CriticalThinkingThinkingisapurposefulmentalactivity—youcontrolit…Thinkingisatwo-sidedactivity—firstyouproduceideasandthenyouevaluatethem…Producingideaswidensyourfocus(resistthetemptationtosettleforafewfamiliarideas).Evaluatingnarrowsyourfocus.Sorttheideas,identifythemostreasonableones.1.CriticalThinkingThinkingisaWhycriticalthinkingisimportantSuccessinworkdependsonthinkingskills.Itisn’tenoughtopossessknowledgebutyoumustbeabletoapplyinformationtoyourjob.Criticalthinkingisareliablewayofsearchingforthetruth.2.WhycriticalthinkingisimporFactsandOpinionsFactsarerealities;opinionsarebeliefsorjudgments.Opinionsmayfitthefactsorbeinerror.Eventhegreatestexpertssometimesholdincorrectopinions.Thatiswhyresearchissoimportantineverysubjectarea—itconfirmssomeopinionsanddisprovesothers.3.FactsandOpinionsFactsarereFormingOpinionsCriticalthinkersrealizehoweasyitistobemistakensotheyformtheiropinionswithcare.Theyrevisetheiropinions,evencherishedones,whenevertheyprovetobeinerror.Thereisnoshameinbeingwrong,butproblemsoccurwhenwestubbornlyclingtoamistakenview.4.FormingOpinionsCriticalthinkRecognizingfacts&opinionsFact:BabeRuthwasafamousbaseballplayer.Opinion:Smokingshouldbebannedinallpublicplaces.Fact:Camel’shairbrushesaremadeofSiberiansquirrelfir.Opinion:Eyewitnesstestimonyisgenerallyunreliable.5.Recognizingfacts&opinionsFaSeparatingfacts&opinionsIfyoustateafactthatisnotcommonknowledge,orthatcan’tbeeasilyverified,brieflystatewhereyougotyourinformation.Ifyoustateanopinion—aviewothersmightdisagreewith,includeanswerstoquestionsothersmightask.Ifyouarenotsurewhetherastatementisafactoranopinion,treatitasanopinion.6.Separatingfacts&opinionsIfOpinionversuspersonalpreference…Oftenconfusingtomanypeople.Example:“Comicbooksareasinstructiveaboutlifeasnovelsare.”Whenaskedwhatevidenceexiststhatcomicbooksaresoinstructive,theydon’thaveananswer…Preferencesdon’tneedtobedefendedaslongastheyareexpressedaspreferences.(Ifweexpressthemasopinions,don’tbesurprisedifotherschallengethem.7.OpinionversuspersonalpreferBasicApproachtoCriticalThinkingStepOne:Decidewhatyouthinkandwhyyouthinkit.StepTwo:Seekotherviewsandmoreevidence.StepThree:Decidewhichviewismostreasonable.8.BasicApproachtoCriticalThiStepOneBeginbydecidingwhatyourpositionisontheissueinquestion.(Puttingthisdecisioninwritingcanhelp.Don’tbediscouragedifthistakesseveralattempts.)Askyourselfwhatevidencedoyouhavetosupportyourview?Arethereotherconclusionspossible?Answerthesequestionsascompletelyasyoucan.(Youmightlistthemratherthanwritefullsentences.)9.StepOneBeginbydecidingwhatStepTwoOtherviewpointshelpyoutestyourviewanddiscoveryourbiases.Yougainadditionalinsightsbylookingatnewideas.Gatherideasfrommultiplesources:libraries,instructors,orexpertsinthefield.Lookatideasthatbothagreeanddisagreewithyourviewpoint.10.StepTwoOtherviewpointshelpStepThreeMeasureyourviewandtheviewsofothersagainsttheevidence.Decidewhichoneisthemostreasonablebasedontheevidence.Researchwilloftenproveyourviewpoint.Ifitalwaysprovesyourviewpoint,youmaybetwistingtheevidencetomeetyourneeds…11.StepThreeMeasureyourviewanCriticalReadingStrategiesChooseyourtimeandplaceReadactively(askquestions/seekanswers)ConcentrateonthetaskWriteasummary(inyourownwords;emphasizekeypoints;&writeaccurately)Reflectontheideas12.CriticalReadingStrategiesChoCriticalThinking&WritingCriticalthinkingprovidestheideasforwriting,andwritingstimulatesmoreideas.Allowtimeforreflectioneveryday.Focusondiscoveringideas.Beopentoideasatothertimes.13.CriticalThinking&WritingCriExpressingyourthoughtsforothersCompletethethinkingprocessfirst.Discoverywritingispartofthethinkingprocess—youproduceratherthancommunicateideas.Useyourviewpointasyourcontrollingidea.Chooseasuitableorganization.14.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoExpressingyourthoughtsforothers-continuedIntroductionYourcontrollingideaYourfirstargumentforthisideaandsupportingevidenceYoursecondargumentandsupportingevidenceYourthirdargument(ifyouhaveone)andsupportingevidenceConclusion15.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoExpressingyourthoughtsforothers-continuedSupportyourviewwithevidenceBeexact,butlively.(Choosewordthatconveyyourideaexactly.)Breakyourthoughtsintoparagraphs.Usestandardpunctuationandobserveconventionsofgrammarandusage.(TheDepartmentofHealthStudiesusesAPAformatformostpapers.)16.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoCharacteristicsofCriticalThinkersKnowtheirownminds.Arehonestwiththemselves.Acknowledgealltruths—evenunpleasantones.Acceptresponsibilityandaccountabilityfortheiractions.Acceptsoundarguments—evenifthatmeansrejectingtheirown.Criticalthinkersovercomeconfusionandaskquestions.Theybasetheirjudgmentsonevidence.17.CharacteristicsofCriticalThCharacteristicsofCriticalThinkers-continuedTheybasetheirjudgmentsonevidence.Theyresistmanipulation.Theylookforconnectionsbetweensubjects.Theybalancetheirthinking.Criticalthinkersareintellectuallyindependent.18.CharacteristicsofCriticalThRecognizingandavoidingerrorsThreetypesofbroaderrorsincriticalthinkingErrorsofPerceptionErrorsofJudgmentErrorsofReaction19.RecognizingandavoidingerrorPerceptionErrorsFaultywaysofseeingreality—preventingusfrombeingopen-mindedevenbeforewebegintothink.“Mineisbetter”thinkingSelectivePerception—focusingondifferentthings.20.PerceptionErrorsFaultywaysoPerceptionErrors-continuedPretendingtoknowResistancetochangeEither/orthinking(ExampleEvolutionversusCreationTheories)21.PerceptionErrors-continuedPJudgmentErrorsOvergeneralizingorstereotypingHastyconclusionUnwarrantedassumption(assumptions:ideasthataretakenforgranted)Example:ifsomethingappearsinprint,itmustbetrue.Failuretomakeadistinction22.JudgmentErrorsOvergeneraliziJudgmentErrors-continuedDistinctionsaresubtledifferencesamongthings.Distinguishbetweenthepersonandtheidea.Example:Criticalthinkersjudgeanideaonitsownmerits—notonthecelebritystatusorexpertiseofthepersonexpressingitDistinguishbetweenfamiliarityandvalidity.It’seasytobelievethatreasoningisvalidbecausewe’vehearditmanytimes.23.JudgmentErrors-continuedDisJudgmentErrors–continued

Distinguishbetween“often”and“always,”“seldom”and“never.”O(jiān)versimplificationdiffersfromsimplification.Itomitsessentialinformationorignorescomplexity.Itdistortsrealityandconfusesdiscussion.24.JudgmentErrors–continued

