Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

1. Definition

   • The art of analyzing and evaluating to improve

2. A good critical thinker...

   • Formulates good questions
   • Gathers relevant information
   • Comes to well-reasoned conclusions
   • Is open-minded
   • Communicates effectively
   • Egocentric thinking
     • Innate sociocentrism
     • Innate egocentrism
     • Innate self-validation

3. Elements of thought

   • Concepts
   • Information
   • Inferences/Conclusions
   • Purpose
   • Questions
   • Assumptions
   • Implications/Consequences
   • Points of view

4. Check-list for reasoning

   • 1. all reasoning has a purpose
     • State your purpose clearly
     • Distinguish your purpose
     • Choose realistic purposes
   • 2. Figure something out
     • State questions clearly
     • Express questions in several ways
     • Break into sub-questions
   • 3. All reasoning is ASSUMPTIONS
     • Identify assumptions
     • Shape your point of view
   • 4. All reasoning has POINT OF VIEW
   • 5. All reasoning is...
     • DATA
     • INFORMATION
     • EVIDENCE
   • 6. All reasoning are CONCEPTS & IDEAS
   • 7. Contains INFERENCES & INTERPRETATIONS
   • 8. It has IMPLICATIONS & CONCLUSIONS