CRITICAL ANALYSIS Angie Parkinson

What is critical analysis? What do you think? But you also have to evaluate if evidence supports conclusions: Evidence: The philosopher, Socrates, was a man (fact and verifiable) Evidence: My father was a man (fact and verifiable) Conclusion: My father was a man, therefore he was a philosopher (false conclusion)

Descriptive Vs Analytical State what happened State the order of things Say how to do things State opinions List details States links between items Give information Identify the significance Make reasoned judgements Argue a case (evidence) Give reasons for selection Evaluate significance of Show relevance of links Draw conclusions

Developing critical thinking ability: Reading 1.Identify line of reasoning 2.Evaluate it 3.Question it 4.Identify evidence 5.Evaluate it 6.Identify conclusions 7.Decide if evidence supports these

Critical thinking 2: Writing Be clear about your conclusions Show clear line of reasoning Present evidence Read your writing critically Have multiple perspectives Analytical style - not in a descriptive/personal/journalistic

Critical thinking 3 - Listening Listening to a speaker involves the same awareness as reading plus: Consistency in the speaker - Are there contradictions? What could this mean? Body language – Eye contact, speed, tone – does the speaker look/sound believable?

Critical Questions Who? What? When? Why? How far? How much? How often? Is this true? How do we know? What do we not know? Which is preferable – and why?

Textual Analysis Look at the images given and analyse them. List, according to form and content: 1.What do they have in common? 2.How are they different?