I would like to thank the Learning Enhancement team, in particular Dr Kajsa Berg 🙏, for organising an enlightening workshop on Critical Thinking and Analytical Writing 📚. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and learn from such a skilled speaker.
Key findings from the workshop:
Understanding Critical Thinking:
Critical thinking involves choosing the right information and evidence to support your arguments 💡. It’s about being able to stand back from what you see, read or hear. As Dr Berg wisely put it, ‘Academic English is nobody’s mother tongue,’ underlining the universal challenge of mastering this skill 🌎.
Difference between opinion and argument:
While an opinion is personal, an argument involves supporting one’s point of view with solid evidence.
Tips for a good essay:
Start with an analysis, be clear about your main point, note the importance of things and always use evidence.
Dr Berg’s analogy was particularly striking: ‘Writing an essay is a police investigation, not a detective story’. This highlights the importance of a clear and logical progression of ideas rather than reserving revelations for the conclusion.
Structuring paragraphs:
The PEEL method for structuring paragraphs :
Point (statement on the subject)
Evidence (show the evidence)
Evaluation (explain why it is important)
Link (to the next paragraph or argument)
This workshop has undeniably improved my approach to academic writing and critical analysis 🚀.
#CriticalThinking #AcademicWriting #ContinuousLearning 🌟