6 to show how a written
essay or report might develop from an analytical structure plan:

1. University education should be free for all Australians.


2. A well-educated population is more productive at work.


3. Higher productivity at work benefits the economy.


4. If something benefits the economy, then the government should
   encourage it.


5. The best way for the government to encourage Australians to be well
   educated is to provide free university education.


6. In our complex technological society, one requires university study in
   order to be well educated.


7. Free education is a fundamental democratic right.


8. Australia is a democracy.


9. Education includes all levels from primary to tertiary.


10. Any cost that the government imposes on people attending higher
    education will probably reduce the numbers attending.


11. If numbers are reduced, then Australians are obviously not being
    encouraged to attend.