1. How to get started with Critical writing for Law
Presentation by
Library Services &
Academic Success Centre
Learning Services: UWE Library
2018/2019

2. Lecturer feedback Not enough analysis Your writing is too descriptive
You make some good points but you don’t develop your argument

3. Learning Objectives
At the end of the session we hope that you’ll feel more confident about:
What it means to be a critical thinker
Distinguishing between descriptive and critical writing
Identifying the language of evaluation used in critical writing
Academic skills are real world skills:
Making sound decisions on behalf of your client/employer
Seeing the bigger picture

4. What is Critical Thinking?
What is it not?
Image from:

5. Asking questions
- the right questions
Taking a step back – not believing everything, but not disbelieving everything
Being curious and reflective
Going in search of evidence and assessing what you find
Not just finding flaws
Constructing your own independent point of view

6. Who are judges to tell us who we can leave our money to in our wills!
Mail Online opinion,
Max Hastings
Activity 1

7. What do you think? Why has Max Hastings written about the issue.
Is the Daily Mail a reliable scholarly resource?
What are the policy considerations surrounding this area of the law?
How does the issue fit into the constitution of the United Kingdom?
Reasons for which you agree and disagree with the statement.
Overall do you agree or disagree with the statement
What scholarly materials would you use to support your arguments?

8. Critical Thinkers need to….
….ask lots of questions, use a variety of sources, consider different perspectives and think of different possibilities (“I agree/disagree for a number of reasons but I’d need more information before I gave a definitive answer.”)
Green tick image from Pixabay

9. critical reading
critical writing
critical thinking

10. Question mark image from Pixabay
The CRAAP method
Guide to CRAAP in your handout
Currency
Relevance
Authority
Accuracy
Purpose
Question mark image from Pixabay

11. Why is critical reading important?
Rights versus responsibilities: adult children, parental wealth and contested wills.
Heather Conway
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 2017
Vol. 39, No.34,
Activity 2

12. Descriptive or critical?
In pairs, discuss what you think are the differences between descriptive and critical writing.
Apply the CRAAP method to Heather Conway’s article
Which parts of Heather Conway’s article provide description?
Which parts engage in critical analysis?

13. Descriptive or critical?
States what happened
Identifies the significance
States what something is like
Evaluates (judges the value) strengths and weaknesses
Gives the story so far
Weighs one piece of information against another
States the order in which things happened
Makes reasoned judgements
Explains what a theory says
Shows why something is relevant or suitable
Explains how something works
Indicates why something will work (best)
[Adapted from Hills, D (2011) Critical Thinking. Richmond: Trotman Publishing

14. Evaluative language is useful for …
“…and it was ruled by Lord Justice Blogs in Joe v Slogs that…”
Introducing general criticism (positive and negative)
Introducing the critical position of particular writers
Offering constructive suggestions
Introducing questions, problems and limitations in an argument/theory
“However, Smith has questioned the reasoning behind the decision because…”
“It may be useful to compare decision to the earlier ruling of Katie v Price…”
“This stance has since been challenged…”

15. Evaluative Language - Exercise
Identify the evaluative language in the following sentences….
Example: A seminal ruling has been made voiding UK recognition of overseas marriages involving a minor.
The search for a unified definition of the human rights is unnecessary, argues Smith (2015).
Parliamentary responses to rape victims are inadequate, Jo (2013) has warned.
In 1997, Bloggs published a significant piece of research on the free movement of people
In his seminal work, Joe (2017) argues that the judiciary have applied the law incorrectly, revealing flaws in how they interpret Parliament’s intention.

16. Finally... We hope that you are now feeling more confident about:
What it means to be a critical thinker
Distinguishing between descriptive and critical writing
Identifying the language of evaluation used in critical writing

17. Help available from library
Writing for University workbook
Online advice and tutorials: Writing skills
Online advice and tutorials: Critical thinking skills
Books and eBooks: Writing critically
Critical thinking and writing resources list
Ask a Librarian

18. Library workshops