Reasoning Definition and Examples

In this lesson, we will examine what reasoning is and how it's applied to literature and composition. We will look at some examples, and then you will take a short quiz to check your understanding of the concept.

What is Reasoning?

Reasoning is what we do when we take information that we are given, compare it to what we already know, and then come up with a conclusion. Simple, huh? While much of our ability to reason is innate, these skills can be taught and improved upon. Reasoning skills often happen subconsciously and within seconds. However, sometimes we need to think things through to reach a conclusion when we are presented with a tough question or situation.

Reasoning skills are essential to day-to-day life: we use them to make choices among possible options, to distinguish between positive and negative situations, to decide how to approach a problem and resolve it, and much more. As we consider some more specific examples, keep in mind this equation, which may help you to understand how it all works:

Given Information + Knowledge = Reasoned Conclusion

Reasoning in the Real World

We have to use reasoning skills all the time in the real world. For example, say you get invited to a family function, but you also have an important school assignment to finish. This requires reasoning, since you must consider the two choices, trying to balance family with schooling. Also, we are often presented with situations that force us to make moral decisions between right and wrong. Your friends may ask you to do something that you know you probably shouldn't do, such as smoking or drinking. In this case, you must reason between the harmful effects and the moral choice vs. pleasing your friends and having 'fun', as they may call it!

Let's look at another example and this time let's keep in mind our equation:

Given Information + Knowledge = Reasoned Conclusion

Say someone asks you what your favorite book is. Now you have been given something, a question regarding books that you like. You take that and pair it with what you already know, perhaps a mental list of books you have read. Then, out of this list of books, you mentally eliminate the ones you didn't care so much for and narrow down your choices to two or three. Finally, you consider what you liked about them, the interesting characters, plot lines, or themes, and you choose the one you liked best - The Hobbit. You have taken what you were given, paired it with what you already knew, and come to a conclusion based on that information. Here is what it might look like in our equation:

What's my favorite book? + Consider the books I have read, which I liked, and why = my favorite is The Hobbit.

Reasoning in Literature

There are many ways we use reasoning in literature. We use reasoning when we consider the characters and evaluate settings. We also use reasoning when we consider the plot and themes, imagining what may or may not happen later in the story.

For example, let's stick with the story of The Hobbit. Focusing on the character Bilbo Baggins, we can consider the concept of character development, which is the way an author creates interest in his or her characters through the way they speak, act, look, and even how they are seen by other characters. As you read the story, you see Bilbo interacting with other characters. You see him allowing his home to be taken over by numerous hungry dwarves and feeding them all. Throughout the story, you see Bilbo wrestle with the idea of being a hero while often doing heroic deeds. You see other characters discuss their fears about Bilbo's abilities, only to later witness him save their own hides!

All of this is assembled in your mind, allowing you to develop an opinion about Bilbo. The result could be that you develop an appreciation for Bilbo. Perhaps, someone else might decide she doesn't like him at all! That process is all conducted by reasoning. The equation might look like this:

What do I think of Bilbo Baggins? + His fears, his bravery, his interactions with others, his kindness = I think Bilbo is a good Hobbit who tries his best to do what is right, in spite of his own fears!

This is just one example of the many, many ways to reason through a piece of literature. Now let's take a look at using reasoning in writing.

Reasoning and Composition

Writing a composition involves a great deal of reasoning skills. You reason when you consider what to write about during the brainstorming phase. You reason when you consider how to plan and outline your essay. You reason when you are drafting, revising, and editing to be sure your composition is focused and grammatically sound.

Let's use the brainstorming phase for our example. Say you have been told by a professor to write an essay about a time when you learned a lesson from suffering. What is the first thing you would do? Most likely you would begin thinking about times you have suffered, right? You might think about a time when you were involved in an automobile accident and suffered a broken leg. You recall the way you felt, the thoughts you had, the pain, and the fear. Then, you consider what that all taught you. Did you learn a valuable lesson about driving in bad weather or texting while driving? You then choose to write about this incident, and you have done so through reasoning! Again, here is the equation:

Write essay about suffering and the lesson learned + My experiences with a car accident and how it taught me about driving in bad weather = I'll write my essay about that car accident.

This example illustrates how we can use reasoning skills to brainstorm for an essay and choose the best topic about which to write.