English-Literature Essay Sample

Running head: CRITICAL THINKING IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND PROBLEM

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Critical Thinking in Academic Writing and Problem Solving

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Institutional Affiliation

CRITICAL THINKING IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND PROBLEM

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Critical Thinking in Academic Writing and Problem Solving

Introduction

Being more than a concept, critical thinking is a real life model on which one can build

academic writing and problem-solving skills which will ultimately sum up to skills which are

highly valuable in the classroom and even beyond. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze,

evaluate and interpret arguments and ideas. Evaluation and interpretations of communication,

observations and other sources of information are required in critical thinking. Being an active

process, critical thinking entails the receiving, processing, analyzing and careful evaluation of

ideas and information. This is done by finding evidence and reasons which further substantiate the

information which is gathered. On many occasions, critical thinking is misunderstood by many

who consider it as criticism (Wentworth et al., 2017). This fact, however, is not the case since

critical thinking has its focus on following logical steps to reach a conclusion which is appropriate

and decisive.

An individual can gain various benefits by grasping the concepts of critical thinking

because he or she will be able to analyze the way of thinking while presenting clear evidence for

personal ideas, rather than just accepting reasoning at an individual level as enough proof. That

said, critical thinking is all about an individual’s decisions where according to Choi, critical

thinking is self-corrective, self-monitored, self-disciplined and self-directed thinking (Choi et al.,

2014). Critical thinking also entails problem-solving, communication skills and the commitment

to overcome the egocentric and socio-centric nature of people. Therefore, critical thinking is very

effective in solving problems in the classroom and even the situations which bring about real world

problems and it is important for students to master this valuable skill. This practicality sees to it

CRITICAL THINKING IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND PROBLEM

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that on its own, critical thinking can ensure that reflection, analysis, and planning is applied to any

scenario in life.

Academic Writing

Academic writing is the argumentative and expository prose which is utilised by

researchers, faculty members and students in universities to share concrete information regarding

a particular topic. Essentially, academic writing needs to be objective and very precise where the

information shared is impersonal and semi-formal. But in simple terms, academic writing entails

sharing information which indicates that an individual has learnt what he or she was being taught.

The sceptical enquiry is the sense in which a subject matter is reviewed by academic writing

(Arends, 2014).

Critical thinking is also important in deductive reasoning especially in academic writing

because deductive reasoning is what sees to it that an academic paper is written. This is because

deductive reasoning ensures that a decision is arrived upon especially on the most important

aspects of the topic. Deductive reasoning ensures that broad ideas are understood in a logical way

because the topic begins broadly as it narrows itself so as to reach a specific statement. When

writing an academic paper, similar inferences have to be drawn to create a thesis or clear

conclusions for example if an academic paper is about food security, a student might be required

to make an examination of national policies on food safety. If food insecurity is caused by climate

change, what has the nation done to address the issue of climate change and food insecurity? That

is thinking critically (Facione et al., 2015).

Critical thinking is relevant in the new knowledge economy this is because the knowledge

economy worldwide is dependent on and catalyzed by information technology. The new

knowledge economy is important to academic writing because it is there that written information

CRITICAL THINKING IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND PROBLEM

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is derived. A student tasked with academic writing has to have the ability to accommodate and

adapt to change effectively and as quickly as possible. The current global economy has its demands

on intellectual capabilities which are flexible together with the ability to make an analysis of

various information while ensuring that different sources of knowledge are integrated when it

comes to writing a good academic paper (Halpern, 2014). Perfect critical thinking skills promote

the thinking skills mentioned and it is very critical in classwork which is undergoing continuous

changes and growths.

Critical thinking in academic writing is relevant in decision making because it ensures that

the most useful and the best choice is made among other alternatives. Critical thinking ensures that

a decision is made on the topic of the dissertation, the organization of the essay, how the research

is conducted and the determination of the relevance of the information collected (Jhaveri, 2016).

Critical thinking for academic writing and problem solving is relevant because it ensures that the

best ways of making an argument of the opinions are chosen. For example, a student might be

given a task to write an academic paper which is an essay on ethical considerations in politics. He

decides to write about the financing of political campaigns but what essay type should he write,

expository, persuasive or argumentative? So critical thinking comes in to help in the grasping of

the topic, understanding what it means and the effects it might have on the writer.

Presentation skills and language both of which are important in academic writing are

greatly enhanced by critical thinking. When well utilized, critical thinking can ensure that

whenever an individual thinks, he or she does so in a clear and systematic manner such that the

ways he or she expresses his ideas can be greatly improved. Apart from helping in the way an

individual learns how to make an analysis of the logical structures within texts, critical thinking

also ensures that the abilities necessary for comprehension are improved (Jhaveri, 2016).

