Abstract

Writing and reading 'Discussion' sections in medical articles require aprocedure as exact and structured as that involved in raising questions, choosing materials and methodsand producing results for a health research study. The medical article as a whole can be considered anexercise in modern argumentation and its 'Discussion' section, a systematic critical appraisal of a pathfrom theses to conclusions. The methodology of modern critical thinking applies perfectly to articlewriting, reading, and understanding. Structuring the 'Discussion' section as a review of argumentationbenefits more than the study and its authors. It allows the reader to grasp the real relevance and validityof the study and its usability for his or her decision-making in clinical and community care, researchand health policies and program proposal, implementation, and evaluation.

Keywords: Reading, Manuscripts, Medical, Comprehension, Writing - standards