Mastering Critical Analysis in Higher Education

Critical analysis
 
www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
 
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As a student in higher education, you are expected to
develop a critical approach to your studies it helps:
build your 
knowledge
 and 
understanding
improve your idea development and problem-solving skills
Becoming skilled in critical analysis takes time,
however it is a transferable skill for life
Across
disciplines
Interpret
news reports
Identify political
agendas
Make career
choices
 
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Analysing
 and 
evaluating 
the credibility of:
sources of information
evidence
ideas and viewpoints (including your own)
practices/approaches (including your own)
 
to be critical can also mean identifying positive elements
 
But remember…
 
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… that you or someone else’s work is too
descriptive
 and that it needs to be more
critical or analytical
 
But what is
the
difference?
Describing (descriptive)
Analysing (critical / analytical)
Stating what happened
Identifying the significance of
what happened
Noting the method used
Indicating whether or not the
methodology is suitable
Evaluating the significance of
details
Stating links between items
Showing the relevance of links
between items
Stating when something
happened
Identifying why timing is
important
Stating options
Evaluating the options and stating
which should be selected
Listing details
move towards
 
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Describing
 
Analysing
 
What happened
 
Identifying significance
 
Noting method
 
Method suitable?
 
Evaluating significance
of details
 
Linking items
 
Relevance of linking
items
 
Stating when
 
Identifying why timing’s
important
 
Stating options
 
Evaluating options and
stating which to select
 
Listing details
 
Questions
 
Why
 
is what happened
important/relevant?
 
What could be 
improved
or should be 
questioned
?
 
What do the details tell us?
 
Why
 should items be
linked?
 
What is the 
historical
significance
?
 
What options are the
most valid and 
Why?
 
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Who?
 
What?
 
Where?
 
When?
 
Why?
 
How?
 
authors /
academics
 
claims
made
 
location of
research
 
historical
context
 
rationale
for the
argument
 
methodological
issues
 
Each criticism must be supported by evidence
 
A critical researcher is always 
questioning
 - nothing is
taken for granted
 
Analysis and criticism = informed judgment or
interpretation
 
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You should now find it easier to:
Identify the differences between descriptive
writing and critical analysis
Write in a more critical/analytical style
Recognise critical analysis in your sources
 
If you would like to understand more about critical
analysis, please book a 1:1 appointment, or contact us
at 
learning@kent.ac.uk
 
C
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t
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F
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For guidance on the broader range of academic skills that will
help you succeed at university, please go to the SLAS webpages
http://www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
where you can:
Book a 
one-to-one appointment 
with a SLAS adviser
Attend a range of 
Online Bitesize Skills Development sessions
 
Academic Phrasebank (University of Manchester)
http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/being-critical/
 
www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
SLAS
CONNECT
 
To book an appointment:
 
learning@kent.ac.uk
SLASkent
KentUniSLAS
SLASkent
 
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Developing a critical approach is crucial for higher education students to enhance knowledge, problem-solving skills, and idea development. This skill involves analyzing sources, evaluating credibility, and identifying key elements. Explore the differences between descriptive and critical analysis, along with essential questions to strengthen critical thinking abilities.


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  1. Critical analysis www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service

  2. Why be Critical? Why be Critical? As a student in higher education, you are expected to develop a critical approach to your studies it helps: build your knowledge and understanding improve your idea development and problem-solving skills Becoming skilled in critical analysis takes time, however it is a transferable skill for life

  3. What does it mean to be Critical? What does it mean to be Critical? Analysing and evaluating the credibility of: sources of information evidence ideas and viewpoints (including your own) practices/approaches (including your own) But remember to be critical can also mean identifying positive elements

  4. You may hear your lecturers say You may hear your lecturers say But what is the difference? that you or someone else s work is too descriptive and that it needs to be more critical or analytical

  5. Difference between being descriptive descriptive and critical critical Analysing (critical / analytical) Describing (descriptive) move towards Identifying the significance of what happened Stating what happened Indicating whether or not the methodology is suitable Noting the method used Evaluating the significance of details Listing details Showing the relevance of links between items Stating links between items Stating when something happened Identifying why timing is important Evaluating the options and stating which should be selected Stating options

  6. Questions to ask and answer to help you be more critical critical Describing Questions Analysing move to Whyis what happened important/relevant? What happened Identifying significance What could be improved or should be questioned? Noting method Method suitable? Evaluating significance of details Listing details What do the details tell us? Why should items be linked? Relevance of linking items Linking items Identifying why timing s important What is the historical significance? Stating when Evaluating options and stating which to select What options are the most valid and Why? Stating options

  7. Questioning Sources Questioning Sources What? authors / academics location of research claims made Why? rationale for the argument historical context methodological issues

  8. Moving beyond describing describing to analysing analysing Analysis and criticism = informed judgment or interpretation A critical researcher is always questioning - nothing is taken for granted Each criticism must be supported by evidence

  9. Critical Analysis Critical Analysis You should now find it easier to: Identify the differences between descriptive writing and critical analysis Write in a more critical/analytical style Recognise critical analysis in your sources If you would like to understand more about critical analysis, please book a 1:1 appointment, or contact us at learning@kent.ac.uk

  10. Further resources Further resources For guidance on the broader range of academic skills that will help you succeed at university, please go to the SLAS webpages http://www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service where you can: Book a one-to-one appointment with a SLAS adviser Attend a range of Online Bitesize Skills Development sessions Academic Phrasebank (University of Manchester) http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/being-critical/

  11. Get in touch Get in touch SLAS CONNECT To book an appointment: www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service learning@kent.ac.uk SLASkent KentUniSLAS SLASkent

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