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Critical Thinking Isn’t About Opinions

academic thinking analysis skills critical thinking Mar 09, 2026

Many students believe analysis = opinion.

It doesn’t.

 

Opinion vs analysis

 

Opinion: I think the character is brave.
 Analysis: The character’s defiance highlights bravery, revealing the text’s message about moral courage.

Claim–evidence–reasoning framework

 

Analysis is:

  • Claim

  • Evidence

  • Reasoning

 

No “I think” required

Removing ‘I think’ from essays

 

FAQs

Are opinions allowed in essays?
 Only when supported by evidence and reasoning.

What replaces “I think” in analysis?
 Clear claims backed by textual evidence.

Why do students rely on opinions?
 They haven’t been taught formal analytical structures.

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