A look at developing critical thinking skills

*Thorough Thinking

*Shockproof “Crap” Detectors

“As critical thinkers, we are constantly on the lookout for thinking that’s inaccurate, sloppy,

or misleading.”

Ellis, Dave. “Critical Thinking: A Survival Skill.” Becoming a Master Student. 14th Ed. Boston, MA: Cengage. 2013.

*False truths?

*People once believed…

*Racial integration of the armed forces would lead to destruction of soldier morale.

*Woman cannot vote intelligently.

*The world is flat.

*Earth is the center of the universe.

Be Freed From the NONSENSE!!

*Compliance Gaining

Strategies

*Comparison/social validation

*Liking/friendship

*Authority

*Reciprocity

*Commitment-consistency

*Scarcity

*You Have the Right!

*To question what you see, hear, and read

*This is the cornerstone of a college education

*To upset your own beliefs

*Cognitive dissonance: when we challenge our beliefs with contrary information—we often ignore that information

*To admit when you were wrong about something

*When you find your thinking was originally fuzzy, lazy, dishonest, or based on biases

* Why Thorough Thinking?

*Important to reading, writing, speaking, and listening well

*Promotes social change (i.e., Civil Rights)

*Uncovers bias and prejudice

*Reveals long term consequences

*Admits when you don’t know something rather than accepting quick but inadequate answers

*Thorough Thinking

involves…

*Distinguishing between opinion and fact

*Asking probing questions

*Making detailed observations

*Uncovering assumptions

*Making assertions backed by evidence and logic

*Planning

*Six Levels of Critical Thinking

*Level 1: Remembering

*Level 2: Understanding

*Level 3: Applying

*Level 4: Analyzing

*Level 5: Evaluating

*Level 6: Creating

*Level 1: Remembering

*Involves recalling key terms, facts, or events

*Study by creating flash cards or memorizing a list of definitions to recite exactly

*Level 2: Understanding

*Involves whether you can explain ideas in your own words and comprehension

*Provide examples of your experiences to show understanding

*Example: Discuss the concept of active listening.

*Level 3: Applying

*Involves using an idea to create a desired result

*Answers questions that ask you to apply, solve, construct, plan, predict, and produce

*Level 4: Analyzing

*Involves dividing a concept into parts

*Questions ask you to classify, separate, distinguish, or outline

*Level 5: Evaluating

*Involves rating the truth, usefulness, or quality of an idea and giving reasons for that rating

*At this level, you agree, disagree, or suspend judgment until you have more info

*At this level, you give your opinion with reasoning and offer supporting evidence

*True “critical” thinking

*Level 6: Creating

*Involves inventing something new based on an idea

*Analyze an idea into parts and then combine in a new way

*Take several ideas and find unexpected connections

*Beyond offering an opinion—you are offering something unique

*Find that “aha!” moment

*To be a Thorough Thinker…

* Find various points of view on ANY issue

*Define terms (even something as simple as “family”)

* Look for assertions (these answer questions)

* Look for at least three viewpoints, answers

* Practice tolerance—be open-minded

* Look for logic and evidence

*Consider the source—could he/she be biased?

*Understand another’s viewpoint before you criticize

*Be willing to be uncertainty to take time to examine an issue

*Write your thoughts to allow more time for reflection

*Ask questions