Critical%20Writing

1
Critical Writing

• Using the elements and the standards

2
Start at the beginning

• Analyze the Q at I
• What is the question really asking of you? What
  seems to be its purpose?
• What is the context of the question?
• Consider course objectives, recent readings and
  discussions
• Current and/or historical events
• What system(s) do you need to use to answer the
  question?
• What information do you need?

3
Continue around the circle (as Chris did for
getting married)

• What assumptions do you make about the topic?
• What do you take for granted or already know?
• What points of view should be considered?
• What concepts need to be defined and addressed?
• Which have the most explanatory power?

4
Continue around the circle

• What seem to be the potential implications and
  consequences for the topic?
• What interpretations do you make?
• (vs. what others have told you)
• What conclusions can you draw about what you
  already know?

5
Determine what you need to include

• What else do you need to consider to answer the
  question sufficiently?
• Which are the most important aspects of your
  analysis?
• How deeply do you need to address each item?
• How much time do you have? (such as for an
  in-class essay)
• Are there maximum and minimum word counts?

6
Perform a standards check

• Is your information accurate
• Is it all from a credible and reliable source?
• Do you cover enough breadth?
• Have you considered all viewpoints?
• Will you have an unbiased analysis?
• Do you need to delve deeper?
• Is your analysis complex enough?
• Or does it just scratch the surface and
  communicate the obvious?
• Is all the information relevant?
• Do you have sufficient information?
• Do you need more in some areas?
• And so on. . . .

7
Organize your paper

• Determine the main points you will make
• What is most important for making your case?
• Do you need to include all of the elements you
  have identified?
• Which are most relevant?
• Which provide the strongest support or argument?
• Write a thesis statement
• Distills your stance into 1-2 sentences
• Never asks question

8
Create an outline

• Highly recommended
• Saves time
• Organizes ideas and information
• Allows writer to write first draft freely
• Can focus mind fully on ideas and arguments
• Frees mind from organizational/structural
  distractions
• Check for weak points that might need additional
  support

9
Writing the paper

• Strategy (Time is your friend.)
• Complete first draft in one sitting,
  uninterrupted
• Benefit continuous train of thought usually
  higher quality than the stop and start method
• Put paper aside for another day to review with a
  fresh mind
• Better identify gaps in information and clarity
• Better recognize mechanical errors (precision)

10
Writing the paper

• Introduction
• Identifies the topic
• Orients the reader to the Q at I and the purpose
• Includes the thesis

11
Writing the paper

• Body
• Paragraph level (remember the SEE-I technique)
• One topic or argument per paragraph
• Include a topic sentence that states your claim
  or argument (S)
• Elaborate on that argument (E) (may require more
  than one paragraph to fully explicate)
• Use examples or evidence to support the argument
  (E)
• Illustrate when necessary (I)

12
Writing the paper

• Body
• Overall structure
• Include smooth transitions between paragraphs by
• Ending each paragraph with a sentence that ties
  to the topic sentence and to the thesis
• Never concluding a paragraph with the topic for
  the next paragraph
• Always start with your weakest argument and work
  toward the strongest (classical argument)
• Always identify and refute counterarguments or
  acknowledge their merit, if appropriate to do so
  (Rogerian argument)

13
Writing the paper

• Conclusion
• Can write at the same time as the body or at a
  later sitting
• Review the points you make in the paper to draw
  everything together for the reader
• Include the so what? which speaks to the
  significance of the issue
• Tells audience why the topic is important
• Often relates to implications and consequences

14
Revise again

• One revision catches the major stuff (relevance,
  sufficiency, depth, and breadth)
• Second revision provides opportunity to improve
  clearness, precision, and accuracy
• Clear connections between ideas and evidence
• Syntax, wordiness, sentence structure
• Word choices
• Transitions

15
Final thoughts

• Use time to your advantage
• You know what you think
• Explain why (consider impediments and
  assumptions, among other elements)
• Your audience doesnt know what you think
  (consider clearness)
• Your audience also doesnt know as much about the
  topic as you know (consider sufficiency and
  depth)
• Your audience has his/her own viewpoint (consider
  breadth)