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This page explores critical thinking and provides resources to help develop your critical thinking skills.

What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate information and arguments with clarity, logic, and open-mindedness. It involves questioning assumptions, identifying biases, weighing evidence, and drawing reasoned conclusions. In reflective writing, critical thinking enables you to go beyond personal reactions and thoughtfully explore how experiences relate to academic theories or future practice. By thinking critically, you develop a deeper, more analytical approach to your learning.

The Importance of Thinking Critically

Critical thinking is the foundation of meaningful reflective writing. Personally, it sharpens your self-awareness and helps you explore your values, decisions, and growth with honesty and insight. Academically, it allows you to connect ideas, critique theories, and develop well-reasoned perspectives that go beyond surface-level analysis. Professionally, critical thinking is key to problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and navigating complex challenges with confidence. In every context, it transforms reflection into a deeper process of learning and intentional development.

Critical Thinking in HE Academic Assessments

In HE assessments, critical thinking isn’t just valuable: it’s essential. It demonstrates your ability to go beyond memorisation and express original, thoughtful analysis. Whether you're engaging with complex theories, evaluating evidence, or building persuasive arguments, critical thinking allows you to present ideas that are well-reasoned and supported. Academic success depends not only on what you know, but how you apply that knowledge: reflectively, analytically, and with intellectual rigour. It’s this depth of thinking that sets strong academic work apart.

Models to Generate Critical Thinking:

The model below provides sample questions that you can ask yourself when reading sources or listening to lectures to help move beyond descriptive thinking and generate more critical thinking.

Study Guide 8: Critical Thinking - Summary Version from University of Plymouth (2009)

The Critical Thinking Cheat Sheet below includes more questions to get you thinking critically.

Critical Thinking Cheat Sheet

Additional Resources

To learn more about this topic, use the resource(s) below:

Study Skills: Thinking Critically Document | The Open University - This comprehensive guide from The Open University explains how critical thinking can be applied to academic study.
Critically Processing what you read: Critical Reading Techniques | The Open University - This guidance from The Open University discusses critical reading techniques.