1. Critical Thinking The Student Learning Advisory Service Gina May

2. Key terms Proposition Argument Line of reasoning Assertions Premises False premises 2

3. What is critical thinking? Constructive scepticism Detachment Stages – consider: ◦ Prior assumptions, contextual information and premises ◦ Development ◦ Evidence ◦ Conclusion 3

4. Why use critical thinking? Ability to explain and illustrate Develop an informed opinion Awareness of persuasion techniques Identify hidden assumptions 4

5. Identify the line of reasoning Consider: How does the author set out his/her position? Paragraphs: central point exploration evidence transition 5

6. Critically evaluate line of reasoning Consider: Is it relevant? Sufficient propositions/reasons Is there cohesion? Logical Progression? False premises Flawed reasoning Drawing ‘general conclusions’ Inappropriate comparisons 6

7. Look beneath the surface Does the text: Make implicit judgements? Provide all the necessary information? Fail to acknowledge alternative interpretations? Is the text: Peer reviewed? 7

8. 4.Identifying and evaluating evidence in a text This may be relatively straightforward to identify For example, an academic paper that uses tables, charts and diagrams and is supported by statistics and data is perfectly transparent about the types of evidence it uses However, it may be useful to try and summarise the range of evidence available before we evaluate the evidence itself What does this range/choice of evidence suggest about the writer’s ‘argument’? 8

9. Evaluate the evidence ◦ Date ◦ Source ◦ Bias ◦ Question statistics ◦ Language ◦ Percentages ◦ Sample size ◦ Conditions of data research 9

10. Identify conclusions Look for: ◦ Final conclusions ◦ Sub-conclusions ◦ Signpost statements ◦ Trigger words 10

11. Finally …. Does the evidence support the conclusions? Does conclusion rest on a false conclusion? Is the conclusion sound? 11