Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Sitting on top of your Sitting on top of your shoulders is one of the shoulders is one of the finest computers on the finest computers on the earth. earth. But, like any other muscle But, like any other muscle in your body, it needs to in your body, it needs to be exercised to work its be exercised to work its best. best. That exercise is called That exercise is called THINKING. THINKING. I think, therefore I am. - Rene Descartes
Transcript
Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking Sitting on top of your Sitting on top of your
shoulders is one of the finest shoulders is one of the finest computers on the earth.computers on the earth.
But, like any other muscle in But, like any other muscle in your body, it needs to be your body, it needs to be exercised to work its best.exercised to work its best.
That exercise is calledThat exercise is called
THINKING.THINKING.I think, therefore I am.
- Rene Descartes
What is critical thinking?What is critical thinking? Commonly called “problem solving”Commonly called “problem solving” Not being content with the first solution to a problem, Not being content with the first solution to a problem,
but thinking more deeply about it.but thinking more deeply about it. Knowing, understanding, analyzing, synthesizing, Knowing, understanding, analyzing, synthesizing,
applying and evaluating the idea or problemapplying and evaluating the idea or problem Looking for what is implied in a question rather than Looking for what is implied in a question rather than
what is statedwhat is stated Applying the rules of logic to problem solvingApplying the rules of logic to problem solving Not letting reason be clouded by emotionNot letting reason be clouded by emotion
Four Aspects of Critical Four Aspects of Critical ThinkingThinking Abstract Thinking:Abstract Thinking:
thinking past what your senses tell youthinking past what your senses tell you Creative Thinking: Creative Thinking:
thinking “out of the box,” innovatingthinking “out of the box,” innovating Systematic Thinking: Systematic Thinking:
organizing your thoughts into logical stepsorganizing your thoughts into logical steps Communicative Thinking:Communicative Thinking:
being precise in givingbeing precise in giving your ideas to your ideas to others. others.
Critical Thinking: What is Critical Thinking: What is involved?involved?
QuestionQuestion: what is being asked?: what is being asked? PurposePurpose: why do I want the answer?: why do I want the answer? Point of ViewPoint of View: where do I stand to look at the question?: where do I stand to look at the question? InformationInformation: what data do I have?: what data do I have? ConceptsConcepts: what ideas are involved?: what ideas are involved? AssumptionsAssumptions: what am I taking for granted?: what am I taking for granted? Inferences:Inferences: what conclusions am I drawing? what conclusions am I drawing? ConsequencesConsequences: what are the implications of my : what are the implications of my
question?question?
Critical ThinkersCritical ThinkersAcknowledge personal limitations.Acknowledge personal limitations.See problems as exciting challenges.See problems as exciting challenges.Have understanding as a goal.Have understanding as a goal.Use evidence to make judgments.Use evidence to make judgments.Are interested in others’ ideas.Are interested in others’ ideas.Are skeptical of extreme views.Are skeptical of extreme views.Think before acting.Think before acting.Avoid emotionalismAvoid emotionalismKeep an open mindKeep an open mind
Uncritical ThinkersUncritical ThinkersPretend to know more than they do.Pretend to know more than they do.
Get annoyed by problems.Get annoyed by problems.
Are impatient.Are impatient.
Judge on first impressions and Judge on first impressions and intuition.intuition.
Focus on their own opinions.Focus on their own opinions.
Look only for ideas like their own.Look only for ideas like their own.
Are guided by feelings rather than Are guided by feelings rather than thoughts.thoughts.
Claim that thinking gives them a Claim that thinking gives them a headache.headache.
Don’t think about it,
just sign it!
A Thinker’s LexiconA Thinker’s Lexicon
InferenceInference A judgment based on evidenceA judgment based on evidence
PlausiblePlausible Logical and believable, credibleLogical and believable, credible
ClaimClaim To assert as a fact whether it is To assert as a fact whether it is or notor not
FactFact A truth that cannot be disputedA truth that cannot be disputed
OpinionOpinion A personal view or beliefA personal view or belief
ArgumentArgument A set of claims to support an A set of claims to support an assertionassertion
AssumptioAssumptionn
An inference that is believed to An inference that is believed to be truebe true
Inductive and Deductive Inductive and Deductive ReasoningReasoning
Inductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningSpecific Reasoning Specific Reasoning Broad PrinciplesBroad Principles
Example: My historyExample: My history All college coursesAll college courses
class requires a lot ofclass requires a lot of have a lot of readinghave a lot of readingreadingreading
Deductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningBroadBroad Specific Specific GeneralizationsGeneralizations ConclusionsConclusions
Example: All collegeExample: All college My art history courseMy art history coursecourses are hardcourses are hard will be hardwill be hard
Ask QuestionsAsk Questions
One quality of a good critical thinker is the ability to One quality of a good critical thinker is the ability to ask on-target questions.ask on-target questions.