DiErrorsofReactionExplainingAway(Example:MarijuanaUse—usersfeelthestudiesarewrongbecausetheyhavesmokedforyearsandit’shadnoeffectonthem…”Shiftingtheburdenofproof.Whenyoumakeanassertion,youmighthavetodefendit.Ifyoufindyoucan’t,avoidshiftingtheburdenofprooftoothersbutinsteadwithdrawtheassertion.25.ErrorsofReactionExplainingAReactionErrors-continuedAttackingtheperson.“Youhavenobusinesslecturingmeabout…”Insteadfocusontheideathantheperson.Beflexibleandbewillingtoadmitamistake.26.ReactionErrors-continuedAttArgumentSolvingStepsFindtheControllingIdea—theideathatisthemostreasonable.Usuallystatedrightaftertheintroduction.ReadtheArticle(whilekeepingthecontrollingideainmind.)IdentifyRelationships(moreinfonextslide)WriteaSummary27.ArgumentSolvingStepsFindtheIdentifyRelationshipsAndrelationshipssignalthatwhatfollowsaddstowhatpreceded.(Wordslikealso,first,inaddition,next,further,and,moreover,finally,lastly,besidesandanother.)Butrelationshipssignalwhatfollowscontrastswithwhatpreceded.(Wordslikehowever,nevertheless,yet,or,but,ontheotherhand,andincontrast.28.IdentifyRelationshipsAndrelaIdentifyRelationships-continuedThereforerelationshipssignalthataconclusionisbeingmadeabouttheprecedingevidence.(Wordslikeso,consequently,accordingly,thus,therefore,anditfollowsthat.)29.IdentifyRelationships-contiCopingwithComplexityOvercomeconfusionbydealingwithonesub-issueatatime.Beginbymakingaspreadsheet.Putthenamesoftheauthoritiesacrossthetopofthepageandthesub-issuesdowntheleft-side.Thenindicateeachauthority’sviewoneachsub-issue30.CopingwithComplexityOvercomeMedicalDoctorHealthTeacherDieticianDieterIstheAdkinsDietsafe?NoNoNoYesIsitcostly?Yes????YesNoDoesitwork?NoYes????Yes31.MedicalDoctorHealthTeacherDiComplexity-continuedChartthesub-issuesLookforthedisagreementsLookattheevidenceforthosesub-issues—thendecidewhomakesthebestpersuasivecaseforthatissue(don’tassumethatanyauthorityisrightoneveryissue!)Useyourdecisionsonthesub-issuestodetermineyouroverallviewoftheissue.32.Complexity-continuedChartthEvaluatingYourOwnViewsStep1:Decidewhatyouthinkandwhyyouthinkit.Step2:Seekotherviewsandmoreevidence.Step3:Evaluatethevariousviews.Step4:Constructthemostreasonableview33.EvaluatingYourOwnViewsStepProcessOriginalViewSignificantideasdiscoveredintheinvestigation/researchprocessRevisedView34.ProcessOriginalView34.EvaluatingOthers’ViewsStep1:Understandtheotherperson’sview.(Withholdingalljudgment)Step2:Seekotherviewsandmoreevidence.Step3:Evaluatethevariousviews.(Pros&Cons—maywanttochart)Step4:Constructthemostreasonableview.(Ifnooneviewprovestobefullyreasonable,thenconstructaviewbycombiningpartsoftheviews.)35.EvaluatingOthers’ViewsStep1PropagandaTechniquesBandwagon-createstheimpressionthateveryoneisdoingsomethingorbuyingsomething.Itappealstotheurgetoconform.GlitteringGenerality–Usingwordsorphrasestoimplyexcellenceoruniqueness.“Amazingnewdiscovery”36.PropagandaTechniquesBandwagonTechniques-continuedEmptyComparison–Useswordslike“bigger,”“better,”or“more.”Usedtomakestatementsthatseemtomakeaseriousclaim—yetyoucan’tholdtheadvertiserresponsiblebecauseyoucan’ttellexactlywhatisbeingclaimed.Biggerorbetterthanwhat?37.Techniques-continuedEmptyCoTechniques-continuedMeaninglessSlogan–designedtocreateapositiveimpression.