CRWT

Ms.Kimberly Clyne Dimalanta | Midterms

WEEK 7: The Nature of Critical Writing other writers without evaluating the arguments
and evidence they provide (University of
Reading and Writing are two macro-skills which are Leicester. Learning Development Centre, 2013)
related to each other.

– Critical and active reading is not just passive REMINDER: Apply caution and humility when
consumption of a text, rather the goal is to interpret and challenging established positions. Critical writers might
reflect upon what is read through writing and discuss it tentatively suggest an independent point of view, using
with others. such phrases as ‘It could be argued that...’; or ‘An
alternative viewpoint might suggest that...’.

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING AND CRITICAL WRITING

Descriptive Writing is fact-based. Examples include:

● Facts and figures about a particular issue.

● Description of a background to a case study.
● Details of an organization
● An account of how research was undertaken
● A summary of a sequence of events
● Descriptions of what happened in an
experiment.

'The most characteristic features of descriptive writing

are that it will describe something, but will not go beyond WEEK 8: Academic Writing
an account of what appears to be there' (University of
Leicester. Learning Development Centre, 2013). Academic writing differs from other types of writing
such as journalistic or creative writing. In most forms of
academic writing a detached and objective approach is
Critical Writing is more complex, and involves more required.
discussion, analysis and evaluation than does – In an academic writing assignment, you will start by
descriptive writing, examples of critical writing activities asking a good question, then find and analyze answers
include: to it, and choose your own best answer(s) to discuss in
your paper.
● Your paper will share your thoughts and findings and
● Engaging with evidence justify your answer with logic and evidence.
● Open minded and objective enquiry – So the goal of academic writing is not to show off
● Presenting reasons to dispute a particular everything that you know about your topic, but rather to
finding show that you understand and can think critically about
● Providing an alternative approach your topic.
● Recognizing the limitations of evidence: either
your evidence or the evidence provided by PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC WRITING
others
● Thinking around a specific problem 1. Clear Purpose
– The goal of your paper is to answer the question you
- Is an involvement in an academic debate. It posed as your topic. Your question gives you a purpose.
requires a refusal to accept the conclusions of – The most common purposes in academic writing are to
persuade, analyze/synthesize, and inform.

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 – There will be no unnecessary, irrelevant, unimportant,
Persuasive Purpose or contradictory information (Your paper will likely include
– In persuasive academic writing, the purpose is to get contradictory or alternative points of view, but you will
your readers to adopt your answer to the question. respond to and critique them to further strengthen your
– So you will choose one answer to your question, own point of view).
support your answer using reason and evidence, and try
to change the readers’ point of view about the topic. 5. Logical Organization
Persuasive writing assignments include argumentative – Academic writing follows a standard organizational
and position papers. pattern. For academic essays and papers, there is an
introduction, body, and conclusion.
Analytical Purpose – The introduction catches the readers’ attention,
– In analytical academic writing, the purpose is to provides background information, and lets the reader
explain and evaluate possible answers to your question, know what to expect. It also has the thesis statement.
choosing the best answer(s) based on your own criteria. – The body paragraphs support the thesis statement.
– Analytical assignments often investigate causes, – Each body paragraph has one main point to support
examine effects, evaluate effectiveness, assess ways to the thesis, which is named in a topic sentence.
solve problems, find the relationships between various – Each point is then supported in the paragraph with
ideas, or analyze other people’s arguments. logical reasoning and evidence. Each sentence connects
to the one before and after it.
Informative Purpose – The conclusion summarizes the paper’s thesis and
– In informative academic writing, the purpose is to main points and shows the reader the significance of the
explain possible answers to your question, giving the paper’s findings.
readers new information about your topic.
– This differs from an analytical topic in that you do not 6. Strong Support
push your viewpoint on the readers, but rather try to – Each body paragraph will have sufficient and relevant
enlarge the readers’ view. support for the topic sentence and thesis statement. This
support will consist of facts, examples, description,
2. Audience Engagement personal experience, and expert opinions and
– As with all writing, academic writing is directed to a quotations.
specific audience in mind. Unless your instructor says
otherwise, consider your audience to be fellow students 7. Clear and Complete Explanations
with the same level of knowledge as yourself. – This is very important! As the writer, you need to do all
– You will have to engage them with your ideas and the work for the reader. The reader should not have to
catch their interest with your writing style. Imagine that think hard to understand your ideas, logic, or
they are also skeptical, so that you must use the organization.
appropriate reasoning and evidence to convince them of
your ideas. 8. Effective Use of Research
– Your paper should refer to a variety of current,
3. Clear Point of View high-quality, professional and academic sources. You will
– Academic writing, even that with an informative use your research to support your own ideas.
purpose, is not just a list of facts or summaries of
sources. 9. Correct APA Style
– Although you will present other people’s ideas and – All academic papers should follow the guidelines of the
research, the goal of your paper is to show what you American Psychological Association.
think about these things.
– Your paper will have and support your own original
idea about the topic. This is called the thesis statement,
and it is your answer to the question.

