Critical Skills Assignment Critical Reading and Opinion Answer Key
Introduction
Learning Objectives
- define critical thinking
- identify the part that logic plays in critical thinking
- apply disquisitional thinking skills to problem-solving scenarios
- utilize critical thinking skills to evaluation of information
Consider these thoughts about the critical thinking process, and how information technology applies non just to our schoolhouse lives merely also our personal and professional person lives.
"Thinking Critically and Creatively"
Critical thinking skills are perchance the most central skills involved in making judgments and solving issues. Y'all use them every mean solar day, and yous can continue improving them.
The ability to think critically about a matter—to analyze a question, state of affairs, or problem down to its well-nigh basic parts—is what helps us evaluate the accuracy and truthfulness of statements, claims, and information we read and hear. It is the sharp knife that, when honed, separates fact from fiction, honesty from lies, and the authentic from the misleading. We all use this skill to one degree or some other well-nigh every twenty-four hour period. For example, nosotros use critical thinking every day as we consider the latest consumer products and why one detail product is the all-time amid its peers. Is information technology a quality product considering a celebrity endorses it? Because a lot of other people may take used information technology? Because it is made by one company versus some other? Or mayhap because information technology is made in one country or some other? These are questions representative of critical thinking.
The academic setting demands more than of united states of america in terms of critical thinking than everyday life. It demands that we evaluate data and analyze myriad issues. Information technology is the environs where our critical thinking skills can exist the departure betwixt success and failure. In this environment we must consider information in an analytical, disquisitional manner. We must ask questions—What is the source of this information? Is this source an practiced 1 and what makes it so? Are there multiple perspectives to consider on an issue? Exercise multiple sources concord or disagree on an issue? Does quality enquiry substantiate information or opinion? Practice I have whatsoever personal biases that may affect my consideration of this information?
It is only through purposeful, frequent, intentional questioning such every bit this that we can sharpen our critical thinking skills and meliorate as students, learners and researchers.
—Dr. Andrew Robert Baker, Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom
Defining Critical Thinking
Thinking comes naturally. You don't have to get in happen—it just does. But yous tin can brand it happen in different ways. For example, you tin think positively or negatively. You can retrieve with "heart" and y'all tin can think with rational judgment. You can as well think strategically and analytically, and mathematically and scientifically. These are a few of multiple ways in which the listen can process idea.
What are some forms of thinking you lot use? When practice y'all use them, and why?
Equally a college student, y'all are tasked with engaging and expanding your thinking skills. One of the most important of these skills is critical thinking. Critical thinking is important because it relates to well-nigh all tasks, situations, topics, careers, environments, challenges, and opportunities. It's not restricted to a item subject expanse.
Disquisitional thinking is clear, reasonable, reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or practise. Information technology ways request probing questions like, "How do we know?" or "Is this true in every case or just in this instance?" It involves being skeptical and challenging assumptions, rather than simply memorizing facts or blindly accepting what you hear or read.
Imagine, for example, that you're reading a history textbook. You wonder who wrote it and why, because you detect certain assumptions in the writing. Yous find that the author has a limited scope of research focused but on a particular group within a population. In this example, your critical thinking reveals that there are "other sides to the story."
Who are disquisitional thinkers, and what characteristics do they have in mutual? Critical thinkers are usually curious and cogitating people. They similar to explore and probe new areas and seek cognition, clarification, and new solutions. They inquire pertinent questions, evaluate statements and arguments, and they distinguish between facts and opinion. They are as well willing to examine their ain beliefs, possessing a fashion of humility that allows them to acknowledge lack of knowledge or understanding when needed. They are open to changing their mind. Perhaps near of all, they actively enjoy learning, and seeking new knowledge is a lifelong pursuit.
This may well be you lot!
No matter where you lot are on the road to being a critical thinker, you tin can always more fully develop your skills. Doing so will assistance you develop more balanced arguments, express yourself clearly, read critically, and blot important information efficiently. Critical thinking skills volition help you in whatsoever profession or any circumstance of life, from science to fine art to business organization to educational activity.
| Disquisitional Thinking IS | Critical Thinking is Not |
|---|---|
| Skepticism | Memorizing |
| Examining assumptions | Grouping thinking |
| Challenging reasoning | Blind acceptance of authorization |
| Uncovering biases |
Critical Thinking in Action
The following video, from Lawrence Bland, presents the major concepts and benefits of critical thinking.
Critical Thinking and Logic
Disquisitional thinking is fundamentally a process of questioning information and data. You may question the information y'all read in a textbook, or you lot may question what a politician or a professor or a classmate says. You tin also question a unremarkably-held conventionalities or a new thought. With critical thinking, anything and everything is discipline to question and test.
Logic's Relationship to Critical Thinking
The word logic comes from the Ancient Greek logike, referring to the science or art of reasoning. Using logic, a person evaluates arguments and strives to distinguish betwixt good and bad reasoning, or between truth and falsehood. Using logic, you can evaluate ideas or claims people make, make practiced decisions, and form sound beliefs near the world.[1]
Questions of Logic in Critical Thinking
Allow'south use a simple example of applying logic to a critical-thinking situation. In this hypothetical scenario, a human has a PhD in political scientific discipline, and he works as a professor at a local higher. His wife works at the college, too. They accept iii immature children in the local school system, and their family is well known in the community.
The man is at present running for political office. Are his credentials and feel sufficient for inbound public office? Will he be effective in the political office? Some voters might believe that his personal life and current job, on the surface, suggest he will do well in the position, and they volition vote for him.
