Critical Analysis Critical Analysis What is critical analysis

Critical Analysis

Critical Analysis What is critical analysis? Critical reading Critical writing

What does ‘critical’ mean? Common: Making adverse comments or judgements Concept: To express an analytical evaluation of something

Critical thinking Does the reasoning stand up to scrutiny? Are there any hidden agendas? Is there any bias in the argument? Are the sources used in the author’s work reliable? (Rodin’s The Thinker)

Reading sources: How reliable are. . ? Textbooks Journals Government reports Charity sponsored reports Commercially sponsored reports Newspapers Magazines Websites

Individual exercise 1: Internet sources Imagine you are researching an essay on obesity. During a search of the internet you come across the web pages on the handout. Which sources are valid?

Evaluation of websites/literature Authority - Who is the author? (qualifications, expert) Domain -. gov, . ac, . edu, . org may be more reliable than personal or commercial sites Accuracy – evidence; spelling/grammar; bias if commercial; editorial control Currency – when last updated; broken links

Small group exercise 1: Critical reading Research has revealed that 60% of customers found No. 7 cosmetics to be superior to Rimmel cosmetics.

What was the sample size? Who conducted the research? Did they have a hidden agenda? Where was it published? Who participated?

Small group exercise 2: Critical reading The NHS is useless. I got a splinter in my finger and had to wait for hours in A&E to be seen! I pray I never have to go to hospital again.

Generalisation based on personal experience Emotional language Where is the evidence to back this up?

Small group exercise 3: Critical reading The use of green building materials reduce a building’s CO 2 emissions by 400%.

How did they calculate the percentage? Who conducted the research? Where was it published?

Critical writing As well as scrutinising your sources, you should also be writing critically Descriptive writing v critical writing

How do I write critically? Evaluate/question theories/arguments/research of writers Describe and then explain why relevant Demonstrate your understanding – put it in your own words Demonstrate how it can be applied in practice/within the context of a given problem Include your own reflections (based on practical experience or case studies) Acknowledge your limitations Be balanced/level headed “it could be argued”, “this suggests”. . .

Individual exercise 2: Critical writing Evaluate the abstracts taken from three essays on leadership theory. For each passage answer the following questions: Is this piece an example of good academic writing? How well does it use literature to back up statements being made? To what extent is it reflective? To what extent is it analytical and critical?