Critical Thinking
What is it?
I am not
a parrot!
"Study without reflection is a
waste of time; reflection
without study is dangerous."
-- Confucius
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Critical thinking begins when you
question beyond what is given.
You want to know more:
• how something happens,
• why it happens, and further
• what will happen if something changes.
Critical thinking therefore requires a conscious
level of processing, analysis, creation and
evaluation of possible outcomes, and reflection.
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If you’re a critical
thinker, you think.
….No surprise….
You are willing to examine your beliefs,
assumptions, and opinions and weigh them
against facts. You are willing to evaluate the
generalizations and stereotypes you have
created and are open to change, if
necessary.
3
Critical thinkers listen
carefully.
If you’re a critical thinker, you listen
carefully to what others are saying and
are able to give feedback. You are able to
suspend judgment until all the facts have
been gathered and considered.
4
Critical thinkers look
for evidence….
If you’re a critical thinker, you look
for evidence to support your
assumptions and beliefs. You
examine problems closely and are
able to reject information that is
incorrect or irrelevant.
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Therefore…through experience, as a
critical thinker, you will:
• identify information that is being put forth as an argument
and break it down to its basic components for evaluation.
• construct alternative interpretations
• be willing to explore diverse perspectives
• be willing to change personal assumptions when
presented with valid information
• be willing to ask difficult questions and the ability to
receptive to opposing viewpoints.
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Critical thinkers are curious.
They are interested in knowing all there is
about a topic. They look for new and better
ways to do everything. They are not the
person who will settle for “…because that
is the way we have always done it.”
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Definitions
Critical thinking is . . .
Thinking “outside” the box
Divergent thinking
Forming logical inferences
Limitless thinking
Higher level thinking
involving. . . 8
Evaluating
Analyzing
Synthesizing
Forming opinions
Assessing
Rating
Making inferences
Drawing conclusions
Critiquing
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BLOOM’S TAXONOMY– A HIERARCHICAL
CLASSIFICATION OF THE LEVELS OF THINKING
EVALUATION—critiquing, rating, grading, assaying, assessing, inferring,
drawing conclusions, forming opinions
SYNTHESIS—redesigning, recreating, putting back together in a
different way
COMPLEX
ANALYSIS—examining, taking apart, breaking down
SIMPLE
APPLICATION—using knowledge & comprehension; solving problems
COMPREHENSION—understanding, paraphrasing, interpreting
KNOWLEDGE—naming, recognizing, identifying, recalling, reciting, etc.
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Critical Thinking Application
. . .
. . .
. . .
How can the definition of critical thinking help you solve this problem? Connect the 9 dots
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using 4 straight lines. Once you start drawing the lines, do not stop until all 9 dots have
been connected. HINT: Lines may be vertical, horizontal and/or diagonal.
Why Is Critical Thinking Important?
It . . .
• .communication
. . underlies reading, writing, listening and speaking—basic elements of
• . . . plays an important part in social change. . .
institutions in any society—courts, governments, schools, businesses—
are the products of critical thinking
• . . . plays a major role in technological advances
• . . . blazes a path to freedom from half-truths and deceptions 12
How Can One Become a Critical
Thinker?
• By asking pertinent questions (of
self as well as others);
• By listening carefully to others, thinking
about what they say, and giving
feedback;
• By assessing statements and
arguments;
• By observing with an open mind;
• By making assertions based on sound
• By developing a sense of
observation and curiosity;
logic and solid evidence;
• By sharing ideas with others;
• By becoming interested in finding
new solutions;
• By becoming an open-minded listener
and reader;
• By examining beliefs, assumptions,
and opinions and weighing them • By engaging in active reading and active
against truth. listening!
• By developing a “thinker’s
vocabulary”.
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Final Words
• Critical thinking is “higher level” thinking
• Itbox”
often requires us to think “outside the
• Many
thinking
occupations/careers require critical
• The things we enjoy in everyday society
are the result of critical thinking
• By adopting certain habits and behaviors
we can learn to think critically.
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Who Should Use Critical
Thinking?
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Everyone thinks…
Everyone thinks. It is in our nature to do so.
But so much of our thinking, left to itself, is
biased, distorted, partial, uninformed, or
downright prejudiced. Yet the quality of our
life and that of what we produce depends on
the quality of our thought.
-Richard Paul
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