“Flythefriendlyskies”isdesignedtoassociateUnitedAirlineswithfriendliness.Aimedatassociatingabusinesswithaparticularideaorconcept.Testimonial–anendorsementforaproductorservicelendingtheircredibilityandcelebritystatustoproducts.38.Techniques-continuedMeaninglTechniques-continuedTransferVoice-over–eveniftheviewercannotnamethespeaker,thevoicemaybefamiliarandmakethemessagemoreappealing.Objects–StatueofLibertyorAmericanFlag—showingthesymbolsarousesstrongpositivefeelingsinmanypeople.39.Techniques-continuedTransferTechniques-continuedPartyScene–whereweseepeopleenjoyingthemselves.Theproductmaybeshownascreatingagoodtime.Theproductmayjustbeincludedinthescenebutstillleavesanimpression…Usecriticalthinkingskillstoidentifypropagandanotonlyinmediabutalsoinwritingstyles.40.Techniques-continuedPartyScCreditsAlltheinformationforthisPowerPointcamefromthebookCriticalThinkingbyVincentRyanRuggiero.Thebookwasdesignedasasupplementtothe“BecomingAMasterStudent”Program.41.CreditsAlltheinformationforCriticalThinkingThinkingisapurposefulmentalactivity—youcontrolit…Thinkingisatwo-sidedactivity—firstyouproduceideasandthenyouevaluatethem…Producingideaswidensyourfocus(resistthetemptationtosettleforafewfamiliarideas).Evaluatingnarrowsyourfocus.Sorttheideas,identifythemostreasonableones.42.CriticalThinkingThinkingisaWhycriticalthinkingisimportantSuccessinworkdependsonthinkingskills.Itisn’tenoughtopossessknowledgebutyoumustbeabletoapplyinformationtoyourjob.Criticalthinkingisareliablewayofsearchingforthetruth.43.WhycriticalthinkingisimporFactsandOpinionsFactsarerealities;opinionsarebeliefsorjudgments.Opinionsmayfitthefactsorbeinerror.Eventhegreatestexpertssometimesholdincorrectopinions.Thatiswhyresearchissoimportantineverysubjectarea—itconfirmssomeopinionsanddisprovesothers.44.FactsandOpinionsFactsarereFormingOpinionsCriticalthinkersrealizehoweasyitistobemistakensotheyformtheiropinionswithcare.Theyrevisetheiropinions,evencherishedones,whenevertheyprovetobeinerror.Thereisnoshameinbeingwrong,butproblemsoccurwhenwestubbornlyclingtoamistakenview.45.FormingOpinionsCriticalthinkRecognizingfacts&opinionsFact:BabeRuthwasafamousbaseballplayer.Opinion:Smokingshouldbebannedinallpublicplaces.Fact:Camel’shairbrushesaremadeofSiberiansquirrelfir.Opinion:Eyewitnesstestimonyisgenerallyunreliable.46.Recognizingfacts&opinionsFaSeparatingfacts&opinionsIfyoustateafactthatisnotcommonknowledge,orthatcan’tbeeasilyverified,brieflystatewhereyougotyourinformation.Ifyoustateanopinion—aviewothersmightdisagreewith,includeanswerstoquestionsothersmightask.Ifyouarenotsurewhetherastatementisafactoranopinion,treatitasanopinion.47.Separatingfacts&opinionsIfOpinionversuspersonalpreference…Oftenconfusingtomanypeople.Example:“Comicbooksareasinstructiveaboutlifeasnovelsare.”Whenaskedwhatevidenceexiststhatcomicbooksaresoinstructive,theydon’thaveananswer…Preferencesdon’tneedtobedefendedaslongastheyareexpressedaspreferences.(Ifweexpressthemasopinions,don’tbesurprisedifotherschallengethem.48.OpinionversuspersonalpreferBasicApproachtoCriticalThinkingStepOne:Decidewhatyouthinkandwhyyouthinkit.StepTwo:Seekotherviewsandmoreevidence.StepThree:Decidewhichviewismostreasonable.49.BasicApproachtoCriticalThiStepOneBeginbydecidingwhatyourpositionisontheissueinquestion.