1. Learning to Think Critically

2. Overview What is thinking? How does thinking affect decision making?
How does thinking affect problem solving?
What is critical thinking?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

3. Overview What is critical reading? What are the parts of thinking?
What are the standards for critical thinking?
How do good questions support critical thinking?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

4. Quick Write
What was the last great movie you saw? What did you like about it? What was memorable about the movie? Why would you recommend the flick to your friends?
Write five sentences that tell why you thought the film was good
Share your thoughts with a partner
How are your standards for movies the same as your partner’s? How are they different?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

5. We Are All Thinkers
Thinking is a function of your mind that makes sense of the events of your life and helps you figure out what is going on around you
Graphic #
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

6. Stopping to Reflect
Reflection is the process of making sense of the world by thinking
To be a good thinker or communicator, you have to stop and reflect on how the world has impressed you
In other words, to really think, you have to stop and think about what you think
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

7. Your Brain Thinks, Feels and Wants
Thinking is one of the brain’s three major functions—the other two are feeling and wanting.
Chapter 1, Lesson 3
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8. Thinking Clearly
Sometimes it is hard to separate what you think from what you feel
But with practice, you can learn to think clearly
CLEAR THINKING
↓ ↓
Decision Making Problem Solving
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

9. Barriers to Good Thinking
Decision Making
Good Thinking
Barriers to Good Thinking
Decision based on reason
Rational life reflecting pattern of thoughtful decisions
Irrational decisions
Complicate your life/harm others
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

10. Steps to Good Decisions
State the situation
List all possibilities or options
Think about possible complications
Sort or judge the alternatives systematically
Take your time
Discuss the issue with people you trust
Conduct research if necessary
Make a decision and act, then evaluate
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

11. Problem Solving Putting your thinking to work to weigh options
and come up
with solutions
Chapter 1, Lesson 3
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12. Critical Thinking Helps You Solve Problems
Critical thinking is the ability to explore an issue, problem, decision, or option from many angles
Critical thinking involves analysis—the process of breaking down an issue to figure out its nature and how it works
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

13. Build Critical Thinking Skills
Hold back your emotions about the subject
Look at the subject from different points of view
Break down information
Ask probing questions
Solve problems systematically
Separate facts from opinions
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

14. Critical Reading Who? When? What? Why? How? What does it all mean?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3
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15. Parts of Thinking PARTS OF THINKING governed by CONCEPTS and THEORIES
come up with SOLUTIONS and
OUTCOMES
whenever we think we think for a
PURPOSE
within a
POINT of VIEW
to make INFERENCES and JUDGMENTS
we use
DATA and FACTS
leading to IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES
based on ASSUMPTIONS
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

16. Standards for Critical Thinking
Clarity
Is the language used to express the thought clear? Is it focused?
Accuracy
Is the statement true?
Precision
Is the thought specific enough?
Relevance
Does the thought apply well to the issue in question?
Depth
Does the idea dig into the issue’s complexities or just glance off the surface?
Breadth
Does the thought consider other points of view?
Logic
Does the thinking follow from solid premises?
Significance
Is the thinking important enough to be included in the deeper discussion?
Fairness
Is the thought balanced and based on truth?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3
Adapted from Critical Thinking Paul and Edler ©2001 Prentice Hall

17. Good Questions Support Good Thinking
Three Kinds of Questions
Question of Fact
requires evidence and reasoning within a system
a correct answer
leads to development of knowledge
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

18. Good Questions Support Good Thinking
Three Kinds of Questions
Question of Preference
asks for the listener to state a choice
an individual, subjective opinion
cannot judge or prove right or wrong
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

19. Good Questions Support Good Thinking
Three Kinds of Questions
Question of Judgment
requires evidence and reasoning within multiple systems
some answers are better than others
asking for a judgment call
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

20. Review
Critical thinking is the ability to explore an issue, problem, decision, or option from many angles
Thinking affects decision-making and problem solving
Problem solving also depends on good thinking, as you weigh options, look for new possibilities and come up with a solution
Critical reading demands that you think about what you read, ask questions, and develop your own understanding of the writer’s words
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

21. Review
Parts of thinking: purpose, point of view, assumptions, implications, data and facts, inferences, theories, and solutions
Standards for thinking: clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, fairness
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

22. Review
Asking good questions is important for critical thinking, but avoid dead questions
Good questions fall into three categories: questions of fact, questions of preference, and questions of judgment
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

23. Summary What is thinking? How does thinking affect decision making?
How does thinking affect problem solving?
What is critical thinking?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

24. Summary What is critical reading? What are the parts of thinking?
What are the standards for critical thinking?
How do good questions support critical thinking?
Chapter 1, Lesson 3

25. Next Done—critical thinking Next—the basic checklist for communication
Chapter 1, Lesson 3
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