One of the ways to generate an argument to discuss in a thesis is critical thinking: how can I critically look at an idea from an impartial perspective? This process starts with questioning the information you get, find evidence to investigate them, cross examine the witnesses, sum up and consider theory and finally reach an informed verdict. All this is possible through systematic thinking and reading and sources to support your argument or go against it.

Descriptive writing is necessary when we are looking at a critical review, it tells us what the author has done, giving a summary of a piece of literature; it often overshadow telling us the truth, it should be balanced with critical writing two different perspective with which you inform the reader. descriptive is data, facts, measurements, a clear understanding, information in an objective way.

Critical writing gives a balance ed account of pros and cons of ideas; it allows you to create assertions something true through quotes, it gives evidence and arguments and backs up arguments with facts and always avoid simplistic conclusions.

Any subject matter should go through this process to be defined as critical thinking:

•Good critical thinking is systematic (like a criminal investigation); you need to: 

• Investigate the problem thoroughly
• Prosecute and defend the ideas
• Cross examine the witnesses (literature)

• Sum up and consider theory 

•Reach an informed verdict
– In the light of this evidence, it seems that…. 

Critical writing does not only report the information it adds to them: take their learning and find yourself contributing and adding supporting their argument providing a good discussion

Descriptions are also needed in the literature review descriptive of how you are going to use the sources

Strategies for being critical can be to be suspicious even for technical jargon to make sure you understand them and also try to express those ideas using your own language.

Model to generate critical thinking:

Topic –

Description , what, where, who, when-

Analysis, how, why, what if

Evaluation, what if, so what, what next

Literature review

Define your research scope explore materials and resources research your topic options

A list of keywords related to that thesis you can use to streamline your source-gathering process

Reason to choose the source and how it is going to help the research topic (methodology descriptive writing) and it also inform what the thesis is for?

Literature review purpose is to establish and present the sources you have used in your research which includes: relevant research methodology – explaining the type of research you conducted, and how you conducted it, the reason for choosing the sources you chose and how you analysed the data you collected; theoretical framework you established- mapping your research showing where you started, which concepts you chose to focus on and where following those concepts brought you; where your work fits into the bigger picture – explain how your findings connect to the existing body of research on your topic and how it related to other pieces of research, any debates to which it contributes.

Structuring a literature review:

states the research question and explains how you tackled it

body paragraphs that explains the research in further detail

end with a conclusion section that reiterated the research question while summarising the insight you had through your research.

personal analysis in present tense scholarly work past tense

find potential sources through the key words and read the abstract to determine how relevant they are within the research’s scope.

Take notes of the theme present in them and ask:

Do the different authors agree, where do they disagree, how does each author support their position.

Literature review outline

Key words for my thesis

Anthropomorphism, Anthropomorphising, Animation, Animals, anthropomorphism in animation, Ecological Sensibility, Anthropocentrism

Find a list of relevant resources and how each source you consult contributes to the knowledge

The Animated Bestiary by Paul Wells:

Critically evaluates the depiction of animals in cartoons and animation more generally. Paul Wells argues that artists use animals to engage with issues that would be more difficult to address directly because of political, religious, or social taboos. Consequently, and principally through anthropomorphism, animation uses animals to play out a performance of gender, sex and sexuality, racial and national traits, and shifting identity, often challenging how we think about ourselves.

Popular Media and Animals By Claire Molloy:

Claire Molloy argues that animal narratives and imagery are economically significant for popular media industries which, in turn, play an important role in shaping the limits and norms of public discourses on animals and animal issues. The author explores some of the myriad ways in which media discourses sustain a range of constructions of animals that are connected, appropriated or co-opted by other systems of production and so play a role in the normalisation of particular practices.

The Idea of Nature in Disney Animation (From Snow White to WALL-E) By David Whitley

As Whitley has shown, and Disney’s newest films continue to demonstrate, the messages animated films convey about the natural world are of crucial importance to their child viewers. Beginning with Snow White, Whitley examines a wide range of Disney’s feature animations, in which images of wild nature are central to the narrative. 

Article: Ecological Sensibility Versus Anthropomorphism: an analysis of film Ratauille

This paper analyzes the animated film Ratatouille as a social document to inspire humans to improve ecological sensibilities.

‘I’m Not a Real Boy, I’m a Puppet’: Computer-Animated Films and Anthropomorphic Subjectivity Christopher Holliday