PhD Survival Guide Part 5 – Critical Analysis in your Literature Review

Tired of hearing “be more critical” but never being told how? This guide finally explains it — step by step.

You keep getting told your lit review is “too descriptive.”

Supervisors say: “It needs more critical analysis.”

But when you ask what that actually means? Crickets.

You’re not the problem. The feedback is vague.

What you need is a clear process — not more guesswork.

Part 5 of the PhD Survival Guide series — Critical Analysis for Your Literature Review — gives you a proven, practical strategy for reading and writing critically.

You’ll stop second-guessing and start showing real depth of thinking — the kind your thesis actually needs to pass.

What you’ll learn:

✅ How to read with purpose, not panic

✅ A simple, 4-stage strategy: Describe, Interpret, Evaluate, Synthesise

✅ What to focus on (and what to skip) when reading

✅ How to turn your reading into sharp, critical paragraphs

✅ Sentence starters and prompts to help you write with confidence

Why this matters:

If you don’t crack this, your lit review stays vague and descriptive.

❌ You waste hours reading with nothing useful to show for it

❌ You get the same “be more critical” feedback again

❌ You feel like you’re missing something everyone else just gets

You’ve come too far to stall here.

You deserve to know what “being critical” actually means — and how to do it.

Inside the guide:

• A clear explanation of what critical analysis means in a PhD

• The 4-stage method to level up your thinking

• Printable and fillable reading log sheet to capture key ideas

• Sentence starters and writing prompts for each analysis stage

• Speed-reading tips (without losing depth)

How to use it:

1. Grab a cup of tea and open the PDF guide

2. Follow the 4-stage strategy to analyse your readings

3. Use the prompts to turn that analysis into sharp, confident writing

Before:
❌ You’re drowning in reading with no idea what to write
❌ You keep hearing “more critical analysis” but don’t know how
❌ You’re losing confidence in your ability to “do” a PhD

After:
✅ You know what to look for when reading
✅ You’ve written a few sharp, critical paragraphs
✅ You feel like you actually get it — and that’s a big deal

🔁 Want more literature review support?

Looking for a full walk-through of the literature review? Check out the Complete Literature Review Guide.

⚠️ Please note:

• This is a digital product (PDF). No physical items will be shipped

• These resources support — but don’t replace — your supervisor’s advice

• By purchasing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions

💬 Got questions?

Contact me here — I’m always happy to help with whatever part of your PhD you’re stuck on.

“Be more critical” isn’t helpful advice — but this guide is.

Don’t let vague feedback keep you stuck.

You deserve to know exactly what to do — and how to do it.