Critical writing at postgrad level

Cath Senker

Author, editor, RLF Consultant Fellow

To raise your level to postgraduate standard, work to develop your own voice as a writer.

1 The transition from UG to PG

!  Becoming a researcher !  Scholarly sources – reading widely !  Mostly primary sources !  Deeper and more critical engagement with

subjects/ideas !  Develop your own perspective !  Well-structured assignments !  Accurate referencing

2 Finding your voice

!  Become aware of current knowledge in your field

– read broadly – synthesise information: group related arguments

– consider where you stand

Adapted from Birkbeck University London

2 Finding your voice !  Contribute personally to knowledge

in your field – creative thinking – present info in a new way, e.g.

Apply previous research to a new problem Prove a thesis with your evidence Compare and contrast materials in new way Apply a grand theory Be passionate!

Adapted from Birkbeck University London

Critical reading strategy 1 Understanding

!  What are the key points? !  What’s the relationship between them? !  Relevance to your topic? !  Be aware of the epistemologies (ways

of knowing) used, e.g. work experience, quantitative research, culture specific

2 Questioning !  How successfully are the points made? !  Does the author use reasoning and debate

to argue their case? !  Is the argument backed up with solid

evidence from appropriate sources? !  Is the writing balanced or biased towards a

particular viewpoint? !  What are the author’s underlying values?

3 Evaluating !  Compare with other perspectives on the topic. !  Identify strengths and weaknesses:

How robust are the arguments for / against? !  Do they fit with professional literature?

Show you’re informed – draw on the literature to demonstrate any weaknesses.

!  Arguments useful? Can you apply them to your topic?

!  Any amendments that would make them more useful?

Good analytical writing !  You’re in charge – make

your point in the topic sentence

!  Bring in evidence. !  Explain and evaluate the

evidence. !  Conclude your point

Further help !  Go to Skills Hub – information on research and writing !  Book a one-to-one tutorial with a Royal Literary Fund

Writing Fellow: www.sussex.ac.uk/library/guides/rlf !  Study skills for taught postgrads:

www.sussex.ac.uk/skillshub/?id=301 !  Postgraduate study skills guide from the Open

University http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/postgraduate-study-skills.php

!  Video on critical thinking and scholarly writing www.academia.edu/4480218/Critical_Thinking_and_Scholarly_Writing