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Critical thinking is also relevant because it promotes creativity in academic writing. So as

to achieve coming up with a solution considered creative, the ideas suggested must not only be

new but must also be very useful and relevant to the problem it seeks to address. Therefore the

relevance of critical thinking is that it plays a major role in the evaluation of new ideas, selection

of the best ideas and courses of action and modification of suggested ideas. Self-reflection also

requires critical thinking because living a perfect life entails the justification and reflection of

personal decisions and values (Davis et al., 2016). It is here that critical thinking comes in to

provide the necessary tools for self-evaluation as a process.

Critical thinking as a skill also helps in the improvement of performance in terms of

academics though writing. Based on various research done by many psychologists, students or

scholars who have the skills of analysing and making a critique of ideas have the ability to create

connections across many different disciplines, appreciate knowledge as being useful and easy to

apply to everyday life and also develop a clear understanding of relevant content on a level which

is long-lasting and deeper. Students with critical thinking skills turn out to be learners who are

self-directed and independent. Therefore, these particular students have little reliance on lectures

and teachers to give guidance and instructions on how to do particular tasks or handle given

problems. According to Arends, students develop the ability to assess their own individual styles

of learning, weaknesses and strengths while giving them the right intellectual tools to steer their

own education (Arends, 2014).

Critical thinking skills ensure that a student can handle reasoning tests with complex

mathematical problems. Entrance exams are meant to make an examination of a student’s critical

thinking abilities. This can be seen where the sections of the GRE examinations which include the

verbal and analytical reasoning skills are basically straight out examinations which are founded on

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the basis of making an assessment of critical thinking skills (Goetsch et al., 2014). Written analysis

and communication test which is in the IIMA’s entrance exams second phase is also an

examination which seeks to make an assessment of a student’s critical thinking skills.

Currently, one of the core criteria for excellence and success in institutions of higher

learning include the ability to simultaneously think independently and logically. Many times,

students, researchers and faculty are requested to make a presentation of papers on liberal arts or

their own subject matter. It is here that clear understanding of critical thinking skills ensures that

they correctly outline their papers in a logical and coherent manner. Critical thinking in this

scenario also sees to it that the students, researchers and faculty easily reason and present their

own thoughts in a manner which is persuasive and well organized in academic writing

(Underwood, 2015).

Problem Solving

At work every day, problems are at the centre and they come in from both outside and

inside the office. The problems experienced at work often vary in complexity and even more on

what can be done to counter them. The role of a manager is finding ways to solve problems which

emerge in any organization. The success of any given intervention towards a problem is solely

dependent on the approach taken to solve the problem and therefore critical thinking has to be

employed so as to fully address a problem which is being faced in any organization, government,

society and even family. So to solve a problem there are critical steps which have to be taken and

they include definition of the problem, coming up with contingencies, evaluating the contingency

plans, implementing solutions (Facione et al., 2015). When these steps are followed, it can be said

that one has implemented critical thinking to ensure a given problem is solved.

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When it comes to problem-solving, critical thinking is seen as the basis of science and a

society which is liberal, democratic and fair. Science often entails the critical utilization of

reasoning in the confirmation of theories and experimentation. Essentially, so as to ensure that a

given liberal society functions in a proper manner, citizens of that particular society or country

have to critically think about the issues affecting the society so that they themselves can make

judgements which are well informed in matters which regard to good governance, getting rid of

prejudice and biases in terms of gender, sexuality, religion, educational level, and occupation

(Facione et al., 2015).

Critical thinking also ensures that an individual has the ability to make a clear distinction

between opinion and facts. Apart from that, critical thinking sees to it that an individual has the

ability to examine a problem from all sides and perspective in that he or she can then make

inferences which are rational and even ensure that the same individual withholds his or her

personal biases or judgment. A critical thinker who is rational is always a voice of reason especially

when there is a mass panic or hysteria. According to Roosevelt, there is nothing to fear except fear

itself. Therefore an individual with critical thinking skills has the necessary skills to make a

consideration of all available and possible options so as to reach a given conclusion and come up

with a way of solving a given problem.

In a university setting and professional contexts in which graduands find themselves after

attending institutions of higher learning, critical thinking is highly relevant and valued because it

is part and parcel of continuous lifelong learning. This is because of the fact that critical thinking

helps an individual think creatively and in a wider perspective. In higher education, an individual

is expected to think critically because it sums up to development of judgment, evaluation, and

abilities which are very much needed for solving problems.

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When faced with a problem, an individual with critical thinking skills always has a

tendency to remain calm because most of the time he is very sure that what he or she thinks or says

is right. These particular individuals are always unlikely to be tricked or scammed because the way

they approach issues is always with some level of skepticism. Those without these skills often

make an assumption that all they see or hear is nothing but the truth regardless of source of the

information (Emilia, 2016). What is interesting to note is that people who think critically make a

consideration of all available options before they make a decision on the action they plan to take.

