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.