Critical Essay Writing with Examples | Talent and Skills HuB

Summary

This guide delves into critical writing, a vital skill for academic success. It distinguishes between descriptive and critical writing, emphasizing the importance of analysis and evaluation in the latter. The video illustrates how to apply theory to practice, evaluate ideas, and create new perspectives. It advises on structuring critical writing with clear paragraphs and suggests using the three-sentence structure for balance. The guide also directs viewers to the Talent and Skills Hub for further support in developing critical writing skills.

Takeaways

• 📚 Critical writing is essential for academic success and involves applying analysis and evaluation to descriptive writing.
• 🔍 Descriptive writing provides background information and context, focusing on what, who, where, and when aspects of a topic.
• 🧠 Critical writing goes beyond description by applying ideas or theories to different situations and evaluating their effectiveness.
• 📈 It's important to use evidence to support ideas and to justify why a process or policy exists within critical writing.
• 🔄 Critical writing allows for the suggestion of alternative approaches and the discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of ideas or theories.
• 🔗 Demonstrating how an idea links to other ideas in the field or comparing and contrasting theories is a key aspect of critical writing.
• 📉 Critical writing should evaluate ideas, theories, or policies by providing an evidence-informed judgment.
• 🏗️ Creating new perspectives or arguments based on knowledge is a goal of critical writing, which can lead to innovative solutions.
• ✍️ Structuring critical writing with clear paragraphing that includes descriptive statements followed by critical statements and judgments is crucial.
• 💡 Use phrases that highlight critical thinking, such as 'similarly', 'on the other hand', 'an alternative argument', or 'one major drawback' to guide the reader through your analysis.

Q & A

What are the two writing styles that academic essays consist of?

Academic essays consist of descriptive writing and critical writing.

What is the primary purpose of descriptive writing?

Descriptive writing provides details on what something is, who is involved, where it takes place, when it occurs, and offers background information to the reader.

How does descriptive writing demonstrate a writer's knowledge to the marker?

Descriptive writing demonstrates a writer's knowledge by showing their understanding of a subject and what others have said about that subject.

What is required in critical writing beyond description?

Critical writing requires applying analysis and evaluation to the descriptions provided, using evidence to support ideas, and applying ideas or theories to different situations.

How does critical writing allow a writer to engage with an idea or theory?

Critical writing allows a writer to apply an idea or theory to a different situation, justify why a process or policy exists, suggest alternative approaches, discuss strengths and weaknesses, and demonstrate how the idea links to others in the field.

Why is it important to maintain structure in critical writing?

Maintaining structure in critical writing is important to ensure that ideas are clearly presented and that the reader can easily follow the descriptive and critical analysis.

What is the recommended paragraph structure for critical writing?

The recommended paragraph structure for critical writing is a three-sentence structure consisting of a descriptive statement, a critical statement, and a judgment statement.

How can a writer ensure they have a balance between description and critical writing?

A writer can ensure a balance between description and critical writing by following the three-sentence structure and checking that each paragraph includes both descriptive and critical content.

What is the role of phrases in demonstrating critical thinking in writing?

Phrases play a crucial role in demonstrating critical thinking by helping to highlight the writer's point, compare or contrast theories, offer alternative viewpoints, and highlight weaknesses in theories.

How can students get support for writing critically at the Talent and Skills Hub?

Students can get support for writing critically at the Talent and Skills Hub by booking appointments for one-to-one or group tutoring through their website, tshub.com.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Critical Writing

This paragraph introduces the concept of critical writing as a vital skill for academic success. It differentiates between descriptive and critical writing, emphasizing the importance of critical writing in academic essays. Descriptive writing provides background and context, while critical writing involves analysis, evaluation, and the application of ideas or theories to different situations. The paragraph also discusses the use of evidence to support ideas and the importance of clear structure in critical writing, suggesting that a well-structured paragraph should include descriptive statements followed by critical analysis.

05:01

🔍 Critical Writing: Structure and Examples

This paragraph delves into the structure of critical writing, advocating for a three-sentence structure that includes a descriptive statement, a critical statement, and a judgment statement. It uses an example from the Food Standards Agency's research to illustrate how late nights may be linked to childhood obesity but cautions that the research is limited in scope. The paragraph stresses the importance of considering multiple factors and the need for sufficient evidence before policymakers can seriously consider such findings. It also suggests that further research may alter current perspectives. The paragraph concludes with advice on using specific language to highlight critical thinking and offers resources for academic support.

