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Critical writing

When writing at university, you are often instructed to 'be critical', but what does this mean? The first thing to know is that it isn't about saying something is bad. Instead, think of it as being being a critic of the evidence and explaining what you think it shows - and why this is relevant to the piece of work you are undertaking.

This site will explain what critical writing is, highlight the differences between descriptive and critical writing, help you decide a position and write about it as part of a persuasive argument. It will also consider where your voice exists in those arguments and how to incorporate alternative viewpoints.

Critical writing workshops

Printable guide

A single page printable guide with our top tips for critical thinking. It looks at both critical reading and critical writing.

Click on the link above or the image to download the PDF.

External critical writing resources

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