For example, if the most important factor is time, they usually make a consideration of the fastest

and easiest method of reaching a given goal. Basically, they always try to ensure efficiency in the

activities they are engaged in.

With critical thinking comes another skill of self-awareness and individuals with critical

thinking skills always try to understand the existing difference between an emotional response and

rational thought. The rational thought is based on cautious and careful consideration of options

while emotional response has its basis on biases on a personal level. A critical thinker always has

the knowledge that emotions cloud reasoning and it is here that he or she seek to clearly understand

his or her own perspective so that he can also consider other’s perspective so that he or she can

make a conclusion which has its basis on facts and not emotional feelings.

Currently, in the work environment, very many employers are on the lookout for employees

with excellent communication and thinking skills. This is because currently, academic skills have

little or no relevance because the employees with critical thinking skills can learn faster, solve

problems, think in a creative manner, collect and make an analysis of the information in the most

meaningful way possible. What can be observed in the job markets of the twenty-first Century is

that most of the most paying jobs entail critical thinking, for example, the generation of ideas

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which are effective and making important decisions. During interviews, applicants are asked

questions by interviewers which test their prowess in critical thinking. Apart from playing a big

role in acquiring a job, critical thinking skills also ensure that an employee is promoted once his

problem-solving skills are noticed by the employer.

People who have critical thinking skills will consistently live rationally because they fully

understand the ideas between logical connections where they will be relying on reason and not

emotion. As a critical thinker, an individual has the ability to understand what transpired while

using the information gathered or given to solve problems. Because critical thinking involves

identification, construction, and evaluation of a problem, an individual can use this skill to enhance

academic writing and increase the speed of solving any problem. With this skill also, an individual

will have the ability to see and take up as many possibilities as he can whereby it helps the person

develop a positive attitude towards gaining new knowledge. For example, an autistic person

without critical thinking skills will always be isolated and view learning with negativity but with

critical thinking, he or she can be able to manage his daily routine as per his own needs while

ignoring the activities of others.

Conclusion

Critical thinking skills ensure that problem-solving skills are developed. For example, if a

person is always stressed he or she will be more inclined to be defensive against threats perceived.

This is because when the brain is under stress, creativity is eliminated because nothing new will

be formulated in the mind because it is already on shut down. In the university setting, lectures are

looking for critical thinking skills in university students, especially through examinations,

presentations, essays, and reports. It is here that a student with good critical thinking skills will go

beyond a simple description and ensure the evaluation of an assigned problem by weighing the

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advantages and the disadvantages of each argument which is made. This skill goes ahead to give

an intellectual approach which enables one to make a selection from relevant and available

information which is most relevant, credible and up to date.critical thinking is important to

academic writing and problem-solving. This is because if well implemented, this skill will ensure

the uniqueness of the written content in learning institutions as well as the solution to the problem

in work and in the society. Each day people come face to face with problems that need to be solved

and academic writing which requires submission and therefore both problem solving and decision

making go hand in hand to ensure that critical thinking skills are used to reduce the difficulty of

making decisions. What is important to note is that the main reason for having critical thinking is

to ensure that an understanding is achieved, viewpoints are evaluated and problems are solved.

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Reference

Arends, R. (2014). Learning to teach. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Choi, E., Lindquist, R., & Song, Y. (2014). Effects of problem-based learning vs. traditional

lecture on Korean nursing students' critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-directed

learning. Nurse education today, 34(1), 52-56.

Davis, K. A., Zorwick, M. L. W., Roland, J., & Wade, M. M. (Eds.). (2016). Using debate in the

classroom: encouraging critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Routledge.

Emilia, E. (2016). STUDENTS’CRITICAL THINKING IN WRITING A THESIS USING THE

TRANSITIVITY SYSTEM. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 17(2).

Facione, P., & Gittens, C. A. (2015). Think critically. Pearson.

Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2014). Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper

Saddle River, NJ: pearson.

Halpern, D. F. (2014). Critical thinking across the curriculum: A brief edition of thought &

knowledge. Routledge.

Jhaveri, A. D. (2016). Developing critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary writing through an

ESP Course within a liberal education framework: a critical discourse analysis approach.

In RELC International Conference.

McPeck, J. E. (2016). Critical thinking and education. Routledge.

Price, B., & Harrington, A. (2015). Critical thinking and writing for nursing students. Learning

Matters.

Underwood, M. J. (2015). Searching for commonalities in the teaching of critical thinking skills,

from Masters’ to sixth form to primary.

CRITICAL THINKING IN ACADEMIC WRITING AND PROBLEM

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Wentworth, D. K., & Whitmarsh, L. (2017). Thinking Like a Psychologist Introductory

Psychology Writing Assignments: Encouraging Critical Thinking and Resisting

Plagiarism. Teaching of Psychology, 0098628317727909.

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