BROADCAST

COMMENTARY
AND CRITICAL
WRITING
MAS 329
MRS. OLUWAKEMI AKINULIOLA
 LESSON CONTENT

•Critical Writing and Critical Thinking

• Critical Writing and other Forms of Writing
 Definition of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking has been variously defined over the past 80 years. Let
us consider some of the definitions of critical thinking which have been
put forth. According to Dewey, critical thinking involves “active,
persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of
knowledge in light of the grounds that support it and the further
conclusions to which it tends” (Dewey, 1933, p. 118). Also, critical
thinking has been defined as “purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which
results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as
explanation of the evidential, conceptual methodological, criteriological,
or contextual consideration upon which that judgment is based”
(Facione, 2006, p. 21).
 Definition of Critical Thinking
Furthermore, take a look at the following definitions: i. critical
thinking “is analytical and strategic, linking knowledge bases to
practice strategies” (Price, 2004, p. 47) iii. “critical thinking…
includes interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, presenting
arguments, reflection, and dispositions” (Jones, et al., 1995) iii.
“critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively
and skillfully conceptualising, applying, analysing, synthesising,
and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by,
observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as
a guide to belief and action” (Fisher, 2001).
 Definition of Critical Thinking
From these definitions, there appears to be a consensus to
the effect that critical thinking is the mental process of
actively and skillfully analysing, synthesising, and
evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion. It
is a process by which we use our knowledge and
intelligence to effectively arrive at the most reasonable and
justifiable positions on issues.
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
According to Cottrell (2005) and Allen (2004), critical thinking
shares the following skills with critical writing.
Analysis- examine the material by breaking it into its component
parts to better understand the parts and the whole (identifying,
classifying, categorising, comparing); that is, examine how the key
components fit together and relate to each other or otherwise
identify the intended and actual inferential relationships among
statements, questions, concepts, descriptions, or other forms of
representation intended to express belief, judgment, experiences,
reasons, information, or opinion.
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
Synthesis- to synthesise is to weave together material from
several sources, including your personal, prior knowledge,
to create a new whole; making connections between the
parts and the whole to see the pattern of relationships
(organising, connecting, designing, predicting); that is,
bring together different sources of information to serve an
argument or idea you are constructing. Make logical
connections between the different sources that help you
shape and support your ideas.
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
Interpretation-this entails examining the connection (s)
between the parts and the whole to make inferences about
the implications and meanings of the pattern(s)
(associating, inferring, decoding); that is, comprehending
and expressing meaning or significance of wide variety of
experiences, situations, data, events, judgments,
conventions, beliefs, rules, procedures, or criteria.
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
Evaluation- this means forming judgments about meanings,
qualities and values (justifying, critiquing, verifying, and
deciding); that is, you are assessing the credibility of
statements or other representations which are accounts or
descriptions of a person's perception, experience, situation,
judgment, belief, or opinion. As well, evaluation relates to
assessing the logical strength of the actual or intended
inferential relationships among statements, descriptions,
questions, or other forms of representation
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
Inference- when you look for inference, you are seeking to
understand what is suggested or implied, but not stated;
also you are seeking to identify and secure elements needed
to draw reasonable conclusions; to form conjectures and
hypotheses; to consider relevant information & to educe the
consequences flowing from data, statements, principles,
evidence, judgments, beliefs, opinions, concepts,
descriptions, questions, or other forms of representation.
Requirements for Effective Critical
Thinking
Explanation- Here, you state the results of your reasoning and
justify your reasoning in terms of evidential, conceptual,
methodological, and contextual considerations upon which
your results were based; and you present your reasoning in
the form of cogent arguments.
Self-regulation- this means, consciously, applying skills in
analysis and evaluation to your own inferential judgments
with a view toward questioning, confirming, validating, or
correcting someone's reasoning or results.
 Critical Writing and Critical
Thinking
• Critical thinking involves both reading and writing, critically. Reading critically means
examining different points of view with an open and enquiring mind, evaluating your own
position, and drawing conclusions as to whether a particular point of view is persuasive.
Writing critically means presenting your conclusions in a clear and well-reasoned way to
persuade others. Clear thinking helps to produce clear journalistic writing. In critical
writing, just as in other forms of journalistic writing, the journalist must be able to think,
critically, as well as clearly. Critical thinking, Wolseley (1973:7) says, demands certain
mental equipment: o a measure of objectivity o realisation of the climate of opinion o
awareness of the methods of making estimates or arriving at judgment o perspective
gained through knowledge of the art being evaluated and understanding of the audience.
These qualities separate the journalistic critic from virtually all his peers in journalism.
Not every journalist possesses these qualities, of course; but these can all, necessarily, be
achieved by the student through study and practice.
• Critical Writing and Broadcast Commentary Critical writing and broadcast
commentary express opinions, and both are subjective writing. Both provide
the reader with a critical view and hope to convince and influence; but critical
writing, basically, evaluates and appreciates what makes an object or idea a
work of art, and necessarily, a unique work of art. Critical writing makes use of
tastes and standards to determine how the object may be perceived by the
reader. Broadcast commentary does not, necessarily, appreciate. It is, mainly,
to point out an anomaly, correct a wrong, prove a point or explain a process or
concept or simply tell a story to amuse or amaze. Both critical writing and
broadcast commentary, however, demand that you have deep knowledge of the
subject matter. Critical writing, particularly, insists that you be familiar with
the standards of measurements