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Enhancing Critical Reading and Writing Skills for Academics

Explore the importance of critical reading and writing in academia, understanding gaps in research, refining arguments, and developing a strong voice. Learn how to engage with literature, evaluate ideas, and enhance research design for impactful work.

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Enhancing Critical Reading and Writing Skills for Academics

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  1. Reading and writing critically for PhD Tracy Simmons BDRA Research Day

  2. Thinking critical • What do we mean by critical….. • Academia and academics as autonomous, ‘free agents’ to question, conduct research without interference. • Peer review systems based on critical feedback (anonymous), hierarchical system. • All academics no matter how special, important or great, face critical appraisal, peer review and feedback. • Research framed in terms of ‘rigor’.

  3. Reading critically • Critical skills are seen as an essential part of being a researcher, an academic. • But also as citizens the ability to be critical and apply critical analysis to information is seen as a key skill. • Reading: narrowing down established data related to your topic, models/paradigms, theoretical frameworks. • Context!

  4. Mind the gap… • Gaps….are there gaps, areas that are unexplored. • This can be the spur for your own critical engagement with the literature. • Theoretical limitations/gaps, empirical* or out of date models • Evidence • Don’t just dismiss- what can these insights however limited help you in terms of your own research design and conceptualisation? • Selective, what work helps advance your research?

  5. Reading • Evaluation of the ideas, range of research • What are the arguments* made • Key themes • Where are they coming from (disciplinary tradition/approach) • Position* • Geographical location, country specific focus*? • Interpretation of the material • Know your field.

  6. Reading into Writing • From description to analysis • Synthesis • Developing your own argument –finding a voice • Evidence-your own data • Theoretical framework • Methodological rigor, research design • Rational e.g. sample size

  7. Writing • Forms and modes to develop your own critical writing • Book reviews • Shorter dialogue pieces • Shorter position papers, discussion papers • Conference papers • Conference presentations • Working papers

  8. Final reflections • It is through testing your ideas and arguments you can further strengthen the critical strains of your work. • Supervisor, research communities, peers, conferences, seminars and workshops. • Keep reading. • The more you articulate your research the better it gets! • Editing, critical reflection, being reflexive. • It is not a linear process!

  9. What they say… • http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/careers/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/critical-reading • Tony-Wallace and Wray • http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book226896 • Wellington J., Bathmaker A., Hunt C., McCulloch G. and Sikes P. (2005). Succeeding with your doctorate. London: Sage. • Oliver, P. (2008) Writing Your Thesis 2nd ed. London, Sage.

  10. I like: • http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/23564/ • http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/23564/1/Converging_traditions_of_research_on_media_and_information_literacies_(LSERO).pdf • This chapter provides an overview based on clusters of research around media literacy • Historical context • Themes • Gaps • There own argument and approach to media literacy.

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