Critical writing Arisan pengetahuan, 2 December 2016 Tiffany Imron
Outline • What is critical writing – What is critical thinking – What is effective writing • How to write critically • Rules of thumb • Common errors • Top tips
What is critical writing Applying critical thinking to write, in an effective way
What is critical thinking? Ensure that we have good reasons for our beliefs Or in academic words‌. The careful application of reason in the determination of whether a claim is true -Moore and Parker, 2011-
What is critical writing Goal: - Not to accept or reject - Not to decide right or wrong
BUT!! To fully evaluate all claims and evidence and decide which one has the highest probability of true.
What is critical writing Example:
Mau ketemu dimana? Kenapa?
Offshore aja Critical thinking
What is critical writing
To identify and filter information
What is critical writing Example:
Kenapa? Barista nya ganteng
Kopinya lebih enak dari costa, dan lebih murah dari starbucks
Aku suka kopi
Dilihat dari google, lokasinya deket dan variasi menunya macem2
What is critical writing
To identify and filter information
To build a strong argument
What is critical writing Example:
Barista nya ganteng
Aku suka kopi
Variasi menu minuman atau Sini cowok, udah makanan? Tapi kawin pula. Ga berhubung deket, relevan! sini udah tua ga bisaenak jalandari jauh, Jadidan Kopinya lebih costa, ke iCafe aja lebih murahokelah dari starbucks yuk Kata siapa? Berdasarkan apa? Dilihat dari google, lokasinya deket dan Tapimacem2 berhbung sini variasi menunya orang kaya, harga So what? ga masalah
What is critical writing
To filter information
To decide
To build a strong argument
What is critical writing Example:
Oke lah yuk Offshore Barista nya ganteng
Kopinya lebih enak dari costa, dan lebih murah dari starbucks
Aku suka kopi
Dilihat dari google, lokasinya deket dan variasi menunya macem2
What is critical writing
X
Critical thinking = Criticising
BUT! Critical thinking often involves criticising Example: Kopinya lebih enak dari costa, dan lebih murah dari starbucks
What is critical writing
What is effective writing? “The writer’s job is to make the meaning plain; it is not the reader’s job to have to interpret the meaning” (NN, 2016) So, generally, effective writing can be defined as: Writing that makes its reader(s) understand, without having the need to interpret the meaning
How to write critically? Problem definition Gather information
Define the problem e.g. menentukan tempat pertemuan Find as much information from different perspectives related to your problem e.g. kenapa? kata siapa?
How to write critically? Problem definition Gather information
Define the problem e.g. menentukan tempat pertemuan Find as much information from different perspectives related to your problem e.g. kenapa? kata siapa? Read for the purposes of answering questions: What is the key point/contribution the author is making? Does the author provide evidence? How does this relate to the field? How significant is the contribution? What are the main strengths/weaknesses of the work? Are the author’s conclusions valid? ‌‌
How to write critically? Gather information Record
Find as much information from different perspectives related to your problem e.g. kenapa? kata siapa? Write down key outputs from reading for each source
How to write critically?
Analyse and evaluate Conclude
Write
Understand the information and assess the application to your problem e.g. variasi menu atau makanan Decide your stance e.g. okelah Offshore aja yuk!
Rules of thumb 1. Structured Introduction – Body – Conclusion Justify your structure: 2. From general to specific 3. Steps that you are done 4. Chronological order (time) 5. Similarities and differences 6. Important to less important Linking ideas http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/ https://www.powerthesaurus.org/
Rules of thumb
2. Formal • Use formal vocabularies – will be discussed more later • Avoid informal abbreviations, e.g. ASAP • Avoid using preposition at the end of the sentence – …which suites them to. • No contraction – it’s, don’t
Rules of thumb
3. Critical • Build arguments from facts, evidence • Compare and contrast – facts, argue, conclude • Logical and objective
Common errors Focusing on one point of view Don’t Tiffany claims that Offshore’s coffee is the best in Glasgow. Her research reveals that Offshore utilises premium quality coffee beans, imported from Indonesia. Owing to this, we believe that Offshore’s coffee is indeed the best in Glasgow.
Do Tiffany claims that Offshore’s coffee is the best in Glasgow. Tiffany’s claim is aligned with Basid’s. As a coffee lover who had travelled around the world for coffee tasting, Basid’s judgement in coffee taste can be considered reliable. He also believes that Offshore’s coffee is indeed the best in Glasgow. As such…
Common mistakes Describing instead of arguing Don’t Tiffany claims that Offshore’s coffee is the best in Glasgow. However, Basid argues that Costa’s coffee is better than Offshore’s.
