When writing an academic assignment it is important that you back up points with evidence. If you stated your opinions throughout, with no evidence the essay produced would not be very convincing as it would exclusively focus on what you think. It is important to present a balanced argument before coming to a conclusion to demonstrate to your lecturer that you have considered differing perspectives.
Remember that biases can be present in all types of sources. You may ask if they were funded or sponsored and whether something was missed due to finance or another reason. Could the study be done again with a different focus? These are all ideas that may help you to demonstrate your understanding of a topic.
It is important that every claim that you make is supported by evidence in an academic assignment. You may want to present your own views but remember that your argument is much more convincing if it is supported by evidence and may be considered unsupported or opinion based if you do not use sufficient evidence.
When making clear, reasoned judgements on an issue or topic it would be suggested that you use evidence from a book, journal or other source to support your point. It is important to make it clear that you understand the issue by answering questions such as what does the article mean for the students or the patients depending on the context of your assignment. This may help you demonstrate your understanding and reasoning rather than telling a story and describing the point.
Try the quiz below on giving your opinions in academic assignments at university to review your knowledge: