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
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