Critical Thinking What is Critical Thinking? . Process of looking at information and ideas critically and taking nothing for granted · Weighing up evidence and arguments for and against · Everyday activities require critical thinking. 2 examples: o Identify what we know and judge when we need to get more information o Selecting right type of information for task Critical Thinking Checklist Scores . 30-40= you can think confidently in your ability to assess critically · Less than 20= must build up skills Critical Thinking Helps You To ... 1. Understand links between ideas 2. Determine importance and relevance of arguments and ideas 3. Recognise, build and appraise arguments 4. Identify inconsistencies and errors in reasoning 5. Approach problems in consistent and systematic way 6. About using your ability to reason Why is Categorising Important? · Enables you to sort information into groups · Helps you to recognise relevant connections between different kinds of information · Helps you compare 'like with like' · Helps you construct sophisticated arguments Why Are Attentional Processes Important? · Being aware of conventions for different types of spoken or written information so we can direct our attention efficiently . Being aware of where they may be tricks, flaws or false illusions . We can train our attention to recognise relevant information · Our mind uses previous experiences as frames of reference to make sense of new information . We can use our experience of sorting through information to direct attention in particular way Passive and Active Writing Passive Purpose: basic grasp of text Purpose: judgments about a text Activity: absorbing, understanding Activity: analysing, evaluating Focus: what a text says Focus: what a text means Questions: what information does the text have? What information can I get out of the text? Direction: accepting the text Active Questions: what patterns are present? What kinds of reasoning and evidence are used? Direction: challenging the text
Results: interpretation, evaluation Results: restatementffi summary Steps to Critical Thinking/Reading · Initial reading o Get an understanding of the text as a whole · Annotating o Make notes, underline key themes, identify patterns and categories of information, identifying confusing or unclear sections · Summarising o Outline authors arguments/ideas · Analysing o Determining overall meaning of text, evaluate credability of evidence · Re-reading o Reflect on the text, how can you use it Evaluating Sources Credability-> who is the author? What evidence is offered of their knowledge? Scope & purpose-> does this source address the thesis in a comprehensive way? Is it material that can be easily read and understood? Source-> is the information based on primary or secondary sources? Accuracy-> can facts, statistics or other information be verified? Are there errors on the page (spelling, grammar, facts)? Relevance-> does the information directly support the thesis or help to answer the question? Can it be eliminated or ignored because it simply doesnt help? Reliability-> does the source present a particular view or bias? Is the information affiliated with an organisation that has a political