Who Is a Successful Person? Part I

Who Is a Successful Person? Part IThis is a question I ask when reviewing an essay before sending it out. I look at the argument of the author, and then try to figure out what is his or her goal. Does he or she intend to 'out right refute' the argument in the original work, or simply state a fact that can be demonstrated differently?I generally prefer to see an author stand by his or her assertion rather than state 'fact'. However, if the author is simply stating a fact that can be proven wrong, the facts should be stated so the reader can make up his or her own mind as to what is true and what is not. It's the author's truth, whether you like it or not.Now, let's take a look at this excerpt from 'The Untold Secrets of Successful Women Writers' by Joe Vitale. The authors intent is to contradict a work they found at a self-help store. What happens here is that the author states a fact and then makes the assertion a fact, then states an opposite fact.As a conclusion, if the author's po int is to disprove a certain claim made by the author, the author has used fallacious reasoning in his or her argument. If the author is stating facts about his or her experience, then the facts are what they are. Either way, the argument is made using fact.If you were to ask me who is a successful person in this world, I would have to answer, well, you know the answer. Any success in this world begins with the ability to use logic. When an author uses fact, the arguments become fallacious, and when an author makes assertions based on their own experiences, then they are exhibiting the same level of success as well.This is why I always recommend that you use statements like 'you are wrong' and not, 'you are wrong because I said so'. If the argument is strong enough and the facts are proven, you will have no problem demonstrating that you are right and the author is wrong.The bottom line is that when we are learning how to write, we learn the most from our mistakes and the most from our successes. When we combine that with a belief in fact, then we know that we are using the correct techniques.I hope you enjoyed this essay. I welcome your comments below. Please do not post my article or make changes to the article, but instead, contribute your thoughts in the space provided.