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Critical Thinking Essay: Ingredients for Your Paper

By Ann71

Critical thinking should not be confused with negative thinking. All you need to write a critical thinking essay is to objectively evaluate the various aspects of theory or artwork under analysis. And here's the easiest way to do it.

Critical Thinking Essay: Ingredients for Your Paper

Critical Thinking Essay Format

The first thing you should know is that this type of assignment has a number of format requirements:

  1. Outline your position in a thesis statement. Briefly state what you think of your topic. You may want to write or revise this part after you complete the rest of this project.
  2. Give a detailed argumentation for your position in the main body of your essay. Start a new paragraph to shed light on a new aspect. Here's what these sections can discuss:
    • the structure of the work;
    • the combination of different elements;
    • the author's style;
    • the connections with other works (articles, theories etc.);
    • special language devices or persuasion tactics used by the author.
  3. Repeat your major claim using different wording and briefly restate your arguments.

Topics for Your Critical Thinking Essay

If you need some decent ideas for your project, feel free to get started with any of the following questions:

  • What are the main strengths and weaknesses of the work under analysis?
  • What do I know of other works and achievements of this author?
  • What would I change in this work and why?
  • Can the historical context change understanding of this work?
  • Has this work had influence on any other works?
  • Does the author consider the possible counterarguments to his/her position?
  • Does the logical structure influence the readers' perception in any way?
  • What can be read 'between the lines' of the text? Is there any hidden meaning?
  • Which one (or a couple of) details change the meaning of the text in whole?

So, hopefully these prompts will help you start a sample based on critical thinking of your own. You already know how to start your paper. So, what are you waiting for?


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