4. Single Focus
– Every paragraph (even every sentence) in your paper
will support your thesis statement.
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 ● Main idea of the paper. ONE idea. The entire paper is
based on this statement.
● Your opinion or point of view. The thesis statement is
not a fact nor a question, but your view of the topic and
what you want to say about it.
● Purpose of the paper. From the thesis, it should be
clear what the paper will do.
● Answer to the research question. A sk yourself the
question and then answer it with your thesis. Is it truly an
answer? (if not, change the question or the answer!)
● An element of surprise. This means that the thesis is
interesting, engaging, and perhaps not so expected.
● Clarity. It should be understandable after one reading
and have no mistakes.

Outlining
– A basic outline is your first attempt to organize the
ideas of your paper. It will help you focus your research
and consider the order of your ideas.

WRITE, REVISE, EDIT, PROOFREAD.

WEEK 9: Writing in the Workplace

10. Writing Style

– Your writing should be clear, concise, and easy to Importance of writing skills in business and
read. It is also very important that there are no grammar, workplace
spelling, punctuation, or vocabulary mistakes in ● Writing skills ensure effective business
academic writing. Errors convey to the reader that you communication .
do not care. Business correspondence helps a company connect with
partners and stakeholders. If a text is poorly written and
structured, the message may be misinterpreted and may
THE WRITING PROCESS lead to loss of business transaction or even to
permanent loss of partnership.
Brainstorm ● Writing skills make the difference between
- Write down all the possible answers to your question, "good" and "bad" employees
and write down all the information, opinions, and Crafting your own resume and cover letter may pose a
questions you have about your topic. real challenge, especially when you have to tailor fit
them to the position and industry that you are trying to
Choose a topic apply for. Furthermore, a document filled with
- Think about things related to your interest. grammatical errors will not impress anyone in the
- Narrow your ideas from subjects to topics. business organization, which you need to secure the job.
- Write your topic as a question. ● You demonstrate your intelligence with
quality writing
Research A few grammatical or punctuation errors may seem
- What you must remember is that “doing good research minor, but people do notice them even when they do not
takes time.” Do not expect to do research once and find show any reaction and give you feedback. They tend to
everything that you need for your paper. think that those who do not write well are less intelligent
than those who do. Do not let anyone dismiss you
Discover your thesis statement because of your poor writing skills. A few minutes of
- A good thesis statement usually includes:
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proofreading can improve the way you are perceived,
prompting everyone to take you more seriously. 4. Pique the Reader’s Interest – One way to do this is
● Good writers are credible to show readers how the information will impact them:
People with advanced writing skills are perceived as “Let them know upfront why the topic you are addressing
more reliable and trustworthy. Producing flawless is of interest to them.”
documents will also make you look more credible than 5. Reach Your Audience – To effectively reach your
those who produce subpar quality. audience, consider the terminology you use and the
● Writing skills help to keep good records information you include. Using known terms and clearly
Information that is communicated orally is not kept for explaining information allows the reader to better
long. That is the reason why students take notes of understand the document.
lectures. As scholars use their notes to write essays, you
can apply your records in your work. Keeping a record of 6. Always Proofread – Finishing the last sentence is not
your writing, especially when you belong to industries the end of the writing process because professional
related to creativity and concepts, can also help you writing is reader-, not writer-, centered. Be certain that
build a reliable portfolio that may be used for career your audience understands the topic.
advancement.
● You boost your professional confidence WEEK 10: Strategies in Critical Writing
When written communication leads a business to
another successfully completed project, you become ANALYSIS, the basis of many other strategies, is the
more confident and inspired, not to mention more eligible process of breaking something into its parts and putting
for promotion. Who does not like to advance in the the parts back together so that you can better
career ladder? understand the whole.
● You promote yourself and your career
The better your writing skills are, the more responsibility In synthesizing information, you must bring together all
you will be given. That is great for you and your future your opinions and researched evidences in support of
career success. your thesis. You integrate the relevant facts, statistics,
● Business writing builds a solid web presence expert opinions, and whatever can directly be observed
Business is all about presentation. Owners aim to set up with your own opinion and conclusions to persuade your
an effective online presence, especially nowadays that audience that your thesis is correct. Indeed, you use
the marketing game has turned digital. It helps potential SYNTHESIS in supporting a thesis and assembling a
customers discover the company and its products. paper.

