The Context of Critical Analysis

We Call See what this distinction between summary and means in practice by looking at an extract from one of the logical sources that the student herself used in her essay

The book anthropologists Drucker and Heizer, who believe primary function of the potlatch is to promote social integration : have chosen an extract in which the authors deal with a , view to their own argument.

As you read, notice the way the authors use facts and ideal : argue their case. Notice how they go beyond mere comparison : ­ contrast and make judgements about the value of the competing in terpretation, pointing out its strengths and weaknesses mate purpose of their criticism, of course, is to prove that their own interpretation is the most satisfactory one.

We suggest you proceed in the same way as before:

Read only the text in the first reading; then go bu, -. beginning and read again, this time stopping to tu- : of the comments and key words set out in the inn,; (See extract on pages SS-58.)

Beginning with the words `A different interpretation . . .' and Drucker and Heizer's text the section beginning An importan part of Codere's thesis . . .' Look quickly at those passages now to remind yourself of their content and then examine the analysis on page 59.

As you can see at a glance the weight and emphasis in dent's text is on summary and in Drucker and Heizer's text on argument. They do use summary in places but only as a ‘springboard' the development of their own argument. During her undergraduate career our student writer will be expected to move gradually from the summary approach she is presently adopting to the approach displayed in the sources she uses.

Summary

In this chapter we have tried to show what is meant by critical thinking in relation to tertiary study. It consists

first, in analysis:

then, in adopting a critical attitude towards those elements:

Making judgements about their value or importance; and finally, in presenting those judgements in a persuasive andreasoned argument.