Critical thinking and developing your own voice

The ability to be a critical thinker means you can evaluate information and use it to develop, communicate and justify your own arguments – a sought after skill at university and essential to getting a good mark in your assessments, particularly in the final years of your degree.

At º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, you’ll be exposed to lots of different research that you will be expected to think critically about, and your lecturers will help you to develop these skills.

Demonstrating critical thinking means you are studying your degree at a deeper level, with a higher level of participation, which typically creates greater enjoyment of what you are learning.

If you are a critical thinker, you can:

  • Demonstrate objectivity
  • Present arguments
  • Identify relationships and patterns
  • Distinguish what information is reliable and unreliable

When reading information, consider the source you are using; when was it published? Who wrote it? Have they referenced high-quality sources? What do you think of their research methods? Is their evidence sufficient?

Develop questions around your reading and see if you can uncover any biases or strengths of the text. Evaluate the argument the author is presenting and reflect on whether you agree or disagree with it.

When writing your thoughts and ideas, you should organise your own arguments logically, ensuring that you back up any assertions with appropriate evidence (including references) and demonstrating that you have taken other points of view into account.

The more you deepen your understanding and knowledge over time, the more confident you will feel to challenge arguments and ideas made by others and be able to use these effectively in your own assessments.

Many students also credit reflection time as key to their success. Keeping a diary or notebook that logs your achievements, thoughts and ideas after attending your classes or submitting some work can really help to develop your self-confidence and motivation. It can also improve your skillset in developing your own voice, by finding time to be thoughtful and decide what you are passionate about and what you believe in.

Remember, your lecturers want to hear your voice and your ideas, not just a regurgitation of other people’s. By effectively stating your interpretation and understanding of any evidence you have used, you’ll likely gain higher marks and produce a stronger piece of work.