Keywords

💡Critical Writing

Critical writing is a form of academic writing that involves analyzing and evaluating information, rather than just describing it. It is a key skill for academic success as it demonstrates the ability to think deeply about a subject. In the video, critical writing is contrasted with descriptive writing, highlighting its importance in applying analysis and evaluation to provided descriptions. The script emphasizes the use of evidence to support ideas and the ability to apply theories to different situations as part of critical writing.

💡Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing is a style of writing that provides details and descriptions of a topic, problem, or situation. It sets the stage for critical analysis by offering background information and context. The video script uses descriptive writing as a precursor to critical writing, illustrating how it lays the foundation for deeper analysis. For example, the script mentions that descriptive writing provides information on 'what,' 'who,' 'where,' and 'when' to help the reader understand the topic before critical engagement.

💡Analysis

Analysis in the context of critical writing refers to the process of breaking down information to understand its components and their relationships. It is a crucial part of critical writing where the writer examines the topic in depth. The video script explains that critical writing requires applying analysis to descriptions, suggesting that a writer should not just present information but also dissect it to form a persuasive argument.

💡Evaluation

Evaluation in critical writing involves making judgments about the value or quality of something, often based on evidence. It is a key aspect of critical thinking and writing, as it allows the writer to form an opinion or conclusion. The script mentions evaluation as a component of critical writing, where the writer assesses the strengths and weaknesses of an idea, theory, or policy, providing an evidence-informed judgment.

💡Evidence

Evidence in academic writing is the data or information used to support arguments or claims. It is a fundamental aspect of critical writing, as it lends credibility and说服力 to the writer's analysis and evaluation. The video emphasizes the importance of using evidence to support ideas in critical writing, suggesting that persuasive arguments are built on a solid foundation of evidence.

💡Theory

A theory in academic discourse is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on empirical evidence and logical reasoning. The video script discusses the application of theories to different situations as part of critical writing, illustrating how theories can be tested for their effectiveness or relevance in practice.

💡Policy

Policy refers to a course of action or a set of principles adopted by an organization or government. In the context of the video, policies are evaluated within critical writing to assess their effectiveness and impact. The script suggests justifying the existence of a policy and discussing its strengths and weaknesses as part of the critical writing process.

💡Synthesis

Synthesis in writing is the process of combining different ideas or information sources to create a new understanding or perspective. The video script mentions synthesis as a way to enhance the user experience by examining different models, such as applying Donnelly's customer service model to parks, demonstrating how synthesis can lead to innovative solutions.

💡Currency

Currency in the context of ideas, theories, or policies refers to their up-to-dateness and relevance. The video script uses the term to discuss the timeliness of an idea or theory, suggesting that while something may have been effective in the past, it may not meet the needs of the present, such as Smith's model not accommodating the needs of a modern global economy.

💡Structure

Structure in writing refers to the organization and arrangement of ideas in a text. The video script emphasizes the importance of structure in critical writing, suggesting that a clear structure helps the reader follow the progression from description to analysis to evaluation. The script provides an example of a three-sentence structure that includes a descriptive statement, a critical statement, and a judgment statement.

💡Talent and Skills Hub

Talent and Skills Hub appears to be a service mentioned in the video script that offers support for academic writing, including critical writing. The script suggests that students can book appointments for one-on-one or group tutoring through their website, indicating that such resources can be valuable for developing critical writing skills.

Highlights

Critical writing is essential for academic success, involving analysis and evaluation beyond mere description.

Academic essays are a blend of descriptive and critical writing styles.

Descriptive writing provides details and background information, setting the stage for critical analysis.

Critical writing involves applying analysis and evaluation to descriptions, using evidence to support ideas.

Critical writers apply ideas or theories to different situations to test their practicality.

Justifying the existence of a process or policy is a key aspect of critical writing.

Critical writing allows for suggesting alternative approaches and perspectives.

Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of ideas is central to critical analysis.

Demonstrating how ideas link to others in the field is part of critical writing.

Critical writing involves comparing, contrasting, and classifying theories.

Evaluating the currency and relevance of ideas, theories, or policies is crucial in critical writing.

Providing an evidence-informed judgment is a hallmark of critical writing.

Creating new perspectives or arguments based on knowledge is a goal of critical writing.

Critical writing takes both positive and negative approaches to ideas, interrogating them for deeper understanding.

Structuring critical writing with clear paragraphs is essential for conveying complex ideas.

A good paragraph structure in critical writing includes descriptive statement, critical statement, and judgment.

Using phrases that demonstrate critical thinking is important for effective evaluation and argumentation.

Talent and Skills Hub offers support for writing critically through one-on-one or group tutoring.

