Critical Thinking in Writing

Mary
Hechi University
Nov. 2015

What does writing critically mean?

Writing critically means presenting your concl

usions in a clear and well-reasoned way to pe
rsuade others.

What is critical writing?

If you are asked to write critically, you are exp

ected to do more than just describe something.
You are required to do:
Analyze a text and examine the various parts
Interpret a text with a view to understand what
it means
Compare ideas and /or evidence
Evaluate the worth of a text

How to write critically?(2-1)

Process-take in the information (read, heard, seen or done).

Understand-comprehend the key points, assumptions, argum

ents and evidence presented.

Analyze-examine how these key components fit together and

relate to each other.

Compare-explore the similarities and differences between th

ings and/or the ideas you are reading about.

(The Open University (2009) sets out these steps)

How to write critically?(2-2)

Synthesis-bring together different sources of informa

tion to serve an argument or idea.
Evaluate-assess the worth of an idea in terms of its r
elevance to your needs.
Apply-transfer the understanding you have gained.
Justify-use critical thinking to develop arguments, m
ake inferences, identify implications, and draw concl
usions.

How to write a critical paragrap

h?

Introduce the point you want to make

make the point, with supporting evidence;

reflect critically on the point.

Have a Point and be Clear about it

In good writing, and good critical thinkin

g, you should have a point and it should b
e clear
Dont make the reader work too hard to rec
ognize your perspectivethis would sugges
t you have clearly identified voices, especial
ly your own.
Dont just report on ideas
You are evaluating and comparing ideas.

Organization and critical thinkin

g

Good organization to a paper helps demonstrat

e critical thinking

Clearly communicates ideas

Shows a progression of ideas

Recommendation: use an outline

Adapted from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHBtE
b_gzjQ
http://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/study-wi
th-us/study-resources-for-students/writin
g-and-formatting/different-kinds-of-writi
ng/critical-and-analytical-writing

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/
writing/writing-resources/critical-writing