Developing a critical thinking framework
- 1. Developing a Critical Thinking Framework ACCY 415 – Spring 2016
- 3. Critical Thinking • A definition: – “Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and/or evaluating information gathered from or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication, as a guide to belief and action.” – “It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities” www.criticalthinking.org 3
- 4. Asking Essential Questions… • “The quality of our thinking is given in the quality of our questions.”1 • To be skilled at thinking we must be skilled at questioning. • Questions are “the keys to productive thinking, deep learning, and effective living.” 1 1Elder & Paul, (2010), “The Art of Asking Essential Questions” 4
- 5. Start with a Framework • Numerous guides available • We will use the framework provided by the Foundation for Critical Thinking • www.criticalthinking.org
- 6. Universal Structures of Thought Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: Learn the tools the best thinkers use (Concise ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall. 6
- 8. All reasoning has a PURPOSE • Take time to state your purpose clearly • Distinguish your purpose from related purposes • Check periodically to be sure you are still on target. • Choose significant and realistic purposes.
- 9. All reasoning is an attempt to FIGURE something out, to settle some QUESTION, solve some PROBLEM • Take time to clearly and precisely state the question at issue. • Express the question in several ways to clarify its meaning and scope. • Break the question into sub-questions. • Identify if the question has one right answer, is a matter of mere opinion, or requires reasoning for more than one point of view.
- 10. All reasoning is based on assumptions.
- 11. All reasoning is done from a POINT OF View
- 12. All reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION and Evidence • Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have. • Search for information that opposes your position a swell as information that supports it. • Make sure that all information used
- 13. All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, CONCEPTS and IDEAS
- 14. All reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which we draw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to data.
- 15. All reasoning ends somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES
- 16. Article Analysis Template 1. The main purpose of this article is____________________. 2. The key question is _______________________________. 3. The most important information in this article is_________. 4. The main conclusions in this article are________________. 5. The key concept(s) we need to understand in this article is (are)___________. 6. The main assumption(s) underlying the author’s thinking is (are)___________. 7. If people take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are_____________. 8. If people fail to take this line of reasoning seriously, the implications are _____________. 9. The main point(s) of the view presented in this article is (are)_________.
- 17. Practice… • Read the article “How Target Figured Out a Teen Girl was Pregnant Before Her Father Did” (I will provide this article in class) • Apply the “Elements of Thought” and the Critical Thinking template as a guide. • Be ready to share your analysis with the class. 17