Getting critical

This concise, no-nonsense guide shows students how to adopt a critical approach in order to unlock their academic potential. It explains: - what 'getting critical' means - why students need to adopt a critical approach - how students can integrate critical analysis into their research, reading and writing Each succinct chapter is visually engaging and informative, and includes plenty of snippets of real students' work to show readers what good critical writing looks like. This 3rd edition has been updated throughout, and now contains new chapters on getting critical with numbers and critical appraisal, fresh examples from a wider range of assignments and more STEM examples. Getting Critical is an invaluable resource for all students who are required to write essays, reports and other pieces of extended writing as part of their course. It is also an ideal text to be used in conjunction with study skills programmes and critical thinking modules at Higher Education and Further Education level. Cover Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 Getting a critical mindset 1 Getting strategic 2 Getting critical with assessment 3 The stairway to critical thinking Part 2 Getting critical inresearch and reading 4 A critical approach to reading lists 5 A critical search online 6 But is it any use? Evaluating your sources 7 Getting critical with numbers Catrin Radcliffe 8 To read or not to read? A critical decision 9 A strategic approach to reading 10 Critical reading and criticalappraisal Part 3 Getting critical in writing 11 Answer the question! 12 Writing paragraphs: a critical skill 13 Writing for a critical reader Part 4 Critical steps 14 Using frameworks for criticalanalysis 15 Stepping up the stairwayto critical thinking Conclusion: becoming critical References Useful sources Index "Students need to think critically about what they read or hear. This fully-updated and accessible guide shows students what being 'critical' in their work means, and how to bring that 'critical' dimension into all the work they do. It addresses the need and the skills of being critical in relation to reading and writing and is ideal for students at any level"-- Provided by publisher