If you don’t usually ask questions, is it because youIf you don’t usually ask questions, is it because you Fear embarrassment?Fear embarrassment? Worry what others will think of you?Worry what others will think of you? Worry that the instructor will think your question is Worry that the instructor will think your question is
strange?strange? Worry that others will think you’re showing off?Worry that others will think you’re showing off?
When you don’t ask questions, you sacrifice When you don’t ask questions, you sacrifice youryour education.education.
If you don’t take risks, you won’t get the maximum If you don’t take risks, you won’t get the maximum benefit in developing your mind.benefit in developing your mind.
Yes!Ask me!
There’s No Such Thing as There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question a Stupid Question (Usually)(Usually)
There are There are unwelcomeunwelcome questions. questions. Don’t ask questions that detract Don’t ask questions that detract
from the momentum of the class.from the momentum of the class. Don’t ask questions that focus Don’t ask questions that focus
more on self-concerns than on the more on self-concerns than on the needs of the class.needs of the class.
Don’t ask questions that Don’t ask questions that demonstrate you failed to pay demonstrate you failed to pay attention.attention.
Offer CriticismOffer Criticism You will most likely be asked to judge You will most likely be asked to judge
or evaluate issues in college.or evaluate issues in college. First decide whether you like what you First decide whether you like what you
are being asked to judge.are being asked to judge. Consider both positive and negative Consider both positive and negative
attributes.attributes. Use examples to support your Use examples to support your
judgment.judgment. Don’t be intimidated by this kind of Don’t be intimidated by this kind of
assignment; your instructors want you assignment; your instructors want you to develop your critical thinking skills.to develop your critical thinking skills.
Make the Right Make the Right InferencesInferences You are constantly making inferences.You are constantly making inferences.
InferencesInferences are interpretations that you are interpretations that you derive from processing cues in a derive from processing cues in a situation.situation.
A A plausibleplausible inference is a judgment that inference is a judgment that is logical, and possibly accurate.is logical, and possibly accurate.
Sometimes inferences become Sometimes inferences become assumptions—assumptions— something we believe to something we believe to be true and act on as though it were.be true and act on as though it were.
Inferences can be tricky. It is easy to be Inferences can be tricky. It is easy to be wrong and you may operate on faulty wrong and you may operate on faulty assumptions until you are informed assumptions until you are informed otherwise.otherwise.
What is a Claim?What is a Claim? A A claimclaim is a statement which can be either true or is a statement which can be either true or
false, but not both.false, but not both. A claim is an assertion you want to have accepted as A claim is an assertion you want to have accepted as
a fact and not be disputed.a fact and not be disputed. When evaluating a claim, you have three choices:When evaluating a claim, you have three choices:
accept the claim accept the claim reject the claimreject the claim suspend judgment until you have more suspend judgment until you have more
informationinformationWhat is an Argument?What is an Argument?
An An argumentargument is a set of claims. is a set of claims. Arguments begin with Arguments begin with premises and lead to a conclusionpremises and lead to a conclusion A good argument is one in which the premises lead A good argument is one in which the premises lead logically to a logically to a strongstrong or or validvalid conclusion. conclusion.
I’m stakin’
a claim!
Refine Your ReasoningRefine Your Reasoning Be willing to argueBe willing to argue Use deductive reasoningUse deductive reasoning Check your assumptionsCheck your assumptions Know your own biasesKnow your own biases Observe carefully Observe carefully Stay positive and persistent Stay positive and persistent Show concern for accuracyShow concern for accuracy Take time before concludingTake time before concluding
Nurture Your Own Nurture Your Own CreativityCreativity Don’t accept other people’s blueprints.Don’t accept other people’s blueprints. Be vigilant about what others can’t see.Be vigilant about what others can’t see. Differentiate the good from the bad.Differentiate the good from the bad. Take the plunge Take the plunge beforebefore you’re an expert. you’re an expert. Concentrate on the big picture.Concentrate on the big picture. Take sensible risks.Take sensible risks. Motivate yourself from inside.Motivate yourself from inside. Shape environments that will support your Shape environments that will support your
creativity.creativity. Actively pursue your creative life.Actively pursue your creative life.
Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:A Skill to Carry You A Skill to Carry You
Through LifeThrough LifeProfessors and future employers value Professors and future employers value
your ability to perform these critical your ability to perform these critical thinking skills:thinking skills:
Manage and interpret informationManage and interpret information
Examine exciting ideas and develop new onesExamine exciting ideas and develop new ones