Transcripts

[Music]

critical writing

introduction this guide on critical

writing

will help you understand how to

communicate your critical thinking in

your assignments

which is very important to succeeding in

your academic career

what is critical writing academic essays

consist of two writing styles

descriptive writing and critical writing

to understand critical writing fully

let's examine what descriptive writing

is

descriptive writing it describes

or gives an account of or gives details

on what something is it could be a topic

problem situation or context of the

subject under discussion

it may describe where this takes place

and who is involved when it occurs

also it provides background information

to your discussion of the essay question

background description usually comes

before critical analysis

so that the reader can understand the

topic you are critically engaging with

a good way to remember descriptive

writing is it provides

information on what who where and when

descriptive writing demonstrates to your

marker the knowledge you have of a

subject

or of what something is and your

knowledge of what other people say about

that subject

critical writing critical writing

requires you to apply analysis and

evaluation to the descriptions you have

provided writers who can produce

persuasive critical writing

use evidence to support their ideas

critical writing allows you to

apply an idea or theory to a different

situation

does the idea work or not work in

practice

is there a factor that makes this work

or not

relating theory to practice for example

smith's theory on teamwork is effective

in the workplace

because it allows a diverse group of

people with different skills to work

effectively

justify why a process or policy exists

[Music]

suggest an alternative approach to view

and act on situations

discuss the strengths and weaknesses of

an idea

theory or policy why does this idea work

or why does this idea not work

for example although smith's theory on

teamwork is useful for large teams

there are challenges in applying this

theory to teams who work remotely

demonstrate how the idea links to other

ideas in the field

synthesis for example the user

experience of parks

can be greatly enhanced by examining

donnelly's customer service model

used in retail demonstrate how the idea

compare

and contrast with other ideas or

theories

comparison or classification of the type

of theory

demonstrate the up-to-datedness and

relevance of an idea

theory or policy currency

for example although this approach was

successful in supporting the local

community

smith's model does not accommodate the

needs of a modern global economy

evaluate an idea theory or policy

by providing an evidence-informed

judgment

for example therefore may's delivery

model should be discontinued

as it has created significant issues for

both customers and

staff create new perspectives

or arguments based on knowledge

for example to create strong and

efficient buildings

we will look to the designs provided by

nature

the designs of the sydney opera house

are based on the segments of an orange

to conclude critical writing takes

positive and negative approaches

to ideas and interrogates them once you

have interrogated

an idea or theory you can then provide

an evidenced judgment

how can i write critically it is

important to remember

that having lots of critical analysis

will not matter if your ideas are not

clearly structured

to maintain structure in your critical

writing it is important to use

paragraphs correctly

using a good paragraph structure will

enable the reader to clearly see

descriptive writing

followed by critical writing for example

have a look at the following paragraph

according to research by the food

standards agency

there may be a link between late nights

and childhood obesity in

children however this research focuses

only on the area of

sleep and does not consider many of the

other factors associated with late

nights

such as what children eat or when they

stay up late

compared to other known factors

influencing childhood obesity

there is insufficient evidence about the

effect of late nights

for this to be taken very seriously by

policymakers

though this may change with further

research

this paragraph consists of three

sentences

descriptive statement critical statement

and

judgment descriptive statement

who when and what according to research

by the food standards agency

published in 2015 there may be a link

between late nights and childhood

obesity in children

critical statement however this research

focuses only on the area of

sleep and does not consider many of the

other factors associated with late

nights

such as what children eat or when they

stay up late

judgment statement compared to other

known factors influencing childhood

obesity

there is insufficient evidence about the

effect of late nights

for this to be taken very seriously by

policymakers

though this may change with further

research

paragraph structure of critical writing

it is good academic practice to follow a

three sentence structure

where you can provide description

analysis

and evaluation that is descriptive

statement

plus critical statement plus judgment

statement

example according to however

overall abc argues that

alternatively therefore

this structure helps you to include both

description

and critical analysis and shows visually

where the sections begins and

end also it allows you to check the

balance between description

and critical writing and makes sure that

you have enough critical content

phrases to demonstrate your critical

thinking

when writing your critical and

evaluation statement

think carefully about the point you are

trying to make

and use the corresponding language to

highlight this to the reader

when comparing or contrasting two

theories

similarly or on the other hand

when offering an alternative point of

view

an alternative argument

when highlighting a weakness in a theory

one major drawback of this approach

at talent and skills hub you can be

supported by

our instructors academic skills advisors

and mentors to write critically you can

book appointment for one-to-one or group

tutoring through our website tshub.com

you