Critical Thinking:The Necessary SkillsBy Karina Calderon Velazquez

Characteristics of a Critical Thinker

1. Is intellectually curious2. Maintains an open mind3. Avoids “Red Herrings”4. Use anecdotes effectively5. Capable of handling confusion6. Control his/her emotions7. Focusing on your audiences needs8. Adequately separates the truth from what they think the truth should be9. Accepts not knowing something10. Seeks the “dialogical” approach to the process of an argument

In the following slides we’ll explore in detail each of these characteristics.

The Intellectually CuriousBeing intellectually curious requires that you think like a detective. You need to ask the following questions: who, what where, when, why and how. It requires that you investigate to seek the answers to the questions posed.

An Open Mind

An open mind will grant you the freedoms of:• Ability to explore new ideas and schools of thought• Freedom from the rigidity of an antiquated beliefs• Confidence to embrace new concepts and admit that you are

wrong

Avoiding “Red Herrings”

An irrelevancy, aka “Red Herring”, is used as a diversion to stray way from the issue being argued. A critical thinker will not address the distraction posed, doing so will draw away attention from the argument. This will cause focus to be lost and the opposing side to gain an advantage.

Story Time• Anecdotes will help bring your ideas to life. • A story helps the audience relate to a similar experience. • These illustrations will help the audience form an emotional

tie to the facts and ideas presented.

Confusion???

Learning to analyze the information presented will allow the critical thinker to better handle the confusion and overcome future adversities, rather than run away or look the other way.

Emotional Control

During an argument people often become clouded by their emotions whether it be anger or happiness. Allowing emotions to a play a role in the thought process will cause a distortion in the delivery of the information presented.

*When in an argument if you feel your emotions start creeping up on you, take a deep breath and slowly count to ten.

Focusing on your Audience

It’s important to take into consideration your target audience, because ultimately they will decide the effectiveness of your presentation.• Use terminology they will understand.• Use analogies they can relate to• Pay attention to visual queues from your audience ex.:

yawning, sleepiness, willingness to participate• Use illustrations and graphs

Differentiating Conclusions

There are two types of conclusions:• The first is based on the probability of the outcome being true,

usually proven trough logic and using the scientific method.Ex. The sun is the center of our solar system.

• The second is based on our personal desires of wanting, hoping and wishing that it’s true.

Ex. The Catholic Church in the 1600’s believed the earth was the center of our solar system.

I don’t know

Perhaps the most difficult skill of a critical thinker is admitting when you don’t know something. Most people will go trough great lengths to attempt and persuade you that they know everything as to not appear weak and unknowledgeable. Yet the true strengths lies admitting you don’t have the answers and taking the opportunity to learn something new.

Dialogical ApproachA critical thinker will carry an argument in the form of a conversation, they will attempt to an gain an understanding on views other than their own.

"Dialogical"Thinker

Characteristics

Analyze

Compare and Contrast

Evaluate

Anticipate, identify possible

problems

Look for options

Solve existing and new problems