Critical analysis with exercise.compressed
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The document discusses critical analysis, its definition, importance, and methods for performing it, particularly in academic settings. It differentiates critical analysis from mere description and outlines essential elements and courses of action necessary for effective analysis. The document invites participants to engage in practical exercises and highlights future webinars on the topic.
Critical analysis with exercise.compressed
- 2. The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks. Christopher Hitchens (2001) Quote
- 3. Our Focus for Today 1. What critical analysis is 2. Its importance 3. How to perform critical analysis 4. Exercise to develop critical analysis ability (Daily life level)
- 4. Critical analysis is a common issue between professors and graduate students
- 5. Teacher says: More analysis is needed. Be more critical Usually it goes like this:
- 6. Student: What is this professor talking about?
- 7. Critical analysis really intrigues graduate students
- 8. They ask questions like: 1. What does critical analysis mean? 2. What do you have to do? 3. Why are you expected to do that? 4. How can you do it?
- 9. What Is Critical Analysis?
- 10. Generally speaking: Interpretation of a work Interpretation is the explanation of the meaning of something
- 11. In a thesis/dissertation/research study: The summary and evaluation of a work for its application in a study
- 12. Two Levels of Action 1. Pointing out the main ideas or elements of a work 2. Interpreting them in a supported way as they relate to a specific situation
- 13. In other words… A mere description is not critical analysis
- 14. Why Performing Critical Analysis Is Different from Describing? They have different goals and in fact a description is the input of critical analysis
- 15. Adapted from Cottrell, S. (2003). The study skills handbook . Some of their differences are: Description Critical Analysis States what happened Identifies its significance States what something is like Evaluates strengths and weaknesses Lists details Evaluates relative significance of details States the order in which things happened Makes reasoned judgment Says how to do something Argues a case according to the evidence Explains what a theory says Shows why something is relevant or suitable Notes the method used Identify whether is appropriate or useful Says when something occurred Identify why timing is important States the different components Weighs up their importance States options Give reasons for selecting options
- 16. Actions Associated to Critical Analysis Identify Make Show why Weigh up Argue Identify if/why Give reasons Evaluate
- 17. Critical analysis implies that you: Provide the following elements: • Main ideas or findings of the work analysed • Reasons why it is important • What it fails to address (if applicable) • How it links to your own situation • Similar and different points of view on main ideas or conclusions
- 18. Why Do You Have to Do That? To convince people of the relevance and validity of your arguments In the academic world, critical analysis is a tool necessary to support or challenge a study and its findings and, therefore, give it a place within the corresponding field of study
- 19. How Do You Do Critical Analysis?
- 20. You need two basic elements to work with: • Input: the work or situation you work with • Courses of actions: sets of points to pay attention to or questions to ask
- 21. In this webinar, we are focusing on how to perform critical analysis in daily life situations (including academic ones) In the next webinar, we will discuss critical analysis in theses/dissertations
- 22. Courses of Actions to Do Critical Analysis • Points to pay attention to • Questions to ask
- 23. Points to Pay Attention to • The main ideas of the work or situation • The goal • The thesis (premise) that the author of the work or the people involved in the situation support • Who is involved, what happens, where, when, how, and why • The achievement of the goal • What you like or do not like and why
- 24. Questions to Ask • What are the main ideas or elements of the work or situation? • What is the established goal? • What is the premise (thesis) that is exposed in the work or situation? • What happens? • Where does it happen? • When? • How? • Who is involved? • Why does it happen? • Was the established goal achieve? Why? Why not? • How consistent is the work or situation? Why? • What do you like? What do you dislike? • What is your opinion about the work or situation? • Why do you think so? • What alternative actions would you propose? Why?
- 25. Different ways of approaching critical analysis. Same goal. Choose the one that best fits your own cognitive and learning style
- 26. 1. What critical analysis means 2. How it differs from description 3. What you are expected to do 4. Why you should do critical analysis 5. Examples of courses of action to perform it Now You Know
- 27. Next step? Reflect upon what has been said, decide to make critical analysis part of your personal and professional life, and… Practice, practice, practice,......
- 28. Exercise to Practice In the next slide, you will find a template to guide you when performing critical analysis using daily life situations You are invited to the second webinar about critical analysis where you can share your experience doing it. In that webinar, we will discuss how critical analysis can be done when writing theses/ dissertations/ research reports
- 29. Adapted from Rankin & Wolfe (n.d). Critical analysis template. Introduction • Title, author, date of publication • Main ideas • Author’s thesis • Your thesis and main ideas about the work The film “…”, created and directed by…, is excellent because ... The article “...” by … is basically a bad copy of ... because... Summary • State the main ideas of the work • State elements like what happens, where, when, how, who is involved, and why • Summarize the author’s point of view • Discuss the structure and/or style of the work Use the following prompts to guide your work: This article is about… The main character… The author thinks… The setting is… The main ideas presented are… The central thesis is… The reasons behind the main character’s actions are… The author concludes… Analysis • State what you like or not • Support your point of view and illustrate it using specific examples from the work • Evaluate the achievement of the established goal • Analyze the work stating if it is: focused, clear, original, informative, well-written, consistent in the use of terms and lines of thought, interesting, appropriate for the audience, well researched, etc. Conclusion • Restate your thesis by means of paraphrasing the one presented in the introduction • Do the same with your own ideas. • Propose an alternative course of action (if applicable) • Make a call to action like: You must watch this film because… / Don’t buy this book because Choose a book/ article/ film/and write down a piece of critical analysis completing the following information:
- 30. References Cottrell, S. (2003). The study skills handbook (2nd ed). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Hitchens, C. (2001). Letters to a young contrarian. New York, NY: Basic Books. Rankin, K. & Wolfe, S. (n.d.). Critical analysis template. Thompson Rivers University. Writing Centre. Retrieved from https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Critical_Analysis_Templat e30565.pdf
- 31. What’s Up at DoctoralNet? 1. Give Us Feedback and suggestions in “my Account on control panel 2. New Feature suggestion – now is the time to tell us Sonia@doctoralnet.com 3. Webinars upcoming… All on the Main DN Group Page… 1. How to Get Your Work Published Part 2 2. Critical Analysis Part Two 3. Finding and Utilizing the Supports You Need in Graduate School