WRITING A CRITICAL ESSAY

Purpose

A critical essay involves evaluating information, theories or situations and is an important way of analysing information, posing questions and challenging information.
The critical essay is an important academic tool that allows your knowledge to develop, because rather than being a personal opinion, the critical essay requires an in-
depth analysis of a topic

Structure

Body Conclusion
Introduction

Introduce topic & provide a context for the essay Answer the question by developing a discussion Restate the Main Point

Introductions have two parts: Here, show your knowledge and understanding of material that has been 1. Relate the essay back to the essay question
1. General statements about your topic. read. 2. Reiterate the thesis point
These sentences need to: 3. Reiterate most important evidence supporting the position
• Attract reader’s attention If the question / answer has more than one part, the body of the text taken
• Introduce the topic in a general way to orientate your reader to should be structured into separate sections and addressed individually. 4. May also contain a reflection on the evidence presented.
the subject and to provide background information. 5. Questions such as these may be considered:
This provides the context. Keep statements brief. Your argument should be presented logically and cohesively by following
• Provide background information the general paragraph structure of: -What is the significance of your findings?
-What are the implications of your conclusions for this topic
2. The thesis statement. It is often the last sentence of the introduction and Topic sentence and for the broader field?
gives the reader the following information: States the topic and central idea of the paragraph. (The point the -Are there any limitations to your approach?
State specific topic. paragraph makes) -Are there any other factors of relevance that impact upon
• Identifies your position on the topic or question the topic but fell outside the scope of the essay?
• List the subtopics that will be discussed Supporting sentences -Are there any suggestions you can make in terms of future
• Limits the scope of what will be discussed These sentences support, expand, explain, examine and justify the points research?
• Indicates the pattern of organisation of the essay and gives a made in the topic sentence. (Evidence, examples and quotes that support
clear outline of what will follow your position. 6. The conclusion should match the introduction in terms of the
• Indicates your argument or contention when you are asked to ideas presented and the argument put forward.
‘draw conclusions’ about a subject. Concluding Sentence
Relate the example and evidence back to your thesis
 Discipline Examples
Academic Language
Psychology
https://www.jcu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/122777/jcuprd1_073117.pdf
Academic words for reporting and connecting ideas Sociology
https://www.jcu.edu.au/ data/assets/pdf_file/0007/122893/jcuprd1_073128.pdf
To introduce an additional idea BA1002
In addition, another reason/ aspect/example, furthermore, moreover, besides, also http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162355&p=1065360
To introduce an opposite idea or contrast
Critical Essay Example
On the other hand, in contrast, in spite of, Although, still, nonetheless, instead, compare this http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162354&p=1063055
with, alternatively, otherwise, on the contrary, rather
To give an example
For example, for instance, an example of this is, a further instance of this is,
To list ideas in order of time
First, first of all, first and foremost, second, more important, most important, more
significantly, above all, most of all, concurrently, an additional Useful Links
To introduce an explanation or make a stronger statement Understanding the Assignment Question
In fact, indeed
To introduce a result http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162354&p=1064655
Accordingly, as a result, as a consequence, consequently, for these reasons, hence, therefore, Planning the assignment
thus
To point to evidence http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162354&p=1064656
It can be seen that, the evidence is that, in support of this Paragraph writing
To make a tentative statement
Studies suggest that, perhaps, it would seem that, it tends to be the case that, studies indicate
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Integrating evidence

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Hedging Expressions
It should be the case that….. Viewed in this way…… Editing
It might be suggested that…. There is every hope that…
It may be possible to obtain…. It is important to develop…. http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162354&p=1064659
It is useful to study……….. It is not known whether
Manchester Phrasebank
One cannot exclude from……. It is/it is not difficult to conclude from…
http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
References
Morley-Warner, T. (2009). Academic writing is…: A guide to writing in a university context. Sydney, Australia: CREA publications. Critical reading and note-taking
Redman, P. (2006). Good essay writing (3rd ed.) London, England: Open University Press.
Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (1981) Writing Academic English (2nd ed.) United States of America: Addison-Wesley Publishing. http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/c.php?g=162354&p=1064657