Critical Writing

Read and download the summary handouts from our academic skills workshops. To book a session on developing your critical writing, click here.

• Phrases for critical writing, Manchester Academic Phrasebank - Phrases and sentence started to integrate into your writing to boost your critical voice.
• Description vs. Analysis, LearnHigher - A handy list of definitions outlining key features of descriptive writing and how to translate these into critical statements.
• Enhance your work by using argument, Royal Literary Fund - Quick tips on how to construct an argument systematically in your writing.
• Different argument structures, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Presentation slides covering argument construction, including useful diagrams on testing premises.
• Critical Thinking Cheatsheet from the Global Digital Citizen Foundation. A page of "Who, What, Where, When, and Why?" questions that you can use to prompt your critical thinking.

For postgraduate students:

• Short guide to critical writing for PGT students, University of Birmingham - Top tips for PGT students in all subjects.
• Analysis, critiquing strategies and synthesis, University of Bradford - Step-by-step guide to critical analysis and synthesising evidence.