Critical vs. Descriptive Writing
Descriptive writing simply says what something is like — it reports, states, and explains. Critical writing goes further: it analyses (breaks information down to see how the parts relate) and evaluates (makes judgements about strengths and weaknesses) in order to build an argument. University work expects mostly critical writing.
To write critically you should use a range of sources (not just one that agrees with you), question what you read, and weigh all sides before drawing your own conclusions — never just "string quotes together."
| Descriptive writing | Critical writing |
|---|---|
| reports what happened | evaluates the significance of what happened |
| states evidence | argues, using evidence |
| explains what a theory says | determines why a theory is relevant |
| quotes or summarises writers | compares and contrasts writers' views |
| lists details | evaluates the relative importance of details |
This maps onto Bloom's revised taxonomy, whose six levels run from lower- to higher-order thinking: remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, creating. Description draws on the two lowest levels (remembering, understanding); critical writing draws on the higher levels (analysing, evaluating, creating).
Tip: Keep description to a minimum — just enough to give background, state a theory, or supply facts — and maximise analysis and evaluation. Comments like "Too descriptive" mean you need more critical writing.
Common mistake: Stringing quotes together (A says…, B says…, C says…) with no analysis. Break the sources down and judge them to build your line of reasoning.
✏️ Test Yourself
1. "Reports what happened."
2. "Evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of something."
3. In Bloom's taxonomy, analysing and evaluating are ___-order skills.
4. Critical writing analyses and ___ .
📒 Words to learn
Meaning — Goods or money obtained illegally.
Synonyms: Loot, Pillage
“The pirates were notorious for their plunder of merchant ships.”
Meaning — Difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge.
“The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid it.”
Meaning — Belief in equality.
“Egalitarianism brings a nation on top.”
Meaning — Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
“That was an egregious act.”
Meaning — Come out of.
“The words seemed to egress by themselves.”