Critical-Thinking.ppt

Critical ThinkingnThinking is a purposeful mental activityyou control itnThinking is a two-sided activityfirst you produce ideas and then you evaluate themnProducing ideas widens your focus(resist the temptation to settle for a few familiar ideas).nEvaluating narrows your focus.Sort the ideas,identify the most reasonable ones.1.Why critical thinking is importantnSuccess in work depends on thinking skills.nIt isnt enough to possess knowledge but you must be able to apply information to your job.nCritical thinking is a reliable way of searching for the truth.2.Facts and OpinionsnFacts are realities;opinions are beliefs or judgments.nOpinions may fit the facts or be in error.nEven the greatest experts sometimes hold incorrect opinions.nThat is why research is so important in every subject areait confirms some opinions and disproves others.3.Forming OpinionsnCritical thinkers realize how easy it is to be mistaken so they form their opinions with care.nThey revise their opinions,even cherished ones,whenever they prove to be in error.nThere is no shame in being wrong,but problems occur when we stubbornly cling to a mistaken view.4.Recognizing facts&opinionsnFact:Babe Ruth was a famous baseball player.nOpinion:Smoking should be banned in all public places.nFact:Camels hair brushes are made of Siberian squirrel fir.nOpinion:Eyewitness testimony is generally unreliable.5.Separating facts&opinions1)If you state a fact that is not common knowledge,or that cant be easily verified,briefly state where you got your information.2)If you state an opiniona view others might disagree with,include answers to questions others might ask.3)If you are not sure whether a statement is a fact or an opinion,treat it as an opinion.6.Opinion versus personal preferencenOften confusing to many people.nExample:“Comic books are as instructive about life as novels are.”nWhen asked what evidence exists that comic books are so instructive,they dont have an answernPreferences dont need to be defended as long as they are expressed as preferences.(If we express them as opinions,dont be surprised if others challenge them.7.Basic Approach to Critical ThinkingStep One:Decide what you think and why you think it.Step Two:Seek other views and more evidence.Step Three:Decide which view is most reasonable.8.Step OnenBegin by deciding what your position is on the issue in question.(Putting this decision in writing can help.Dont be discouraged if this takes several attempts.)nAsk yourself what evidence do you have to support your view?nAre there other conclusions possible?nAnswer these questions as completely as you can.(You might list them rather than write full sentences.)9.Step TwonOther viewpoints help you test your view and discover your biases.nYou gain additional insights by looking at new ideas.nGather ideas from multiple sources:libraries,instructors,or experts in the field.nLook at ideas that both agree and disagree with your viewpoint.10.Step ThreenMeasure your view and the views of others against the evidence.nDecide which one is the most reasonable based on the evidence.nResearch will often prove your viewpoint.If it always proves your viewpoint,you may be twisting the evidence to meet your needs11.Critical Reading Strategies1)Choose your time and place2)Read actively(ask questions/seek answers)3)Concentrate on the task4)Write a summary(in your own words;emphasize key points;&write accurately)5)Reflect on the ideas12.Critical Thinking&WritingnCritical thinking provides the ideas for writing,and writing stimulates more ideas.nAllow time for reflection every day.nFocus on discovering ideas.nBe open to ideas at other times.13.Expressing your thoughts for othersnComplete the thinking process first.nDiscovery writing is part of the thinking processyou produce rather than communicate ideas.nUse your viewpoint as your controlling idea.nChoose a suitable organization.14.Expressing your thoughts for others-continued1)Introduction2)Your controlling idea3)Your first argument for this idea and supporting evidence4)Your second argument and supporting evidence5)Your third argument(if you have one)and supporting evidence6)Conclusion15.Expressing your thoughts for others-continuedSupport your view with evidenceBe exact,but lively.(Choose word that convey your idea exactly.)Break your thoughts into paragraphs.Use standard punctuation and observe conventions of grammar and usage.(The Department of Health Studies uses APA format for most papers.)16.Characteristics of Critical ThinkersnKnow their own minds.nAre honest with themselves.nAcknowledge all truthseven unpleasant ones.nAccept responsibility and accountability for their actions.nAccept sound argumentseven if that means rejecting their own.nCritical thinkers overcome confusion and ask questions.nThey base their judgments on evidence.17.Characteristics of Critical Thinkers-continuednThey base their judgments on evidence.nThey resist manipulation.nThey look for connections between subjects.nThey balance their thinking.nCritical thinkers are intellectually independent.18.Recognizing and avoiding errorsnThree types of broad errors in critical thinkingnErrors of PerceptionnErrors of JudgmentnErrors of Reaction19.Perception ErrorsnFaulty ways of seeing realitypreventing us from being open-minded even before we begin to think.n“Mine