Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser Critical Thinking This workshop will... Provide a basic understanding of critical analysis  Introduce you to critical and analytic thinking  Explore different strategies to be a critical thinker Louise Livesey Academic Skills Adviser 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice The Plan… What is critical analysis? Why you need to be critically analytic The skills and attitudes for critical and analytic thinking Strategies for critical thinking Share the plan with attendees and give out note-taker HO 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Analysis: Breaking something down 1.What is critical analysis? Analysis: Breaking something down what something looks like what it is make of where it is who it is when something happened ‘shallow’ questions 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

What might you do if you analysed this? 1.What is critical analysis? TALKING POINT What might you do if you analysed this? 1. (van Egmond: Amoebas are more than just blobs) Look at cell membrane, individual parts of inside of cell and what they did. Measure its size, movement, growth. The job it does. How and why does it do what it does. What if you added something, fed it on something different, put it with another one, etc 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

What might you do if you analysed this? 1.What is critical analysis? TALKING POINT What might you do if you analysed this? 2. (Roy: Truly Blessed) Size and shape. Component parts and what made of. What each does and how they physically fit together. How does it work. Why does it work that way. Change materials? 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

What might you do if you analysed this? 1.What is critical analysis? TALKING POINT What might you do if you analysed this? 3. (Lansky: What I’d cook for my teacher) If I cooked hot lunch for my teacher, I would start out with rattlesnake stew. Then I’d serve her a centipede salad And a tall glass of milk mixed with glue. Next, a seaweed and jellyfish sandwich, For dessert, an a-chooberry pie. When she finally finds out what she’s eaten, I hope the old bat doesn’t die What type of poem. That it rhymes. Age aimed at How is it put together – meal. Why written like this – is it an adult pretending to be a child? What if it is, does that change what the poem does or who aimed at? 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 1.What is critical analysis? Analytic questions How? Why? What if? These two explore the relationship This one looks at of all the constituent bits you different possible have found in your something situations and to each other and the thing as different responses a whole. to those situations. ‘deeper’ questions 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Lateral thinking puzzles 1.What is critical analysis? Lateral thinking puzzles what something looks like what it is make of where it is who it is when something happened how why what if 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Criticality: Evaluating information 1.What is critical analysis? Criticality: Evaluating information deep’ questions These two relate to what the implications of the ‘something’ are; if it provides solutions or needs a solution to make it work; what conclusions you come to; and what recommendations you make for the future So what? What next? Activity 1: Desert scenario 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 1.What is critical analysis? Summary Looking at something (whether tangible or conceptual) before you start your reading for your initial impressions: trust yourself Breaking it down into its constituent parts. Asking questions about the origins of ideas, the assumptions behind the ideas, and the applicability of the ideas about that something. How it compares to other ‘somethings’ so as to make a judgement about its value or significance. Evidencing your conclusions and findings from this questioning process. It is about keeping an open mind about the application of this knowledge to address a problem or answer a question. 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

2.Why you need to be critically analytic you can be analytic without being critical, but you cannot be critical without being analytic You need to think critically and analytically 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 3.The skills and attitudes of critical and analytic thinking Critical Analytic Identifying: Other’s positions, arguments and conclusions False or unfair assumptions Being detached Examining from different angles Evaluating Weighing up Checking: Accuracy Logical connections Hidden assumptions Persuasion Read between the lines Below the surface Recognising Techniques Drawing conclusions Finding: Flaws Devices Presenting your point of view Comparing viewpoints See and explain conclusions Click for answer 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice 4.Strategies for critical thinking Various strategies: De Bono’s 6 Hats Mind-maps Question and answer sheets Post-its, pen, paper 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice References Cottrell, S. (2005) Critical thinking skills. 1st edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd Cottrell, S. (2003) The study skills handbook. 2nd edition. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd Illumine Training. (2014) Mind Maps®About Mind Mapping. Windsor, Illumine Ltd. http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/mind-maps-examples/about-mind-maps.htm Accessed 11 July 2014. Learn Higher. (2010) Critical thinking and reflection. Learn Higher. http://archive.learnhigher.ac.uk/videoresources/criticalthinking_student/ Accessed 3 June 2014. Maraekakaho School. (2014) De Bono’s ‘Thinking Hats.’ http://www.mkk.school.nz/Site/Learning_MKK/Thinking_MKK/De_Bono_s_Thinking_Hats.ashx Accessed 11 July 2014. Oxford Dictionaries. (2014) Analysis. Oxford, OUP. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/analysis Accessed 11 July 2014. Plymouth University. (2008) Critical thinking. Plymouth, Plymouth University. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/cll/othercourses/itt/resource_bank/studyskills/study/readingskills/8_criticalthinking_summary1.pdf Accessed 3 June 2015.   9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Service Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call or come speak to us Monday-Thursday 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser. Who can help me with study and writing skills? Lucy and Russell run Instant Study Skills Advice sessions Monday-Thursday and Writing Skills Clinics twice a week. You can also access self-help resources on our webpage. Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and pre-booked appointments. How do I get in touch? Email: academic-skills@brad.ac.uk Telephone: 01274 236849 http://www.brad.ac.uk/academic-skills/induction/ 22/09/2018 Academic Skills Advice

Academic Skills Advice Any questions? 9/22/2018 Academic Skills Advice