Analytical and Critical

Thinking and Case studies

Purpose of the session:
Consider the expectations of academic
writing
Identifying and understanding key words
Identify the problems with personal
perspective and baggage
Analytical thinking
Critical thinking
Evaluation

Consider the expectations of

academic writing

What do you think constitutes academic writing?

Academic writing is impersonal. While the writers viewpoint
might be stated, arguments are developed with evidence
from external and approved sources. The writer has to
conform to academic expectations of a certain written style.
Who is the audience ?
- Academic therefore intelligent
- Informed but not necessarily expert
- Interested and authoritative

Personal baggage and

opinion
What effect can this have on your
written work?
Influences how we make sense of the
world
Name some of the areas of life that
could colour your judgement
Political, religious, cultural, moral, etc

Key Words and their Definitions

Description
To draw, trace out no ruling or judgement
Analyse
Take to pieces breakdown complex wholes into parts to study
and understand them more easily
Discuss
Debate; examine by argument uncertain intellectual agenda;
more than one voice required; manage the unpredictability
Reflection
To turn or throw back problem identified, studied through
active engagement and a conclusion reached.

What is analytical thinking

Scrutinising the information from a
variety of perspectives
Checking that the information is correct
Searching the information for errors
Checking the information is not leading
you to agree with its assumptions
Arguing why one set of information is
better than another

What is critical thinking

Diligence in making sure that you have
considered the information carefully
and more than once
Evaluation by looking at the evidence
you have in support of your opinion or
viewpoint
Checking that the information is based
on reason and if not should your
opinion or viewpoint be re-examined

Re-cap: Critical and Analytical

thinking
Critical thinking means: weighing up the
arguments and evidence for and against
Analytical thinking involves additional
processes: examining, checking,
questioning, identifying problems and
standing back from the information
Do not get hung up on one or the other,
as the outcomes are very similar

Examples of flawed
statements

The shampoo I used caused a severe scalp reaction, so the

sale of all shampoos should be prohibited.

I spent 100 hours working on my last assignment, yet I still

failed, so next time I will only spend 10 hours on my
assignment and I will pass.

The majority of students drink only water

80% of students drink water as opposed to 20% who drink

other beverages.

How will this help you

Both Analytical and critical thinking
helps you develop a mind like a
detective
Help you write a more balanced
argument in your academic written work
Help you to develop your own informed
opinions and argue them.
Help you identify weak or incorrect
information

Questions