Undergraduate and graduate students question or reflect on the material presented through their knowledge and the core academic skills of critical thinking. Students working on homework and researching should be able to compose flawless work, which is helpful in many work situations.
This article discusses the definition of critical thinking and its function in academic writing. Academicpaperpros is an essay writing service.
Understanding About Critical Thinking
Critical thinking has several definitions, but according to Baer (1995), it means “drawing clear, reasoned conclusions.” Critical thinking is more than necessary in the standard, pessimistic sense.
Successful critical thinkers challenge received wisdom, reject unscientific or anecdotal evidence, and carefully consider every source of information. They are sharp and intelligent, able to assess the strength of an argument and reach prudent but fact-based decisions.
This is very important for academic students, as it helps them write essays without social or personal bias.
How Can One Develop Critical Thinking When Studying?
Learners must develop the ability to critically evaluate each source of information to establish its value before using it as a reference with the help of their tutors and fellow students. Students should thoroughly verify the credibility of a source before using a statistic, quote, or research study to support their position in an assignment or discussion. Such sources should depend on reliable data and must be free from bias in data analysis.
Low-quality sources will result in low assignment scores because the results are only as reliable as the original study material. Critical thinking naturally develops during academics as students learn to examine facts and analyze competing ideas.
The Role of Critical Thinking in Academic Writing
According to Irvin (2010), academic writing is “a form of assessment” demonstrating knowledge and skills in specific areas, such as reasoning, explanation, and presentation. Critical thinking is an essential component of academic writing.
Students can use it to demonstrate their understanding and skills, including assessment and analysis. Critical thinking skills are the best foundation for creating exceptional academic papers. Learning to reflect and write critically can help students succeed in their prerequisite courses and move quickly into undergraduate and graduate programs.
At Washington State University, students learn to write and think critically because doing so allows them to see things from different perspectives. According to the Institute, critical thinking in academic writing involves more than simply following a format; it involves more significant and intangible concepts rooted in principles and skills.
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Critical Thinking Helps to Understand Audience Expectations
Students get better at anticipating the audience for their essays (other students, parents, instructors, etc.) and what that audience will want or expect when they write more. Teachers must teach students to consider the needs of their audience, and over time, they will develop a toolkit of persuasive techniques for diverse audiences.
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Revision of Ideas in a New Way
Students are encouraged to reflect on their ideas and the revision process. Critical thinking in this process helps students re-read the draft and forces them to grapple with the concepts and considerations that were most important when they wrote it.
Students may gain new skills or knowledge that they can use in a later draft; this new understanding helps them revise their ideas in a new way. Students’ critical thinking and predictive reading skills advance when individuals engage in metacognitive practices anchored in the rewriting process.
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Collaboration With People and Learning New Ideas
Peer review, along with revision, is an essential part of critical thinking in the academic writing process that helps students develop an awareness of their audience. Students learn to evaluate their peers’ ideas, concerns, and evaluations when participating in peer review. The constructive criticism students receive from their classmates creates a sense of community and introduces them to other perspectives and ways of understanding writing.
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Helps in the Analysis and Use of Various Sources
Evaluating and using various sources is one task that demonstrates the value of critical thinking in academic writing. Most of the work involves asking questions about the source and reliability of the information. However, a thorough assessment of data validity and reliability is required.
It may be necessary to interview the general public and subject matter experts to get their opinions on the proposal to get more information. When writing, it’s important to discuss current trends using references that support your case and craft a thesis statement from other points of view.
You can get some ideas from other sources while improving your work. Summarizing, quoting, or paraphrasing can be used in your writing. When citing someone else’s work, follow the documentation rules. For example, the teacher provides the student with a list of subjects to study.
The student then researches using various methods and resources, including the library, the Internet, or conducting interviews. The student investigates the author’s qualifications, verifies the date of publication, edition, and publisher, and determines the journal’s level of popularity to assess the source.
The student then evaluates the content, including the target population, the extent of coverage, and user evaluation.
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Helps in Applying Newer Concepts
Another crucial role of critical thinking in academic writing is the application of concepts. Critical thinking is a mental exercise that helps us categorize, contrast, and relate ideas, objects, and events. A person can be influenced by adopting the cultural ideas in which they live. An idea can have multiple meanings for different people. For example, workshops and seminars have different meanings.
Workshops can be more general or tailored to a specific audience and span days or weeks. However, meetings are organized around a single topic and have a limited duration. As a result, academic writing must consider the context of the audience in this situation and use appropriate phrasing.
As you begin to focus on your research topics, Campbell, Huxman, and Burkholder (2015) suggest that you consider your audience and current events. The audience is essential because it influences what one should write.
Academic writing has a specific subject and a particular audience. The language used should be appropriate for the topic. For example, language that golfers can understand would be used in a topic that covers effective practice methods for becoming a golfer for the intended audience. If the target audience changes, such as becoming a wider public or a group of children, the writing style also changes.
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It helps in comprehending opinions.
Understanding arguments is another exercise that demonstrates the use of critical thinking in academic writing. Campbell, Huxman, and Burkholder (2015) emphasize the importance of considering each equation component. The student should be able to analyze the problem and provide all necessary details.
Sometimes, the discussion has to be narrowed down to a more relevant issue because the topic can be too broad and complex.
For example, global warming has too many effects to describe in detail. Since it has several consequences, it may require time to analyze and research. However, the argument may narrowly focus if it is limited to sea level rise due to global warming.
Critical thinking is an important skill to develop and practice to write well-balanced and researched academic documents. However, no one is born with essential thinking skills acquired and polished over time. As a student, you must read as much as possible,
comprehend the information according to your understanding, and then apply the same when writing. This will help you write and enhance your critical thinking skills, which are beneficial in both academic and professional careers.