(Puttingthisdecisioninwritingcanhelp.Don’tbediscouragedifthistakesseveralattempts.)Askyourselfwhatevidencedoyouhavetosupportyourview?Arethereotherconclusionspossible?Answerthesequestionsascompletelyasyoucan.(Youmightlistthemratherthanwritefullsentences.)50.StepOneBeginbydecidingwhatStepTwoOtherviewpointshelpyoutestyourviewanddiscoveryourbiases.Yougainadditionalinsightsbylookingatnewideas.Gatherideasfrommultiplesources:libraries,instructors,orexpertsinthefield.Lookatideasthatbothagreeanddisagreewithyourviewpoint.51.StepTwoOtherviewpointshelpStepThreeMeasureyourviewandtheviewsofothersagainsttheevidence.Decidewhichoneisthemostreasonablebasedontheevidence.Researchwilloftenproveyourviewpoint.Ifitalwaysprovesyourviewpoint,youmaybetwistingtheevidencetomeetyourneeds…52.StepThreeMeasureyourviewanCriticalReadingStrategiesChooseyourtimeandplaceReadactively(askquestions/seekanswers)ConcentrateonthetaskWriteasummary(inyourownwords;emphasizekeypoints;&writeaccurately)Reflectontheideas53.CriticalReadingStrategiesChoCriticalThinking&WritingCriticalthinkingprovidestheideasforwriting,andwritingstimulatesmoreideas.Allowtimeforreflectioneveryday.Focusondiscoveringideas.Beopentoideasatothertimes.54.CriticalThinking&WritingCriExpressingyourthoughtsforothersCompletethethinkingprocessfirst.Discoverywritingispartofthethinkingprocess—youproduceratherthancommunicateideas.Useyourviewpointasyourcontrollingidea.Chooseasuitableorganization.55.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoExpressingyourthoughtsforothers-continuedIntroductionYourcontrollingideaYourfirstargumentforthisideaandsupportingevidenceYoursecondargumentandsupportingevidenceYourthirdargument(ifyouhaveone)andsupportingevidenceConclusion56.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoExpressingyourthoughtsforothers-continuedSupportyourviewwithevidenceBeexact,butlively.(Choosewordthatconveyyourideaexactly.)Breakyourthoughtsintoparagraphs.Usestandardpunctuationandobserveconventionsofgrammarandusage.(TheDepartmentofHealthStudiesusesAPAformatformostpapers.)57.ExpressingyourthoughtsforoCharacteristicsofCriticalThinkersKnowtheirownminds.Arehonestwiththemselves.Acknowledgealltruths—evenunpleasantones.Acceptresponsibilityandaccountabilityfortheiractions.Acceptsoundarguments—evenifthatmeansrejectingtheirown.Criticalthinkersovercomeconfusionandaskquestions.Theybasetheirjudgmentsonevidence.58.CharacteristicsofCriticalThCharacteristicsofCriticalThinkers-continuedTheybasetheirjudgmentsonevidence.Theyresistmanipulation.Theylookforconnectionsbetweensubjects.Theybalancetheirthinking.Criticalthinkersareintellectuallyindependent.59.CharacteristicsofCriticalThRecognizingandavoidingerrorsThreetypesofbroaderrorsincriticalthinkingErrorsofPerceptionErrorsofJudgmentErrorsofReaction60.RecognizingandavoidingerrorPerceptionErrorsFaultywaysofseeingreality—preventingusfrombeingopen-mindedevenbeforewebegintothink.