Critical Writing

Critical writing is a clear and confident refusal to accept the conclusions of other writers without evaluating the arguments and evidence that they provide. In addition, it is a balanced presentation of reasons why the conclusions of other writers may be accepted or may need to be treated with caution. It includes a clear presentation of your own evidence and argument, leading to your conclusion and recognition of the limitations in your own evidence, argument, and conclusion. Critical writing means that you are participating in the academic debate. You need to weigh up the evidence and arguments of others, and to contribute your own. You will need to:

• Consider the quality of the evidence and argument you have read
• Identify key positive and negative aspects you can comment upon
• Assess their relevance and usefulness to the debate that you are engaging in for your
assignment
• Identify how best they can be woven into the argument that you are developing
When you engage in critical writing you are developing your own academic voice within your subject.

Source: http://www.le.ac.uk/oerresources/ssds/writingskills/page_42.htm

Articles

• Gatt, C. (2013). The 7 building blocks of effective arguments. 
• Knott, D. (n.d.). Critical reading towards critical writing. University of Toronto.
• Kurland, D. (2010). Strategies for critical reading and writing.
• University of Wolverhampton (2020). Introduction to critical writing. 

Books

• University of Birmingham. Academic Skills Centre (2015). A short guide to critical writing for Postgraduate Taught Students. Birmingham: Library Services.
  

Videos

• Coventry University, Centre for Academic Writing (2016). Critical writing: How to build strong arguments. 
• Hull University (2017). Critical writing.
• Metropolitan Manchester University (2018). Writing – from descriptive to critical.

Websites

• University of Leeds (n.d.). Critical thinking. Critical writing. 
• University of Leicester. Student Learning Development (n.d.). What is critical writing: study guide. 
• University of Cumbria (n.d.). What is critical writing? 
• University of Westminster (2020). Critical writing.