When thinking critically about something, clarify by asking some foundational questions, such as:

• What is the problem or topic?

• What question or goal am I addressing?

• What different viewpoints, arguments, concepts or parts will I need to consider when thinking through this problem or topic?

• Do I have a sufficient understanding of the information or parts relevant to this problem or topic?

Asking these initial questions is often associated with the identification stage of critical thinking. In this stage you can do some initial 'lower order' thinking in order to build a foundational understanding of the problem or topic, and the elements it is composed of. As you progress through the thinking process, you will question and interrogate your sources, and move to more 'higher order' stages of critical thinking such as analysis, evaluation and synthesis.

Questioning your sources is a key component of critical thinking, because not all sources of information are equally credible, accurate or relevant. Questioning and examining your sources will allow you to:

• eliminate irrelevant or erroneous sources

• select sources that are relevant and reliable

• sharpen the focus of your critical inquiry

• get a better understanding of current knowledge and debates relevant to your topic

• prepare the ground for analysing and evaluating sources

Questioning your sources is especially important when you are using web search algorithms, which do not distinguish between what is reliable, unreliable or fake.

At university, you will be encouraged to use academic sources, which have been reviewed by experts before they have been published. This ensures a rigour to the claims made in published academic sources. To learn more about academic sources and about where to find them, consult the library search guide and other useful guides.

The following questions will help you decide which sources are reliable and relevant to your task.

Being able to identify arguments is an important part of critical thinking. It allows you to understand how people structure their thinking, and prepares the ground for analysis and evaluation, so that you can formulate an argument of your own.

What is an argument?

An argument is any statement or claim supported by reasons. Arguments range from quite simple (e.g. 'You should bring an umbrella, because it looks like it might rain') to very complex (e.g. an argument for changing the law or introducing a new scientific theory).

Arguments can be found everywhere. Whenever somebody is trying to show that something is true, present a point of view or persuade someone else to agree with them, you can identify an argument. News outlets, social media and academic sources are full of arguments that compete for attention and influence.

To succeed at university, you will need to identify academic arguments made by scholars. An academic argument follows the conventions of the relevant discipline, and can also be called a position, main point, contention, or central claim.

What does it mean to analyse something?

To analyse something means to examine it in detail, explain and interpret it. Analysing sources means examining their components like arguments, claims, reasons, methods and evidence, and explaining how they work together to make a point or an argument.

In the context of critical thinking, analysis is a key preliminary step before evaluation. Good analysis ensures that your evaluation is founded on evidence and understanding, rather than on first impressions or superficial reasoning.

Mastering analysis will help you better understand how the authors of your sources approach problems, use evidence and formulate arguments. It will also help you to identify trends, patterns and gaps in your sources or in current research.

What is an evaluation?

When you evaluate sources and arguments, you judge their quality, value or significance. You consider their strengths and limitations with respect to the examination you are undertaking or to a particular context.

Evaluation requires you to ask questions such as:

• What are the strengths and limitations of the source or argument?

• How well are the claims supported by reasons and evidence?

• What claims need further investigation?

• How does the quality of one source or argument compare with others that address a similar topic?

• What contribution to knowledge does it make?

• What is your overall assessment of the source or argument?

Evaluation is supported by analysis. Analysis allows you to break your sources into their component parts and see how they work. Evaluation then assesses the component parts as well as the entire source, and makes a judgement about their quality, value or significance. Without analysis, evaluation can easily become biased or flawed.

The ability to evaluate is a key critical thinking skill. Evaluating arguments made by others will improve your own critical thinking and allow you to develop stronger and more refined arguments.

Creating arguments consists of bringing together evidence, reasoning and claims and developing your own main claim. It is one of the most challenging – and also exciting – aspects of critical thinking.

Creating arguments relies on synthesis, which means “placing things together.” This is because arguments need to bring together the insights from your analysis and evaluation of other sources, as well as your own thinking and ideas.

Synthesis is a creative act that challenges and improves your critical thinking. It requires you to consider what others have argued about your topic, and to include not only the evidence and claims that support your argument, but also opposing and different views.

What makes a good argument?

A good argument or synthesis should have the following six characteristics:

• a clearly stated main claim or argument

• logical structure that connects your main claim with other claims and counter-claims made in your argument

• evidence that supports the claims made in your main claim or argument

• clear reasoning that links evidence and claims (including counter-claims) made in your argument

• reasoning that shows you have analysed and evaluated your sources

• clear writing that demonstrates to your readers that your argument is well-researched, logical, balanced and convincing.

How do I develop an argument?

The following four steps will assist you with building arguments:

1. Formulate your main claim. You can start by drafting a claim, a hypothesis or a position on an issue. This may be based on instructions in an assessment task, on the findings in an experiment, or on your analysis of claims made by authors in your sources.

2. Bring together your reasons and evidence. You should consider the reasons and evidence that support your main claim, as well as those against it. To do this, you will need to develop a synthesis of how your main claim fits in with other perspectives, claims, reasons and evidence.

3. Structure your argument. Establish the key themes and supporting claims around which your main claim revolves. Then determine each line of reasoning and its structure. This process can resemble putting together a jigsaw puzzle, as you will need to piece together evidence, reasons and claims to create a logical and coherent argument.

4. Test and refine your main claim. After you have structured and drafted your argument, it is important that you make sure it addresses different perspectives on the question, issue or problem. Then take a step back and consider how your thinking might apply to a broader context.