Critical Analysis & Evaluation
📋 What it is
Critical analysis weighs the QUALITY of evidence and reasoning — not just whether a source exists.
🗣️ Coach says
Move from "I found sources" to "how GOOD are they?" Weigh the strength of each piece of evidence and the reasoning that links it to the claim. A pile of weak sources loses to one strong, well-reasoned one.
🧠 Memory hook
Judge evidence QUALITY + reasoning, not just quantity. Strong beats many.
😂 Giggle
Why did the thesis statement go to the doctor?
It was feeling too broad and needed to be narrowed down!
😲 Whoa!
Scientists rank evidence by strength — a controlled study outweighs a single anecdote, however vivid.
✅ Quick check: Why can ONE strong, well-reasoned source beat several weak ones?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Research is judged by evidence QUALITY and reasoning, not quantity — a strong source with solid logic outweighs many weak or biased ones.
Weighing quality over quantity is the core of critical analysis.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Compare two sources on the same claim — which has stronger evidence, and why?