Introduction to Critical Thinking

Part II

Asking Analytical Questions using Elements of Reasoning

3 Key Questions

Why do we need critical thinking?

What is critical thinking?

What do we do to think critically?

The Three Dimensions of Critical Thinking

A n a lys iso f th ink ing

b y fo cus ing onth e pa rts

E va lu a tiono f th ink ing

b y fo cus ing onth e s tan d ards

Im p ro ve m e nto f th ink ing

b y u sin g w h atyo u le arn ed

C rit ica lT h in k ing

ReasoningThe process of

drawing conclusions or

figuring something out

Elements of Reasoning

Traits ofthe

DisciplinedMind

Standardsfor

Reasoning

Reasoning: three aspects

The quality of our thinking is largely reflected in the quality of our questions.

Circle – Dots

Critical thinking is the way you do everything you doCritical ThinkingCritical Thinking

Something you add onto everything else

Rather

The Way You Do

Everything You Do

LOGIC OF

Instruction

Content

Student Thinking

StandardsElementsTraitsThe Underlying Principles of Critical Thinking

The Standardsclarity precisionaccuracy significancerelevance completenesslogical fairnessbreadth depth The Elements

purposes inferencesquestions conceptspoints of view implicationsinformation assumptions

Intellectual Traitsintellectual humilityintellectual perseveranceintellectual autonomyintellectual integrityconfidence in reasoningintellectual courageintellectual empathyFair-mindedness

must be applied to

as we develop

What is involved in analyzing reasoning?

(Story, argument, point of view, subject)

In other words, what elements must you account for in order for the analysis to be substantive?

Analyzing a Cartoon

Look at the cartoon and analyze it by asking questions.

1. Individually, write a series of questions that attempt to probe the meaning of the cartoon.

2. With a group, compare your questions with others. Add to your list.

Whenever we think

We think for a purpose

within a point of view

based on assumptions

leading to implications and conse -quences.

We use data,

facts, and experiences

to make inferences and

judgments

based on concepts and

theories

in attempting to answer a question.

Whenever we think

Elementsof

Thought

Purpose of the ThinkingGoal, objective

Points of ViewFrame of Reference

PerspectiveOrientation

Questions at IssueProblem

Implications &Consequences

InformationData, observations, facts, experiences

AssumptionsPresuppositions, taking for granted

ConceptsTheories, laws, models, defini-tions, principles

Interpretation & InferenceConclusions, solutions

A CRITICAL THINKER Considers the Elements of Thought

Elements wheel

Eight Questions Students Can Routinely Ask When They Understand the Elements of Reasoning

1. What is the main purpose of the reasoning?

2. What are the key issues, problems, and questions being addressed?

3. What is the most important information being used?

4. What main inferences are embedded in the reasoning?

5. What are the key concepts guiding the reasoning?

6. What assumptions are being used?

7. What are the positive and negative implications?

8. What point of view is/should be represented?

Logic of a Cartoon Now use the elements of reasoning to

generate more questions for the same cartoon.

ALSO,

Examine your original questions and identify which elements they target.

Key Points

Individually we can ask a limited number of questions

Collectively we can ask even more However, when equipped with a

framework, individually and collectively we can ask even more

We must routinely take our thinking apart

We must routinely

Take our thinking

apart

Eight Questions Students Can Ask to Figure out the Logic of a Subject or Discipline:1. What is the main purpose of the subject?

2. What are the key issues, problems, and questions addressed within the subject?

3. What kinds of information are pursued within the discipline?

4. What types of inferences or judgments are made?

5. What key concepts inform the discipline?

6. What key assumptions underlie the discipline?

7. What are some important implications of studying the discipline?

8. What points of view are fostered within the discipline?

Eight Questions Students Can Ask to Figure out the Logic of a Character in a Story

1. What is the main purpose of the character?

2. What are the key issues and problems facing the character?

3. What is the most significant information the character uses in his or her reasoning?

4. What main inferences or judgments are made by the character?

5. What key concepts guide the character’s reasoning?

6. What main assumptions guide the behavior of the character?

7. What are the most important implications of the character’s thinking and behavior?

8. What is the main point of view of the character? Does that point of view change during the story? If so, how?

Questions Targeting the Elements of Thought

in a writing a paperPurpose: What am I trying to accomplish? What is my central aim or

goal?

Information: What information am I using in coming to that conclusion? What experience have I had to support this claim? What information do I need to settle the question?

Inferences/Conclusions: How did I reach this conclusion? Is there another way to interpret the information?

Concepts: What is the main idea here? Could I explain this idea?

Assumptions: What am I taking for granted? What assumption has led me to that conclusion?

Implications/Consequences: If someone accepted my position, what would implications? What am I implying?

Points of View: From what point of view am I looking at this issue? Is there another point of view I should consider?

Questions: What question am I raising? What question am I addressing?

