Studying at University - Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a kind of thinking in which you question, analyse, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write. The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos, meaning “able to judge or discern”.

Being 'critical' in academic work is different from simply being 'negative'. Rather, it involves developing a balanced assessment of an issue by examining and weighing up different perspectives. It is a claim or position supported by reasons and evidence. When developing such an argument, you need to think about your own and others' views on an issue by assessing their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Critical analysis is also a common marking criterion in university assessments.

Generally, critical thinking and problem-solving are attributes of university graduates that are highly regarded as twenty-first century capabilities by employers.

To learn more about academic integrity, select here.