Library Guides: Irish, Ulster Scots and Celtic Studies: Critical Thinking and Writing Skills

Video on Critical Thinking from David Sotir

Bloom's Taxonomy

Useful links

Critical Thinking, Writing Critically and other Writing Skills

There is an important difference between writing descriptively and using critical analysis in your writing. Here are some useful resources that may help you.

Developing Critical Arguments
Tutorial from Cardiff University, series of exercises, quizzes and instruction
Let's Get Critical! - University of York
Excellent practical series of guides explaining what critical thinking, reading and writing is - and how to do it yourself.
Critical Thinking - Leeds University
Part of Leeds University's Writing Skills guide. This section looks at thinking and writing critically in academic essays and assignments.
Public Library of Critical Thinking
Writing Critically and Structuring your Argument
Tutorial from Cardiff University consisting of quizzes, exercises and instruction on the differences between descriptive and critical writing
Academic Writing Skills - University of New England (Australia)

Avoiding Plagiarism - Paraphrasing
This link from MIT provides clear examples how you can paraphrase original text without falling foul of plagiarism rules
Paraphrasing for Beginners
This University College London page is a introductory look at basic techniques that can be used to successfully paraphrase text.
Academic Phrasebook - Manchester University
Examples of some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing.

Academic Writing Style - Cardiff University
Tutorial, with instruction, exercises and quizzes
Essay Writing: From Start to Finish - Manchester University
This tutorial takes a step by step look at planning, developing, writing and proofreading your work.
Essay and report writing skills - Open University
University of Perdue Online Writing Lab
Contains extensive style guides to APA, Chicago and MLA as well as writing guides for a range of uses. See General Writing, Subject-Specific Writing and Job Search Writing, in particular
Writing skills - University of Leeds
See particularly the sections on Different Types of Academic Writing, for guidance on e.g. Report Writing
The Final Chapter - University of Leeds
This is designed for students working on their dissertations/final year projects.
It contains valuable information on all aspects of extended research and writing.

Books on critical thinking

Stella Cottrell
Call Number: https://catalogue.library.ulster.ac.uk/items/1443791

ISBN: 9781137550507

Publication Date: 2017

This is an essential resource for students looking to refine their thinking, reading and writing skills. With clear explanations, relevant examples and plenty of exercises throughout, this book helps students to develop their analytical reasoning skills and apply them to a range of tasks including reading, note-making and writing.
Critical Thinking by Tom Chatfield
Call Number: https://catalogue.library.ulster.ac.uk/items/1471039

ISBN: 9781473947146

Publication Date: 2017

Do you need to demonstrate a good argument or find more evidence? Are you mystified by the comment "critical analysis needed?" Critical thinking is a set of techniques.. Author Tom Chatfield will show you how to sharpen your critical thinking by developing and practicing this specific set of skills, so you can... Spot an argument and understand why reasoning matters.
Critical Thinking by Tracy Bowell; Gary Kemp
Call Number: e-book

ISBN: 9781317677185

Publication Date: 2014

Key topics discussed include: core concepts in argumentation how language can serve to obscure or conceal the real content of arguments; how to distinguish argumentation from rhetoric how to avoid common confusions surrounding words such as 'truth', 'knowledge' and 'opinion' how to identify and evaluate the most common types of argument how to distinguish good reasoning from bad in terms of deductive validly and induction.