(MUET, Task 2) Two ways to generate ideas critically

This blog post will explore two ways on how you can generate ideas critically - time and human categories.

It is extremely important to have mental frameworks to help you guide your writing in a critical way.

In this blogpost, I will introduce two ways - the first is to think in terms of time (short-term, mid-term, and long-term) and the second is to think according to human categories (individual, society, and country).

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Firstly, one of the best ways to incorporate critical thinking in your writing is to think in terms of short-term, mid-term, and long-term.

Let’s look at this question - Sports bring people together.

Short term

• Creates a sense of community. When people come together to support a team or athlete, they feel a sense of shared identity and belonging. This can be especially important for people who feel isolated or marginalized.

• Provides a distraction from everyday problems. Sports can provide a welcome escape from the stresses of everyday life. For a few hours, people can forget about their problems and focus on something they enjoy.

• Promotes healthy competition. Sports can teach people the importance of fair play, sportsmanship, and teamwork. These are all valuable skills that can be applied to other areas of life.

Mid term

• Builds relationships. Sports can provide a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends. When people share a common interest, it can be easier to build relationships.

• Promotes physical activity. Sports are a great way to get exercise and stay healthy. Regular physical activity has been shown to have a number of benefits for both physical and mental health.

• Encourages healthy living. Sports can teach people the importance of eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep. These are all important habits for a healthy lifestyle.

Long term

• Promotes peace and understanding. Sports can help to break down barriers between people of different cultures and backgrounds. When people come together to compete in sports, they learn to appreciate each other's differences.

• Creates a sense of hope. Sports can inspire people to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. When people see athletes achieve great things, it gives them hope that they can achieve their own dreams.

• Leaves a legacy. Sports can create a lasting legacy. When people come together to celebrate a sporting event, it creates a sense of community and unity. This legacy can last for generations.

By thinking in terms of short term, mid-term, and long-term, you’ll be generate main points along with supporting details that sound critical.

Another way to generate ideas is to think of your points in terms of how it impacts the individuals, society, and country.

Let’s look at the same question: Sports bring people together.

Individual level

• Provides a sense of identity and belonging. When people participate in sports, they often feel a sense of pride and belonging to their team or community. This can be especially important for people who feel isolated or marginalized.

• Promotes physical and mental health. Sports are a great way to get exercise and stay healthy. Regular physical activity has been shown to have a number of benefits for both physical and mental health.

• Teaches valuable life skills. Sports can teach people valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. These skills can be applied to other areas of life, such as school, work, and relationships.

Society level

• Promotes peace and understanding. Sports can help to break down barriers between people of different cultures and backgrounds. When people come together to compete in sports, they learn to appreciate each other's differences.

• Creates a sense of community. Sports can help to create a sense of community and unity. When people come together to support a team or athlete, they feel a sense of shared identity and belonging.

• Encourages healthy living. Sports can encourage healthy living by promoting physical activity and a healthy diet. This can lead to a reduction in obesity, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.

Country level

• Promotes national pride. When a country's team wins a major sporting event, it can boost national pride and unity. This can be especially important in countries that are divided by conflict or other challenges.

• Provides a distraction from everyday problems. Sports can provide a welcome escape from the stresses of everyday life. For a few hours, people can forget about their problems and focus on something they enjoy.

• Raises awareness of important issues. Sports can be used to raise awareness of important issues such as poverty, hunger, and disease. This can help to mobilize people to take action to address these issues.

Once again, a sense of criticality emerges when you think your points from the perspective of individual, society, and country.

I hope this helps you to write in a more critical manner.