what is the critical argument in a research paper
- “healthy scepticism … but not cynicism;
- confidence … but not ‘cockiness’ or arrogance;
- judgement which is critical … but not dismissive;
- opinions … without being opinionated;
- careful evaluation of published work … not serial shooting at random targets;
- being ‘fair’: assessing fairly the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s ideas and writing … without prejudice; and
- making judgements on the basis of considerable thought and all the available evidence … as opposed to assertions without reason.”
When you engage in critical writing you are developing your own academic voice within your subject. Wellington et al. (2005, p.84) offer some suggestions for distinguishing between the academic and the non-academic voice. They suggest that the academic voice will involve:
If you’re writing one on a book, play or poem, read it at least once. If you’re writing about a film, watch it a few times. As you read or watch, take notes:
A thesis statement should be a strong opinion that opens itself to opposition. For example, “His adaptation of the original play to suit the cinema along with his masterfully haunting scenes make Orson Welles’ Macbeth the best film version of the Shakespeare play.” Someone could offer strong objections to that statement, which makes it a good thesis. Note that the statement is strong throughout. If you use the word “arguably the best film…”, it takes away from its strength.
NOTE: Use the same bibliographic citation format as you would for any bibliography, works cited or reference list. It will follow a standard documentation style such as MLA or APA.
The review should begin with a complete citation of the article. For example:
Still, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind when it comes to an argumentative thesis statement.
Instead you might write:
Explain everything. Do not assume the reader knows a particular detail or fact. Describe technical terms and abbreviations fully.
Steps to perform critical analysis
References:
http://www.essaytigers.com/how-write-critical-essay
http://guides.library.queensu.ca/introduction-research/writing/critical
http://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/argumentative-thesis/
http://essaypro.com/blog/critical-analysis-essay/
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/thesis-statement-examples.html