1. Using Critical Thinking

2. Source: Paul & Elder, Foundation for Critical Thinking

3. Uses of the Critical Thinking Framework
Critically assess the written, oral, video, etc., works of others.
Use as a heuristic (guide, format, checklist, etc.) for developing your own written, oral, video, etc., work.
For developing answers to questions or solutions to problems.

4. Using Critical Thinking in Your Own Analysis
CCT Elements of Thought
Comments
1. Purpose
The “Big Picture” (cannot research)
2. Question or Problem
Be specific and focused, have one question or problem that can be researched
3. Information
Information Literacy (Week 4)—provides: context & background, data (evidence, facts, etc.), existing studies on your question or problem
4. Essential Concepts
Points of View
Assumptions
Definitions, Theories, Models, Hypotheses, Development of Alternatives
5. Interpretation & Inference
Analytic methods to test hypotheses; reach findings & conclusions
6. Implications & Consequences
Results if findings implemented (intended and unintended)

5. Interpretation & Inference
Logical Argumentation (combines logic, reasoning, information)
Existing Models or Methods (Case Studies, Analogy, Analysis of Competing Hypotheses, Rational Choice, Utility Theory, Game Theory, etc.—there are hundreds)
Basic Statistics (descriptive statistics, contingency tables, means tables, ordinary least squares regression, logistic regression)
Advanced Statistics and Mathematical Methods

6. Pros-Cons-Fixes (PCF): The Benjamin Franklin Technique
For each Alternative Hypothesis:
List all Pros
List all Cons
Review & Consolidate Cons, merge and eliminate
Neutralize as Many Cons (create Fixes) as possible
Compare Pros & unalterable Cons for all Alternatives
Pick Best Solution

7. A Basic Matrix Analysis
Alternative or Hypothesis 1
Alternative or Hypothesis 2
Alternative or Hypothesis 3
Evaluation Factor 1 + -
Evaluation Factor 2
Evaluation Factor 3
Evaluation Factor 4 _
Total Scores
1 inconsistency
(best solution)
2 inconsistencies
3 inconsistencies

8. Basics of Logical Argumentation: Combining Logic, Reasoning and Information
Claimed
premises (evidence, data, information) and connecting reasons
(because)
Premises/Reasons
(therefore)
What is claimed to follow
from the Premises/Reasons
Conclusions/Inferences/Contentions/Thesis

9. Argument Mapping

10. Argument Mapping: Example
Question: Should voting be compulsory?

11. Logic Fallacies (Bad Reasoning)
Red Herring—introduction of an irrelevant point into an argument—someone may think this supports his/her side, but it really does not.
Ad Hominem Attack—attacking an opponent’s character, or his/her motives for believing something, instead of providing a good counter-argument.
Appeal to the People—claiming a viewpoint is correct because many other people (or famous people) agree with it.
Straw Man—changing or exaggerating an opponent’s position or argument to make it easier to refute.
Circular Reasoning, Equivocation, Loaded Question, Part-to-Whole, Either-Or, etc.—there are many more fallacies.

12. Conclusions (in longer essays & papers)
Do not just summarize the essay or paper.
Revisit the original research question or problem and place your findings in its context.
Explain the implications and consequences of adopting your findings
Identify issues that need to be addressed if this question or problem is to be further researched.

13. Intellectual Standards to Assess Thinking
Clarity – Could you give an example?
Accuracy – How could we verify that?
Precision – Could you give more details?
Relevance – How does that
relate to the problem?

14. Intellectual Standards to Assess Thinking
Depth – What are some of the complexities of this problem?
Breadth – Do we need to consider
another point of view?
Logic – Does this all make sense together?
Significance – Which of these facts/problems is the most important?
Fairness – Do I have a vested interest in the issue?

15. Professional Writing Procedures
Do not use first person (I, me, etc.). Use third person (we, us, etc.) in all professional writing.
Minimize the use of quotes—use paraphrasing instead. At most use 1 or 2 short quotes (those < 40 words and placed in text) per page and 1 longer quote (those > 40 words and indented on the page) every 2-3 pages.
Do not use rhetorical or hypothetical questions for emphases.
Do not use phrases such as “I think…” “I believe…” “In my opinion…”etc., superiors do not want opinions, just what you can support with logic, reasoning and information.
Do not use Wikipedia (it has no validity checks).
Do not use encyclopedias, dictionaries or other standard reference books—use scholarly literature instead.

16. Critical Thinking Analysis and Writing Proficiency Comes With Practice

17. Good Luck in Your Critical Thinking
Reference List (to learn more):
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.   
Bluedorn, N. and H. Bluedorn. (2003). The Fallacy Detective, Thirty-Six Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning (2nd ed.). Muscatine, IA: Christian Logic.
Nosich, G. (2012). Learning to Think Things Through, A guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Paul, R. and L. Elder. (2006). Critical Thinking: Tools for Taking Charge of Your Learning and Your Life (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.