How to write critically

This page will explore the key features of critical writing to help you to demonstrate your critical thinking abilities in your work.

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What is Critical Writing? 

A paragraph or section of critical writing (sometimes called critical analysis) will demonstrate not only that you have read one or more sources, but also that you understand what the implications of the sources are for your own work.

Critical writing is likely to involve the following stages, organised within a single paragraph or across multiple paragraphs in a longer section of analysis:

  • Describing the evidence: what does the source tell us? If you agree with it, use strong reporting language (Jones et al (2012) demonstrate, Jones et al (2012) identify). If not, show your scepticism with weak reporting language (Jones et al (2012) argue, Jones et al (2012) claim)
  • Identifying limitations or gaps: Is the research robust? What limitations have the authors themselves identified? Does other research help to fill in the gaps?
  • Highlighting alternatives: Are there other possible interpretations? Does other research contradict the findings? Has there been a chronological development of the field (ie have views changed over time?)
  • Synthesising sources to show your interpretation: Can you summarise your position based on the process you have followed above? What does this mean for your argument or hypothesis?

Download this Critical analysis framework template to help structure your analysis of multiple sources according to the stages above.

Description or Analysis?

You might read about the need to demonstrate critical thinking, writing or analysis in your academic feedback, but remain unsure as to how to make the change from description to critical analysis.

Some description is usually necessary to set the scene in each paragraph, but you need to make sure that you aren't just telling the story of other people's findings and theories.

Things that you could express in your writing include considering the questions below:

  • Is this research or evidence credible?
  • How could it be improved?
  • Have other people made opposing claims?
  • How does it relate to the other evidence in your argument?

Here are some examples illus