You are writing an essay on diversification in business. You find the following article in
a recent magazine. Read it critically and decide whether you could use it in your work.
20 Part 1: The Writing Process
CHANGE ON THE FARM
In the last 20 years the structure of British farming has changed significantly. Many
small farms have been merged to create fewer mega-farms, with all the benefits of
scale. But another important development has been to increase the income obtained
from activities other than growing food. In Earlswood, Warwickshire a farmer has
created a three-hectare ‘maize maze’ which over 15,000 people have paid £5 to
explore during the summer. This more than compensates for the cost of designing
and cutting the attraction. In the autumn, over 80% of the maize should still be
saleable as cattle feed, giving the farmer a double income. Such enterprises are
examples of the new ‘agritainment’ sector, along with bed-and-breakfast
accommodation, shooting ranges and wedding venues.The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates
that over 10% of farms have diversified their income by offering recreational
activities, and over 15% of farm income is now derived from such sources. This has
provided farmers with a cushion against the swings of commodity prices in the last
few years, although with the current rise in global food prices farmers may be
becoming less interested in converting their old barns into craft workshops.Positive aspects: ___
Negative aspects: __
9 Critical thinking
Even when you feel that a text is reliable and that you can safely use it as a source, it is still
important to adopt a critical attitude towards it. This approach is perhaps easiest to learn when
reading, but is important for all other academic work (i.e. listening, discussing and writing).
Critical thinking means not just passively accepting what you hear or read, but instead actively
questioning and assessing it. As you read, you should ask yourself the following questions:
(a) What are the key ideas in this?
(b) Does the thesis of the writer develop logically, step by step?
(c) Are the examples given helpful? Would other examples be better?
(d) Does the author have any bias (leaning to one side or the other)?