Critical Thinking Sitting on top of your shoulders is one of the finest computers on the earth. But, like any other muscle in your body, it needs to.

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 Thinkers Acknowledge 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 emotionalism Keep an open mindKeep an open mind

Uncritical ThinkersUncritical Thinkerso Pretend to know more than they do.Pretend to know more than they do.o Get annoyed by problems.Get annoyed by problems.o Are impatient.Are impatient.o Judge on first impressions and Judge on first impressions and

intuition.intuition.o Focus on their own opinions.Focus on their own opinions.o Look only for ideas like their own.Look only for ideas like their own.o Are guided by feelings rather than Are guided by feelings rather than

thoughts.thoughts.o 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

A personal view or beliefA personal view or beliefOpinionOpinion

An inference that is believed to An inference that is believed to be truebe true

AssumptioAssumptionn

A set of claims to support an A set of claims to support an assertionassertion

ArgumentArgument

A truth that cannot be disputedA truth that cannot be disputedFactFact

To assert as a fact whether it is To assert as a fact whether it is or notor not

ClaimClaim

Truthful, well-foundedTruthful, well-foundedValidityValidity

Logical and believable, credibleLogical and believable, crediblePlausiblePlausible

A judgment based on evidenceA judgment based on evidenceInferenceInference

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

The The IDEALIDEAL Method Method

IIdentify the problem. dentify the problem.

DDefine the problem.efine the problem.

EExplore alternative approaches.xplore alternative approaches.

AAct on the best strategies. ct on the best strategies.

LLook back to evaluate the effects. ook back to evaluate the effects.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s

IDEAL!

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.

Don’t ask silly questions.Don’t ask silly questions.

Can I draw you a

conclusion?Well, can I?

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.

I just can’t make sense

of this! Please explain more.

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.

Four Common Decision Four Common Decision Making ProblemsMaking Problems Snap decisionsSnap decisions

Don’t jump to conclusions!Don’t jump to conclusions!

Narrow thinkingNarrow thinking Broaden your vistas!Broaden your vistas!

Sprawling thinkingSprawling thinking Don’t beat around the bush!Don’t beat around the bush!

Fuzzy thinkingFuzzy thinking Keep it sharp! Keep it relevant!Keep it sharp! Keep it relevant!

Don’t do it, you’ll be sorry!

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!

Form Strong Form Strong ArgumentsArguments

Be sure the conclusion follows logically Be sure the conclusion follows logically from the premises.from the premises.

Leave out faulty or dubious premises.Leave out faulty or dubious premises. Use precise language to pinpoint your Use precise language to pinpoint your

claim.claim. Avoid making claims you can’t prove.Avoid making claims you can’t prove.

This is a perfectly logical argument (called a syllogism.)

It only has one small problem:NASA hasn’t found any green men on Mars. Oh, well…

Know Your Own BiasesKnow Your Own Biases Everyone has strong preferences and Everyone has strong preferences and

prejudices that may prevent us from prejudices that may prevent us from evaluating arguments fairly.evaluating arguments fairly.

Acknowledging these can increase the Acknowledging these can increase the likelihood of coming up with more likelihood of coming up with more effective arguments.effective arguments.

Good reasoners guard against their own Good reasoners guard against their own “soft spots” to increase their objectivity.“soft spots” to increase their objectivity.

Be honest with yourself: “Am I Be honest with yourself: “Am I opinionated?opinionated?

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

What Makes a Creative What Makes a Creative Thinker?Thinker? They actively pursue experiences They actively pursue experiences

that are aesthetically pleasing.that are aesthetically pleasing. They enjoy taking a unique They enjoy taking a unique

approach to things.approach to things. They love the process of creating.They love the process of creating. They are flexible and like to play They are flexible and like to play

with problems.with problems. They take risks and learn from their They take risks and learn from their

mistakes.mistakes. They strive to evaluate their work They strive to evaluate their work

fairly.fairly. They thrive when they think of They thrive when they think of

assignment guidelines as a assignment guidelines as a launching point for their launching point for their imagination.imagination.

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 Pose logical and cogent argumentsPose logical and cogent arguments Recognize reliable evidenceRecognize reliable evidence Be proactive rather than reactiveBe proactive rather than reactive Think things through in depth.Think things through in depth. Always

bereasonable

Why College Encourages Critical Why College Encourages Critical ThinkingThinking

Remember:Remember: Thinkers are generally “movers and shakers.”Thinkers are generally “movers and shakers.”

Sometimes how you solve a problem is as Sometimes how you solve a problem is as

important as the solutionimportant as the solution..

Open ended questions of “Why?”, “How?” or Open ended questions of “Why?”, “How?” or

“What If?” have no simple, clear-cut answers. “What If?” have no simple, clear-cut answers.

There are many valid points of view!There are many valid points of view!

The greatest gift a college can give you is an The greatest gift a college can give you is an

open mind.open mind.

Values for College, Career, and Values for College, Career, and

LifeLife Activity 4.1Activity 4.1

Fill out the Values Ranking Sheet with your highest Fill out the Values Ranking Sheet with your highest priority items as #1 individually and then compare them priority items as #1 individually and then compare them in groups of approximately five members. After in groups of approximately five members. After discussing the individual rankings, group members discussing the individual rankings, group members should collaborate to create a group ranking on which should collaborate to create a group ranking on which everyone can agree. everyone can agree.

Don’t forget to discuss the final column, which identifies Don’t forget to discuss the final column, which identifies reasons why their original rankings differed from the reasons why their original rankings differed from the group’s rankings. group’s rankings.

After your group has finished, send a representative to After your group has finished, send a representative to the board to post the rankings. the board to post the rankings.

Be prepared to defend your group’s decisions. Be prepared to defend your group’s decisions.