1.4.2. Where to present an argument?

Since the argument in academic texts is the main claim of the study, in academic writing it can be presented more than once and in different ways.

• Presenting the argument in the abstract: Generally, readers when skimming read the abstract to see if the study is really relevant to their research. It is therefore important to mention the argument in the abstract to appeal to your potential readers.
• Presenting the argument in the literature review: Since academic studies aim to persuade the reader as a party to an academic debate, the literature review includes the a lot of different arguments that different studies defend in the field of similar subject matter. For this reason, expressing your argument in the literature review reveals what your study will contribute to the literature and what it can offer differently from previous studies.
• Presenting the argument in the discussion: The discussion section is where you compare the results of your academic study with other related academic studies in the literature, confirming the studies that support your results and emphasizing your differentiating results.  Therefore, by presenting your argument in the discussion section by discussing it with the results of other academic studies, you can demonstrate the contribution of your study to the literature and the originality of the study you have designed. 

As a result, argument can be presented more than once and in different ways in academic writing. First, it is important to present the argument in the summary section. Because readers often look at the abstract to determine whether the study is relevant to their research. Next, articulating the argument in the literature review reveals how the study will contribute to the literature and how it may differ from previous studies. Finally, presenting the argument in the discussion section helps to demonstrate the contribution of the study to the literature and the originality of the designed study by comparing the results of the study with other relevant academic studies. In this way, presenting the argument in different parts of the academic text highlights the contributions and originality of the work.