“Mineisbetter”thinkingSelectivePerception—focusingondifferentthings.61.PerceptionErrorsFaultywaysoPerceptionErrors-continuedPretendingtoknowResistancetochangeEither/orthinking(ExampleEvolutionversusCreationTheories)62.PerceptionErrors-continuedPJudgmentErrorsOvergeneralizingorstereotypingHastyconclusionUnwarrantedassumption(assumptions:ideasthataretakenforgranted)Example:ifsomethingappearsinprint,itmustbetrue.Failuretomakeadistinction63.JudgmentErrorsOvergeneraliziJudgmentErrors-continuedDistinctionsaresubtledifferencesamongthings.Distinguishbetweenthepersonandtheidea.Example:Criticalthinkersjudgeanideaonitsownmerits—notonthecelebritystatusorexpertiseofthepersonexpressingitDistinguishbetweenfamiliarityandvalidity.It’seasytobelievethatreasoningisvalidbecausewe’vehearditmanytimes.64.JudgmentErrors-continuedDisJudgmentErrors–continued

Distinguishbetween“often”and“always,”“seldom”and“never.”O(jiān)versimplificationdiffersfromsimplification.Itomitsessentialinformationorignorescomplexity.Itdistortsrealityandconfusesdiscussion.65.JudgmentErrors–continued

DiErrorsofReactionExplainingAway(Example:MarijuanaUse—usersfeelthestudiesarewrongbecausetheyhavesmokedforyearsandit’shadnoeffectonthem…”Shiftingtheburdenofproof.Whenyoumakeanassertion,youmighthavetodefendit.Ifyoufindyoucan’t,avoidshiftingtheburdenofprooftoothersbutinsteadwithdrawtheassertion.66.ErrorsofReactionExplainingAReactionErrors-continuedAttackingtheperson.“Youhavenobusinesslecturingmeabout…”Insteadfocusontheideathantheperson.Beflexibleandbewillingtoadmitamistake.67.ReactionErrors-continuedAttArgumentSolvingStepsFindtheControllingIdea—theideathatisthemostreasonable.Usuallystatedrightaftertheintroduction.ReadtheArticle(whilekeepingthecontrollingideainmind.)IdentifyRelationships(moreinfonextslide)WriteaSummary68.ArgumentSolvingStepsFindtheIdentifyRelationshipsAndrelationshipssignalthatwhatfollowsaddstowhatpreceded.(Wordslikealso,first,inaddition,next,further,and,moreover,finally,lastly,besidesandanother.)Butrelationshipssignalwhatfollowscontrastswithwhatpreceded.(Wordslikehowever,nevertheless,yet,or,but,ontheotherhand,andincontrast.69.IdentifyRelationshipsAndrelaIdentifyRelationships-continuedThereforerelationshipssignalthataconclusionisbeingmadeabouttheprecedingevidence.(Wordslikeso,consequently,accordingly,thus,therefore,anditfollowsthat.)70.IdentifyRelationships-contiCopingwithComplexityOvercomeconfusionbydealingwithonesub-issueatatime.Beginbymakingaspreadsheet.Putthenamesoftheauthoritiesacrossthetopofthepageandthesub-issuesdowntheleft-side.Thenindicateeachauthority’sviewoneachsub-issue71.CopingwithComplexityOvercomeMedicalDoctorHealthTeacherDieticianDieterIstheAdkinsDietsafe?NoNoNoYesIsitcostly?Yes????YesNoDoesitwork?NoYes????Yes72.MedicalDoctorHealthTeacherDiComplexity-continuedChartthesub-issuesLookforthedisagreementsLookattheevidenceforthosesub-issues—thendecidewhomakesthebestpersuasivecaseforthatissue(don’tassumethatanyauthorityisrightoneveryissue!)Useyourdecisionsonthesub-issuestodetermineyouroverallviewoftheissue.73.Complexity-continuedChartthEvaluatingYourOwnViewsStep1:Decidewhatyouthinkandwhyyouthinkit.Step2:Seekotherviewsandmoreevidence.Step3:Evaluatethevariousviews.Step4:Cons