is better”thinkingnSelective Perceptionfocusing on different things.20.Perception Errors-continuednPretending to knownResistance to changenEither/or thinking(Example Evolution versus Creation Theories)21.Judgment ErrorsnOver generalizing or stereotypingnHasty conclusionnUnwarranted assumption(assumptions:ideas that are taken for granted)Example:if something appears in print,it must be true.nFailure to make a distinction22.Judgment Errors-continuednDistinctions are subtle differences among things.nDistinguish between the person and the idea.Example:Critical thinkers judge an idea on its own meritsnot on the celebrity status or expertise of the person expressing itnDistinguish between familiarity and validity.Its easy to believe that reasoning is valid because weve heard it many times.23.Judgment Errors continuednDistinguish between“often”and“always,”“seldom”and“never.”nOversimplification differs from simplification.It omits essential information or ignores complexity.It distorts reality and confuses discussion.24.Errors of ReactionnExplaining Away(Example:Marijuana Useusers feel the studies are wrong because they have smoked for years and its had no effect on them”nShifting the burden of proof.When you make an assertion,you might have to defend it.If you find you cant,avoid shifting the burden of proof to others but instead withdraw the assertion.25.Reaction Errors-continuednAttacking the person.“You have no business lecturing me about”nInstead focus on the idea than the person.nBe flexible and be willing to admit a mistake.26.Argument Solving StepsnFind the Controlling Ideathe idea that is the most reasonable.Usually stated right after the introduction.nRead the Article(while keeping the controlling idea in mind.)nIdentify Relationships(more info next slide)nWrite a Summary27.Identify RelationshipsnAnd relationships signal that what follows adds to what preceded.(Words like also,first,in addition,next,further,and,moreover,finally,lastly,besides and another.)nBut relationships signal what follows contrasts with what preceded.(Words like however,nevertheless,yet,or,but,on the other hand,and in contrast.28.Identify Relationships-continuednTherefore relationships signal that a conclusion is being made about the preceding evidence.(Words like so,consequently,accordingly,thus,therefore,and it follows that.)29.Coping with ComplexitynOvercome confusion by dealing with one sub-issue at a time.nBegin by making a spreadsheet.Put the names of the authorities across the top of the page and the sub-issues down the left-side.Then indicate each authoritys view on each sub-issue30.Medical DoctorHealth TeacherDietician DieterIs the Adkins Diet safe?NoNoNoYesIs it costly?Yes?YesNoDoes it work?NoYes?Yes31.Complexity-continuednChart the sub-issuesnLook for the disagreementsnLook at the evidence for those sub-issuesthen decide who makes the best persuasive case for that issue(dont assume that any authority is right on every issue!)nUse your decisions on the sub-issues to determine your overall view of the issue.32.Evaluating Your Own ViewsnStep 1:Decide what you think and why you think it.nStep 2:Seek other views and more evidence.nStep 3:Evaluate the various views.nStep 4:Construct the most reasonable view33.ProcessnOriginal ViewnSignificant ideas discovered in the investigation/research processnRevised View34.Evaluating Others ViewsnStep 1:Understand the other persons view.(Withholding all judgment)nStep 2:Seek other views and more evidence.nStep 3:Evaluate the various views.(Pros&Consmay want to chart)nStep 4:Construct the most reasonable view.(If no one view proves to be fully reasonable,then construct a view by combining parts of the views.)35.Propaganda TechniquesnBandwagon-creates the impression that everyone is doing something or buying something.It appeals to the urge to conform.nGlittering Generality Using words or phrases to imply excellence or uniqueness.“Amazing new discovery”36.Techniques-continuednEmpty Comparison Uses words like“bigger,”“better,”or“more.”Used to make statements that seem to make a serious claimyet you cant hold the advertiser responsible because you cant tell exactly what is being claimed.Bigger or better than what?37.Techniques-continuednMeaningless Slogan designed to create a positive impression.“Fly the friendly skies”is designed to associate United Airlines with friendliness.Aimed at associating a business with a particular idea or concept.nTestimonial an endorsement for a product or service lending their credibility and celebrity status to products.38.Techniques-continuednTransfer nVoice-over even if the viewer cannot name the speaker,the voice may be familiar and make the message more appealing.nObjects Statue of Liberty or American Flagshowing the symbols arouses strong positive feelings in many people.39.Techniques-continuednParty Scene where we see people enjoying themselves.The product may be shown as creating a good time.The product may just be included in the scene but still leaves an impressionnUse critical thinking skills to identify propaganda not only in media but also in writing styles.40.CreditsnAll the information for this PowerPoint came from the book Critical Thinking by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero.The book was designed as a supplement to the“Becoming A Master Student”Program.41.