Download Academic skills workshop: getting started with critical writing

critical writing
Task 1 – Descriptive vs critical writing
Read the following paragraphs. In pairs, discuss if these extracts are example of descriptive
or critical writing.
Extracts adapted from:
Cottrell, S. (2013) The Study Skills Handbook. 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Extract 1:
Scientists do not agree about the extent to which creativity can be linked to activity in
the right hemisphere of the brain. It is known that the biochemistry of the two
hemispheres of the brain is different. For example there is more of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, in the right hemisphere than the left (Oke et al., 1978)
Norepinephrine is associated with increased alertness to visual stimuli. It has been
suggested by Springer and Deutsch (1981) that this may lead to increased righthemisphere specialisation for visual and spatial perception. However, this link is not
yet proven. It is not yet clear whether one hemisphere of the brain can be responsible
for any creative task. Moreover, although it might seem reasonable to assume that
responsiveness to visual stimulus may be an important factor of creativity, this has
also not yet been proved.
Extract 2:
Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (Smith, 2001) argues that child development is affected
by the closeness of the bond between a mother and its child. Bowlby claimed that
even short spells away from the mother during infancy could have a profound effect
upon a person later in life. This became known as ‘maternal deprivation theory’.
According to this theory, the relationship with the mother during an early ‘critical
period’ gives the developing child an ‘internal working model’. This model then forms
the foundation of all future relationships.
Additional paragraph:
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However, the main weakness of the theory is that it fails to acknowledge the
significance of other wider influences. Many writers have challenged Bowlby’s theory
on the grounds that it has limitations and that child development is affected by more
than just that of a mother-child relationship. Harris (1998) argues that parents do not
shape their child’s personality or character, and that it is in fact their peers who have
the greatest influence over their development. Similarly, Field (1996) questions
Bowlby’s research methods and suggests that rather than just observe attachment
behaviours in stressful situations, behaviour should also be observed in more natural,
non-stressful situations. Moreover, Field’s opinion reflects that of Harris regarding
the importance of the influence of many different people in a child’s life, and therefore
highlights limitations to the research.
Task 2 - Practising your critical reading skills:
Read through the extract below, which is taken from a journal article. Then read each of the
statements and answer the questions.
Before a new pharmaceutical drug reaches the market, it must undergo clinical trials. The raw
data from clinical trials of drugs is rarely published and what is published may be misleading.
The results of clinical trials that indicate that a drug is beneficial are likely to be published.
However, tests that suggest that the same drug is not effective may not be published and the
public may not get to hear about them. As a result, even academic articles written about new
drugs, which are normally based on the same data, may be very inaccurate. Not only that, but
even our understanding of what an illness is can become distorted. For example, for some
time it was widely believed that depression was caused in people by a serotonin deficiency.
Clinical trials suggested that taking drugs which raised serotonin levels would greatly reduce
the risk of suicide. This is contested in The New Brain Sciences (Rose, 2004), which argues that
such drugs, far from reducing the effect of suicide, may in fact increase its risk, and that there
is very little evidence that depressive illness has anything to do with serotonin levels.
Statement 1
The writer advances the proposition that not all data from clinical trials is published in full.
What do you think? Why?
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Statement 2
The writer also asserts that clinical data favourable to a drug is more likely to be published
than unfavourable data.
What do you think? Why?
Statement 3
The writer believes that depression is an illness.
What do you think? Why?
Statement 4
The extract states that raised serotonin levels lead to an increased risk of suicide.
What do you think? Why?
Source: Skills4Study, 2015.
Further support:
A - Comparing descriptive and critical writing
Descriptive writing
Critical/analytical writing
States what happened
Identifies the significance
States what something is like
Evaluates (judges the value) strengths and
Gives the story so far
weaknesses
Weighs one piece of information against another
States the order in which
Makes reasoned judgements
things happened
Says how to do something
Argues a case according to evidence
Explains what a theory says
Shows why something is relevant or suitable
Explains how something works
Indicates why something will work (best)
Notes the method used
Indicates whether something is appropriate or
suitable
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Says when something occurred
Identifies why they timing is important
States the different
Weighs up the importance of component parts
components
States options
Gives reason for the selection of each option
Lists details
Evaluates the relative significance of details
Lists in any order
Structures information in order (eg. of
States links between items
importance)
Shows the relevance of links between pieces of
Gives information
information
Draws conclusions
Source: LearnHigher (2015)
B – Examples of evaluative language
1. Hills (2010) states that it is necessary to identify a line of reasoning in order to assess it.
However, it does not follow that a line of reasoning will always be strong enough to support
the claim.
2. The discovery is unique, according to scientists. Khan (2012) asserts that it has far-reaching
implications for the field.
3. It is noteworthy that Holikov (1996) also had difficulty in explaining the phenomenon.
4. In 1997, Irkan published a significant piece of research on this issue.
5. The author acknowledges the limitations of this study due to the sample size. However, it
is believed that a larger-scale study of this type could produce similar results with a greater
number of participants.
6. The search for a unified theory is misguided, claims Professor Brown(2014).
7. It is important to recognise that the data are/is rather limited. There could be several
reasons for this, including political bias on the part of the authors. Thus, the conclusion is
mistaken and lacks hard evidence.
8. The validity of the analysis is debateable due to a breakdown in the line of reasoning.
9. These results are borne out by two other studies: Brown (2009) and Clark (2011).
10. The results from the two studies could be viewed as contradictory. This weakens Jenner’s
argument considerably.
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(Adapted from: McCarthy, M. & F. O’Dell, and (2008) Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press: Unit 32).
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