Critical Writing
Using the elements and the standards
Start at the beginning
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Analyze the Q at I
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What is the question really asking of you? What
seems to be its purpose?
What is the context of the question?
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Consider course objectives, recent readings and discussions
Current and/or historical events
What system(s) do you need to use to answer the
question?
What information do you need?
Continue around the circle
(as Chris did for getting married)
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What assumptions do you make about the
topic?
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What do you take for granted or already know?
What points of view should be considered?
What concepts need to be defined and
addressed?
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Which have the most explanatory power?
Continue around the circle
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What seem to be the potential implications
and consequences for the topic?
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What interpretations do you make?
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(vs. what others have told you)
What conclusions can you draw about what you
already know?
Determine what you need to include
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What else do you need to consider to answer
the question sufficiently?
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Which are the most important aspects of your
analysis?
How deeply do you need to address each item?
How much time do you have? (such as for an inclass essay)
Are there maximum and minimum word counts?
Perform a standards check
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Is your information accurate
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Do you cover enough breadth?
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Is your analysis complex enough?
Or does it just scratch the surface and communicate the
obvious?
Is all the information relevant?
Do you have sufficient information?
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Have you considered all viewpoints?
Will you have an unbiased analysis?
Do you need to delve deeper?
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Is it all from a credible and reliable source?
Do you need more in some areas?
And so on. . . .
Organize your paper
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Determine the main points you will make
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What is most important for making your case?
Do you need to include all of the elements you
have identified?
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Which are most relevant?
Which provide the strongest support or argument?
Write a thesis statement
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Distills your stance into 1-2 sentences
Never asks question
Create an outline
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Highly recommended
Saves time
Organizes ideas and information
Allows writer to write first draft freely
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Can focus mind fully on ideas and arguments
Frees mind from organizational/structural distractions
Check for weak points that might need additional
support
Writing the paper
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Strategy (Time is your friend.)
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Complete first draft in one sitting, uninterrupted
Benefit: continuous train of thought usually
higher quality than the stop and start method
Put paper aside for another day to review with a
fresh mind
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Better identify gaps in information and clarity
Better recognize mechanical errors (precision)
Writing the paper
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Introduction
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Identifies the topic
Orients the reader to the Q at I and the purpose
Includes the thesis
Writing the paper
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Body
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Paragraph level (remember the SEE-I technique)
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One topic or argument per paragraph
Include a topic sentence that states your claim or
argument (S)
Elaborate on that argument (E) (may require more
than one paragraph to fully explicate)
Use examples or evidence to support the argument (E)
Illustrate when necessary (I)
Writing the paper
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Body
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Overall structure
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Include smooth transitions between paragraphs by
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Ending each paragraph with a sentence that ties to the topic
sentence and to the thesis
Never concluding a paragraph with the topic for the next
paragraph
Always start with your weakest argument and work toward
the strongest (classical argument)
Always identify and refute counterarguments or
acknowledge their merit, if appropriate to do so (Rogerian
argument)
Writing the paper
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Conclusion
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Can write at the same time as the body or at a
later sitting
Review the points you make in the paper to draw
everything together for the reader
Include the “so what?” which speaks to the
significance of the issue
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Tells audience why the topic is important
Often relates to implications and consequences
Revise again
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One revision catches the major stuff
(relevance, sufficiency, depth, and breadth)
Second revision provides opportunity to
improve clearness, precision, and accuracy
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Clear connections between ideas and evidence
Syntax, wordiness, sentence structure
Word choices
Transitions
Final thoughts
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Use time to your advantage
You know what you think
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Explain why (consider impediments and assumptions,
among other elements)
Your audience doesn’t know what you think (consider
clearness)
Your audience also doesn’t know as much about the
topic as you know (consider sufficiency and depth)
Your audience has his/her own viewpoint (consider
breadth)