If you want to understand as fully as possible the arguments of others, remember that writers come from an astonishing variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Pay attention to clues to cultural context, and be open to the many ways of thinking you will encounter. In short, practice the believing game before you play the doubting game—especially when analyzing an argument influenced by a culture different from your own. In addition, remember that within any given culture there are great differences among individuals. So don’t expect that every member of a culture will argue in any one way.

Above all, watch your own assumptions very closely as you read. Just because you assume that the use of statistics as support for your argument holds more water than, say, precedent drawn from religious belief, you can’t assume that all writers agree with you. Take a writer’s cultural beliefs into account before you begin to analyze an argument. (See Chapter 27.)