Do Tiffany claims that Offshore’s coffee is the best in Glasgow. A contrast opinion was given by Basid based on his visit in 2006. He argues that Costa’s coffee is better than Offshore’s. However, considering that Basid’s visit to Costa was 10 years back, his opinion is considered invalid. On this basis, Tiffany’s claim can be considered more reliable than Basid’s. Thus, in this essay, the author uses Tiffany’s claim to support their argument.
Common mistakes Utilisations of informal (e.g. slangs, jargons), non-academic vocabulary For example Informal
Formal
Kids A lot of, A couple of A bit Yet, But So Also Right Point out Find Show Say
Children Many, several, or specify the number Somewhat, (or delete it) However Thus, therefore, as such Moreover, furthermore Correct Indicate Identify, Discover, Reveal Present, demonstrate, perform Remark, mention, state
Common mistakes Overused of direct quotations Rule of thumb: 20% Choose it carefully, it should add impact to your work.
Use thesaurus and synonyms without checking the definition For example: “i.e.” is not a synonym for “e.g.” “which” is not a synonym for “that”
Redundancy For example: more preferable, most unique, collaborate together, finally ended, in actual fact.
Common mistakes Stating something as a fact without providing evidence and inappropriate citations For example: Indonesia is currently the fifth largest producer of coffee in the world. According to Imron (2016), this is due to its ideal geographical locations for coffee plantations‌ –adapted from Wikipedia-
Common mistakes
Long sentence For example: The essential thing that the company required to recognise is that reward system is necessary to enhance the number of ideas generated from their employees and the company should not be blinded by the perception that financial rewards is the only option that they can provide to motivate their employees and make them more enthusiast in participating the idea generation activity.
Common mistakes
Long sentence For example: The essential thing that the company required to recognise is that reward system is necessary to enhance the number of ideas generated from their employees and the company should not be blinded by the perception that financial rewards is the only option that they can provide to motivate their employees and make them more enthusiast in participating the idea generation activity.
Common mistakes Start a new paragraph with conjunction (e.g. however, although) Inconsistent spelling (UK vs US) - Choose one and be consistent! - Use spelling checker in MS Words - Remember, you are studying in the UK
Spelling and grammatical error -
Plural vs singular “a” vs “the” Third person Present vs Past vs Future tense
Top tips Planning is important!
Read the instruction and grading requirements carefully Repeat until you understand and ask your lecturer!
Example: 1. Introduction (200 words) – Make outline, as detail 10% as you can. • Brief definition of a good Ensure that you coffee (50 words) consider instruction – According to baristas and grading – According to coffee requirements. drinkers – According to coffee farmers 2. …. (500 words)
Top tips
Give enough time to start writing your assignment “SKS” is a big no no!
Start with a few papers, then start writing as soon as you can
Read with purpose (or questions) – who said it, what did they say (facts or opinions), when did they say it, why did they say it
Top tips
Classify and categorise Compare and contrast ALWAYS ask your self a basic question – what, who, where, when, how, why Identify inconsistencies, weaknesses or negative point in evidence and arguments
Identify the different arguments there are in relation to a particular issue
Just write! Don’t worry to get it right the first time. Because you won’t!
Top tips Use short sentence Common mistakes: and paragraph • Over-used “which” and If you cannot read a sentence in one breath, break it down! If you are lost in the middle of a paragraph, break it down!
“that” • Over-used “although”, “however” and “therefore” (or “thus” or “hence”)
Common mistake: • Using subjective words that don’t add any meaning, such as: unfortunately, massively, extremely • Going around and around and around and around
Say what you mean and mean what you say. No need to sugar coat your sentences. Delete unnecessary words.
Top tips Proofread your own work, from beginning to end, at least twice. Read it out loud!
Make use of technology! http://www.wikihow.com/Custom ize-the-Grammar-Checker-in-Micr osoft-Word
Get some help by asking other people to read your work They might see things that you didn’t
“Writing is a skill, not a talent, and this difference is important because a skill can be improved by practice” Robert Stay McCain “Thinking is skilled work. It is not true that we are naturally endowed with the ability to think clearly and logically without learning how, or without practicing” A. E. Mander