Critical Thinking, Academic Writing and Advice

Today I am writing about a couple of areas of different but related studies, which I have found helpful in my studies of law. The first is critical thinking and the second is academic writing.

(Note that as I do this, I am also doing some self-reflection in preparation for my W102 final exam so if I appear to be a bit disjointed, it’s because I am trying to focus on the topics/links and on being helpful in a brief but comprehensive way, rather than structure of the blog post.)

Critical thinking plays an important role in the study of law, as well as in every other area of life. Everyone has probably heard of ‘critical thinking’ , or ‘critical analysis’, but few readily understand what it is and apply the principles to their thinking.

“Fundamentally, critical thinking is about using your ability to reason. It's about being active (as opposed to passive) in your learning. It means that when you approach an idea, you do so with scepticism and doubt, rather than with unquestioning acceptance.” [University of Sussex]

The Open University has a ‘guide’ to critical thinking. It explains in detail what critical thinking is, how to read, analyse and understand what is an argument, how to spot flawed arguments etc. I highly recommend this as a starting point, and you may want to – in any spare time you have – continue reading other books and materials on critical thinking. I have found this website especially helpful [http://www.austhink.com/critical/] as a one-stop resource on critical thinking.

Academic writing is also an important skill to learn. Not only do you need to up your game on grammar, spelling, punctuation, (please, for Heaven’s sake, no text speak!!!), you also need to be able to reference your work to indicate the evidence you are using to make your arguments. You will learn the Harvard method of citation for both in-text and bibliographies/referencing at the end of your paper. For law, students are advised to use the “guidance provided in their module materials” and The OU Law School Guide to Legal Citations and References.

What is academic writing?

“Main features of academic English

• is usually formal in tone and impersonal in style
• avoids contractions or shortened forms of verbs, such as won't, doesn't or it's
• avoids using a linking word such as 'and' or 'but' at the beginning of a sentence
• avoids personal pronouns such as I, me, you, your
• may use the passive form of verbs
• avoids verbs that are composed of multiple words, such as 'give up', 'put up with'
• tends to employ a cautious way of explaining findings, using expressions such as 'may', 'it is possible that...', 'could'
• may use specialised vocabulary.”

[The Open University, 2016]

The Skills for OU Study webpage is also a very helpful place to start, especially for beginners.  I am also a fan of the Plain English Campaign and recommend writing plainly as possible.

A word of caution.

I have often seen new students posting on forums that that they are buying/already bought books and other reading material related to their course. In my experience, this is a waste of time and money for a number of reasons. The OU provides ALL the material you need, and has readily accessible resources to make your study a success. Please include your tutor as a resource, as s/he is being paid to answer your questions/aid you.

Secondly, you definitely will not have much time to read widely outside of the OU material, especially if you are also working and have a family/children. It later becomes problematic when you read something and cannot reference the source in a TMA or exam.

Then too, there are the ‘know-it-all’ students who, just like you, are starting the same course, but… they boast widely (and wildly) on the forums (and Facebook) about this book/author/case/principle that they peeked in their books and ‘appear’ to be really bright and knowledgeable. You can identify them quickly – they often use ‘big words’ out of context, write very often and long discourses on the forums, usually unintelligible drivel, followed by asking the moderator, “What do you think?” as if seeking validation of their nonsense. It is often a mistake to follow these fools blindly. [As you can see, I ‘evidence’ my blog with links, so it’s not just my ‘opinion’ I present].

As to Facebook forums, I’m not recommending them, and neither does the OU nor the tutors. Aside from not being monitored, many erroneous ideas are spread, and a misunderstanding of a legal principle can quickly be perpetuated among members of a FB group. Especially by the ‘know-it-alls’ who easily impresses the less knowledgeable.

Remember, this blog is not only about the pursuit of an LLB, but also to document my learning, hence these non-legal posts.