In academic writing, writing about other people's research and ideas is vital. However, your reader will always want to know what you think based on that evidence.

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It is important to make clear in your writing which parts are someone else's words or ideas, and which are your own.

Use referencing and good introduction of source material to indicate information from other sources (see previous section)
Write about your interpretation, analysis, and evaluation of source and come to a conclusion.

When you are expressing your own thoughts, keep in mind the need for critical thinking. In particular:

Be cautious about your conclusions - can you really be certain?
Consider your objectivity - are you considering evidence or emotion?
Have you considered multiple perspectives, or are you confirming what you already thought?

Asking these questions as you write will help you express yourself critically.

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