Critical Thinking Framework analysis and evaluation Monday, March 17, 2008 Blocks 5 & 6 COMM 306

Critical Thinking Framework analysis and evaluation Today’s objectives: To learn a concise, flexible CT framework To use the framework to help us think more deeply and clearly about issues related to 306 To use the framework to develop questions about global poverty that will help us focus our research on the best sources to inform our understanding of the course material

Critical Thinking Framework analysis and evaluation We can use the Elements of Thought to build our own strong, clear, persuasive messages for particular audiences We can apply the Elements of Thought to whole or parts of verbal, oral, & visual messages to determine their soundness, validity, value

Critical Thinking Framework Audience Argumentation Claims/premises assertions, opinions Aristotelian ethos logos pathos Toulmin qualifiers rebuttals Rogerian opposition common ground compromise point of view Elements of Thought purpose implications question at issue artistic inartistic assumptions information data, facts concepts interpretation inference clarity accuracy relevance depth breadth logic Fallacies—generalization, slippery slope, ad hominem, weak analogy Intellectual Standards