In truth, the characteristics described don't guarantee that the man will practise a good job. The data is somewhat irrelevant. What else might you lot want to know? How about whether the man had already held a political function and done a good job? In this case, nosotros want to inquire, How much information is adequate in guild to make a conclusion based on logic instead of assumptions?
The following questions, presented in Figure i, below, are ones y'all may apply to formulating a logical, reasoned perspective in the above scenario or any other state of affairs:
- What's happening? Get together the bones information and begin to think of questions.
- Why is it important? Inquire yourself why it's significant and whether or not you concur.
- What don't I run across? Is there anything of import missing?
- How do I know? Ask yourself where the information came from and how information technology was constructed.
- Who is saying it? What'southward the position of the speaker and what is influencing them?
- What else? What if? What other ideas exist and are at that place other possibilities?
Figure ane
Problem-Solving With Critical Thinking
For about people, a typical mean solar day is filled with critical thinking and problem-solving challenges. In fact, critical thinking and trouble-solving go hand-in-hand. They both refer to using knowledge, facts, and data to solve problems effectively. Simply with problem-solving, you are specifically identifying, selecting, and defending your solution. Below are some examples of using critical thinking to problem-solve:
- Your roommate was upset and said some unkind words to you, which put a crimp in your relationship. You try to run across through the aroused behaviors to decide how you might best back up your roommate and help bring your relationship dorsum to a comfy spot.
-
Your campus lodge has been languishing on business relationship of lack of participation and funds. The new club president, though, is a marketing major and has identified some strategies to interest students in joining and supporting the club. Implementation is forthcoming.
- Your final art class project challenges you to conceptualize grade in new ways. On the last day of form when students present their projects, you describe the techniques y'all used to fulfill the assignment. You explain why and how you selected that arroyo.
- Your math teacher sees that the class is non quite grasping a concept. She uses clever questioning to dispel anxiety and guide you to new understanding of the concept.
- You take a chore interview for a position that you experience you are only partially qualified for, although you really want the job and you lot are excited almost the prospects. You analyze how you lot will explain your skills and experiences in a way to testify that you are a good friction match for the prospective employer.
- Yous are doing well in college, and most of your college and living expenses are covered. Just there are some gaps between what you want and what yous experience you can afford. You analyze your income, savings, and budget to ameliorate summate what you lot will need to stay in college and maintain your desired level of spending.
Problem-Solving Action Checklist
Problem-solving can be an efficient and rewarding procedure, particularly if you are organized and mindful of disquisitional steps and strategies. Remember, as well, to assume the attributes of a good critical thinker. If y'all are curious, reflective, knowledge-seeking, open to change, probing, organized, and upstanding, your claiming or trouble will be less of a hurdle, and you'll be in a good position to find intelligent solutions.
| STRATEGIES | ACTION CHECKLIST[2] | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define the problem |
|
| 2 | Place bachelor solutions |
|
| 3 | Select your solution |
|
Evaluating Information With Critical Thinking
Evaluating information tin can be i of the most circuitous tasks you lot will be faced with in college. But if you lot utilize the following four strategies, you will be well on your way to success:
- Read for understanding by using text coding
- Examine arguments
- Analyze thinking
- Cultivate "habits of listen"
one. Read for Understanding Using Text Coding
When y'all read and take notes, use the text coding strategy. Text coding is a way of tracking your thinking while reading. It entails mark the text and recording what you are thinking either in the margins or possibly on Post-it notes. As you make connections and enquire questions in response to what you read, y'all monitor your comprehension and heighten your long-term understanding of the material.
With text coding, marker important arguments and key facts. Indicate where you agree and disagree or have further questions. Y'all don't necessarily need to read every word, but brand certain you empathise the concepts or the intentions behind what is written. Feel free to develop your own shorthand style when reading or taking notes. The following are a few options to consider using while coding text.
| Shorthand | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ! | Important |
| L | Learned something new |
| ! | Big thought surfaced |
| * | Interesting or of import fact |
| ? | Dig deeper |
| ✓ | Hold |
| ≠ | Disagree |
Meet more than text coding from PBWorks and Collaborative for Educational activity and Learning.
2. Examine Arguments
When you examine arguments or claims that an author, speaker, or other source is making, your goal is to identify and examine the difficult facts. You can utilize the spectrum of potency strategy for this purpose. The spectrum of authority strategy assists y'all in identifying the "hot" end of an argument—feelings, behavior, cultural influences, and societal influences—and the "common cold" stop of an argument—scientific influences. The following video explains this strategy.
three. Analyze Thinking
When you utilise disquisitional thinking to evaluate data, you need to clarify your thinking to yourself and probable to others. Doing this well is mainly a process of asking and answering probing questions, such as the logic questions discussed earlier. Pattern your questions to fit your needs, but be certain to cover adequate ground. What is the purpose? What question are we trying to reply? What point of view is being expressed? What assumptions are we or others making? What are the facts and data we know, and how do we know them? What are the concepts nosotros're working with? What are the conclusions, and do they brand sense? What are the implications?
4. Cultivate "Habits of Heed"
"Habits of mind" are the personal commitments, values, and standards you have most the principle of skillful thinking. Consider your intellectual commitments, values, and standards. Do y'all approach problems with an open mind, a respect for truth, and an inquiring attitude? Some good habits to have when thinking critically are being receptive to having your opinions changed, having respect for others, being contained and not accepting something is true until you've had the time to examine the bachelor evidence, being off-white-minded, having respect for a reason, having an inquiring heed, non making assumptions, and always, peculiarly, questioning your own conclusions—in other words, developing an intellectual work ethic. Try to work these qualities into your daily life.
Self-Check
Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-basicreadingwriting/chapter/outcome-critical-thinking/
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