How to write a synthesis?

THE WRITING PROCESS
• Identify the appropriate texts to use. You may find it
1. Plan – Always start by thinking about the purpose of helpful to use the notes and references in one
the communication. The information and points you want appropriate source to find other relevant sources.
to present in your writing should target the specific
audience you try to inform or convince. • Read the sources carefully in relation to your purpose.
Take notes or annotate your own copies to be able to
2. Design an Outline – You need to outline your goals retrieve relevant information easily.
and the points that you want to write about to achieve
those goals. List down everything that you deem • Think about the connections among the various
relevant and along the way, you might have to add or sources. Do any of the sources agree or disagree on any
delete some points. points? Does one source provide background for
another? Does one source take up where another leaves
3. Research and Fact-Check to Ensure Depth of of? Does one source provide an example of an idea
Information – The depth and amount of detail you discussed in another source? Do any common ideas or
include are also important. Sometimes, lots of detail is viewpoints run through all the sources?
necessary, while in other cases the focus should be on
getting to the point quickly; this decision depends on • Based on the pattern of connections you have seen
your reader. among the various sources, develop an overall point or
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conclusion to serve as the organizing thesis of your action.
synthesis.
•Reason with someone to get them to change their mind
• Develop a plan for presenting the various parts of the or their practice.
information in a unified way.

EVALUATION, In applying this strategy, you first

establish the criteria you willuse to evaluate your subject,
apply them to the specific parts of the subject you are
judging, and draw conclusions about whether your
subject meets those criteria.

• In the process of evaluating a subject, you will usually

be called upon to render some analysis and synthesis
and even use persuasive or argumentative techniques.
PERSUASION is aimed at changing the beliefs or
opinions of the readers or at encouraging them to accept
the credibility or possibility of your opinion or belief.

You can make your writing persuasive by responding to

the needs and demands of your readers. When you
keep them in mind, you can identify with their points of
view and attitudes. Use your style and tone to show
respect for your reader. Offer your reader arguments and
What makes a GOOD ARGUMENT?
evidences to support your opinion or belief.
A good argument should be convincing. You should find
WEEK 11: Writing an Argument
yourself believing the claim, or at least finding the
conclusion reasonable. This entails several things: ERA
The term ‘______’ is used in everyday language to
describe a dispute or disagreement between two or
•Evidence or reasons that are relevant to the claim
more people. However, within written academic work,
the presence of an ______ does not always indicate a
•Reasons which provide sufficient grounds to lead us to
disagreement.
accept
the claim. These are called the acceptability, relevance,
What is an ACADEMIC ARGUMENT?
and
An argument can be used to:
grounds of an argument. If an argument satisfies these
three
•Support something we think has merit – a position, a
conditions, it is likely to be a good argument.
point of view, a
program, an object.
•Acceptable or reasonable premises (likely to be true)

•Persuade someone that something would be beneficial

How do I write an argument?
to do (or not to
do) – a course of action.
•Ensure you understand the question. What do you have
to do?
•Convince someone that something is true, likely to be
What issues do you need to cover?
true or probable –
a fact, an outcome.
•Do your research. What do we know about this issue?
What do
•Show someone the problems or difficulties with
the researchers say? What are the debates, the
something – a theory, an
problems?
approach, a course of
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•Go back to the question and consider your answer,
given your
research and what you have learnt. This will be your
claim. Make it
very clear what position or point of view you are taking.
• How will the evidence from your research support your
case?

- Integrate supporting evidence by quoting and/or

paraphrasing.

- Acknowledge counter arguments/counter evidence.

- Use linking words and discourse markers to draw

connections
between your argument
and the evidence and/or counter evidence.

•Argue for this position in an academic context. Consider

your claim
and supporting premises and draw out the implications:

- Why am I saying this here?

- What point am I trying to make?
- What does this evidence show?

•Make sure your essay has a clear, logical structure with

relevant
points which lead to the conclusion. It should be easy for
your
readers to follow where you are heading and why.

2 Types of writing an ARGUMENT

1. TOULMIN

2. ROGERIAN