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Writing Critically: Overview

Build a foundation for analysis, reading critically and understanding how to construct and assess arguments.

Overview of writing critically

Throughout university, many of your assessments will require you to write critically – but what exactly does that mean? Writing critically involves developing and applying a range of discrete skills in how you think, how you read the works of others, how you synthesize and use evidence, and how you construct and defend stances within your own written work.

Guide contents

The tabs of this guide will support you in building a critical foundation for your writing practice. The sections are organised as follows:

  • Definition - Gets into what we mean by 'critical writing', and key priorities to keep in mind.
  • Reading Critically - Outlines questions to ask when reading critically, with suggestions on notetaking techniques.
  • Argumentation - Explores how argument works in academic writing, with examples of commonly made mistakes.