ENGM115 – Organisations and

Systems

Tutorial 9 Exercises:
Critical Writing
 Lesson Outcomes
Understand:

• How to read, critique and summarise academic

sources of information:

• How to apply critical writing skills

 How to be Critical
• Its about asking the right questions and verifying whether the ideas
put forward by authors are accurate, appropriate and useful

• It will probably follow some form of logic and reasoning

• It should be based on sound ‘principles’ or ‘premises‟, so that the

value of arguments and assertions can be judged?

• But perhaps…. critical thinking is more about your attitude, and your
commitment … to consider issues in depth

• In fact …this approach should be embedded into all of your academic

work
Critical Reading

• Critical reading: assessing what authors have said and whether they
have provided adequate justification for the claims they have made.

The critical reading process consists largely about Questioning

• Questioning ... Scrutinising the material or theories proposed.

Raising any doubts or objections. Asking the ….what, who, where,
when, how, why, what if, what next, so what?

Further reading : Critical reading and writing for postgraduates (Wallace,1950)

Questioning?
W H A T? W h a t is th is ab ou t?

DESCRIPTION
W h a t is th e c o n te x t / situation ?
W h a t is th e m ain p o in t / p rob le m / to p ic to b e e x plored ?

W HERE? W h er e d o e s it tak e place ? I ntr o d u c to r y an d

b ackgrou nd
W h o is th is b y ? W h o info r m atio n to
is in vo lve d ? W h o is contex tualise
W HO ? p ro b le m / to p ic
aff e c te d ?

W h o m ig h t b e int e re ste d ?

W H EN ? W h e n d o e s th is occur?

H o w d id th is occur?

H o w d o e s it w o r k – in th e o r y ? - in p r ac tic e / contex t?
HO W ?
H o w d o e s o n e fac to r af fe c t an o th e r? O r,
E x ploration
H o w d o th e p ar ts fit int o th e w h ole ? of
relationsh ip
AN ALYSIS

W h y d id th is occur? o f p ar ts to
w h ole
W h y w as th a t d one ?

W HY? W h y th is ar g u m e n t / th e o r y / su g g e stio n / solution?

W h y no t so m e th ing e lse?

W h a t if th is w e r e w r o n g ? W h a t P o ssib le situ atio n s

ar e th e alte r n ative s? W h a t if an d alte r n ativ e
r e sp o n s e s
th e r e w e re a p r o b le m ?
W H A T IF?
W h a t if th is o r th at fa c to r w e r e – ad d e d ? – r e m o ved ?

- alte r e d ?
W h at d o e s th is m e a n?
W h y is th is sig n ific ant ?

S O W H A T? I s th is c o n vin c ing ? W h y / w h y no t?

W h at ar e th e im p lic atio n s? Im plications

I s it succ essf ul? S olution s
EVALUATIO N

H o w d o e s it m e e t th e c r ite r ia? C onclusion s

I s it tra n s fe r ab le ? R ecom m e nd ations

W H A T N EX T?
H o w an d w h e r e e lse c a n it b e applied ?
W h at c a n b e le ar n t fr o m it?
W h at ne e d s d o in g no w ?
Critical Writing

• Critical writing: writing in such a way that you convince readers to

accept your claims about what you know, or what you think is the
case.

• Its not easy!

• You will need to include some description BUT avoid making content
over descriptive.

• Blend with plenty of evaluative content.

• Critical content is achieved through using a specific writing style

………………………………..
 Critical writing
• The critical thinking process can be thought of in 5 phases:
Describing, Reasoning, Reflecting, Critiquing, Evaluating

Describing ... e.g. defining clearly what it is you are talking about

Reasoning ... e.g. demonstrating logical thinking about cause and

effects; presenting evidence to provide sound arguments and refuting
any ..unsound ones
Reflecting ...
• e.g. reconsidering a topic to take account of new information or
experience in practice;
• considering other viewpoints; recognising underlying principles;
• Comparing and contrasting works of others
 Critical writing
Criticising or critiquing ...
• e.g. identifying and examining faults and weaknesses in
arguments, as well as acknowledging strengths and merits
Critical writing
 Evaluating ... SO WHAT?
• e.g. commenting on degrees of success or failure, or judging the
implications, ultimate use or value of something …and what is it for?

These include:
o Success – does the argument or proposed solution meet relevant criteria?
o Logic – Does it make sense and is it rational?
o Evidence – is it supported?
o Reliability / credibility –Is it well researched and verifiable by others?
o Purpose / usefulness – is it worth discussing, does it make a difference?
o Relevance / appropriateness – is the proposed solution realistic and viable?
o Transferability – does it work in other contexts?
o Originality – is it a new perspective? …a new piece of evidence? is it presented in a new
context?
Critical reading and writing: does and don’ts
Critical reading
1 Try to work out what the
authors are aiming to achieve;
2 Try to work out the structure of
the argument;
3 Try to identify the main claims
made;
4 Adopt a sceptical stance
towards the authors’ claims,
checking that they are supported by
appropriate evidence;
5 Assess the backing for any
generalizations made;
6 Check how the authors define
their key terms and whether they
are consistent in using them;
7 Consider what underlying
values may be guiding the authors
and influencing their claims;
8 Keep an open mind, willing to
be convinced;
9 Look out for instances of
irrelevant or distracting material,
and for the absence of necessary
material;
10 Identify any literature sources
to which the authors refer, that you
may need to follow up.
Critical writing
1 State clearly what you are trying to
achieve;
2 Create a logical structure for your
account, to help develop your argument
and to help the reader to follow it;
3 Clearly state your main claims;
4 Support you claims with appropriate
evidence, so that a critical reader will be
convinced;
5 Avoid making sweeping
generalizations;
6 Define the key terms employed in your
account, and use the terms consistently;
7 Ensure that you are aware of how what
you write reflects your values; and, where
appropriate, that you make these values
explicit;
8 Assume that your readers can be
convinced, provided you can adequately
support your claims;
9 Sustain focus throughout your account,
avoid irrelevancies and digressions, and
include everything that is relevant;
10 Ensure that your referencing in the
text and the reference list is complete and
accurate, so that your readers are in a
position to check my sources.
Summary

Core characteristics of criticality

• Identify elements in a reasoned case.
• Identify and evaluate assumptions, bias, viewpoint
• Clarify and interpret ideas, paradigms, concepts,
observations, information.
• Judge the credibility of claims and evidence.
• Analyse, evaluate and create explanations.
• Draw inferences and consequences, implications,
options, risks.
• Evaluate the arguments and reach a judgement.
Example 1
Example 2
 Your Turn – Exercise 1

1. Search the academic databases via ‘My

Sunderland’
2. Identify three suitable papers that have used
or critiqued one of the tools listed in the
assignment.
3. Critically read each of the papers, making
notes as you go
4. Produce a one paragraph critique, using your
own words (100-200 words), based on the
information that you have available to you.
• Your tutor will provide
feedback on draft paragraphs

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

 Exercise 2

1. Search the academic databases again

2. Identify a further three suitable papers that
have used or critiqued one of the tools listed in
the assignment.
3. Critically read each of the papers, making
notes as you go
4. Refine your critical paragraph based on
feedback AND the additional information that
you now have available to you.
• Discuss as a class
 Lesson Summary

• Read, critique and summarise academic sources

of information:

• Apply and gain feedback on critical writing skills