(Attach a detailed description of the experiment or laboratory procedure.)

The main goal of the experiment is…The hypothesis(es) we seek to test in this experiment is(are)…The key question the experiment seeks to answer is…The controls involved in this experiment are…The key concept(s) or theory(ies) behind the experiment is(are)…The experiment is based on the following assumptions…The data that will be collected in the experiment are…The potential implications of the experiment are…The point of view behind the experiment is…

The Logic of an Experiment

Elementsof

Thought

Purpose of the ThinkingGoal, objective

Points of ViewFrame of Reference

PerspectiveOrientation

Questions at IssueProblem

Implications &Consequences

InformationData, observations, facts, experiences

AssumptionsPresuppositions, taking for granted

ConceptsTheories, laws, models, defini-tions, principles

Interpretation & InferenceConclusions, solutions

A CRITICAL THINKER Considers the Elements of Thought

Elements wheel

Conscious and Unconscious thinking

Unconscious Level of Thinking

Information Inference Assumption1. You see a man with a black eye2. A police officer trails your car for several blocks

3. During class, a student asks “is this going to be on the test?”

4. You see a child crying next to her mother in a grocery store

5. You see a man in tattered clothes sitting on a curb with a paper bag in his hand

He has been hit by someone

People who have black eyes have been hit

He is trying to catch me breaking the law

Anytime a police officer trails you he is trying to catch you breaking the law

This student is not interested in learning the subject

Students who ask questions like: “Is this going to be on the test?” are not interested in learning the subject

The mother has hurt the child

Whenever a child is crying next to her mother she has been hurt by her mother

He must be a bum

All men in tattered clothes sitting on curbs with paper bags in their hands are bums

(situation)

Information AssumptionInference1. Your teenage son is late coming home from a late night date

2. Your spouse is late coming home from work3. You meet a beautiful woman with blond hair

4. You get an ‘A’ on a history test.

5. Your spouse is talking to a member of the opposite sex at a late night party

A critical thinker considers the elements of reasoning

Activity Two: Beginning to Figure Out the Logic of Education

Using your beginning understanding of the elements of reasoning, take turns completing these statements.

The purpose of education is…

The main problem(s) we face in educating our students is/are…

If we truly educate students, some of the important implications are…

Elements blank wheel

StandardsElementsTraitsThe Underlying Principles of Critical Thinking

The Standardsclarity precisionaccuracy significancerelevance completenesslogical fairnessbreadth depth The Elements

purposes inferencesquestions conceptspoints of view implicationsinformation assumptions

Intellectual Traitsintellectual humilityintellectual perseveranceintellectual autonomyintellectual integrityconfidence in reasoningintellectual courageintellectual empathyFair-mindedness

must be applied to

as we develop

Take your understanding of the elements of reasoning to the next level

Work in pairs. Each person draws two circles Using your best thinking, fill in your two circles

with as much detail as possible:a. One circle includes the main points about the

elements.b. One circle has questions you can ask when you

understand the elements.

Elements wheel with directionsElements of Reasoning

Working in pairs, draw the elements of reasoning circle

Define eachElement. Then fill In the circlewith as muchdetail asyou can.

Elements of wheel – add questions

Elements of Reasoning QuestionsDraw another circle, and fill it in with questions you can ask when you understand the elements of reasoning and are using them explicitly in your thinking.

Activity Three: Beginning to Figure Out the Logic of a Subject or Discipline

Using your beginning understanding of the elements of reasoning, take turns completing these statements.

The purpose of the discipline is…

Some of the main questions pursued within the discipline are…

Some of the important implications of studying the discipline are…

The Logic of Ecology

Goals of Ecologists: Ecologists seek to understand plants and animals as they exist in nature, with emphasis on their interrelationships, interdependence, and interactions with the environment. They work to understand all the influences that combine to produce and modify an animal or given plant, and thus to account for its existence and peculiarities within its habitat.

Questions that Ecologists Ask: How do plants and animals interact? How do animals interact with each other? How do plants and animals depend on one another? How do the varying ecosystems function within themselves? How do they interact with other ecosystems? How are plants and animals affected by environmental influences? How do animals and plants grow, develop, die, and replace themselves? How do plants and animals create balances between each other? What happens when plants and animals become unbalanced?

Information that Ecologists Use: The primary information used by ecologists is gained through observing plants and animals themselves, their interactions, and how they live within their environments. Ecologists note how animals and plants are born, how they reproduce, how they die, how they evolve, and how they are affected by environmental changes. They also use information from other disciplines including chemistry, meteorology and geology.

Judgments that Ecologists Make: Ecologists make judgments about how ecosystems naturally function, about how animals and plants within them function, about why they function as they do. They make judgments about how ecosystems become out of balance and what can be done to bring them back into balance. They make judg ments about how natural communities should be grouped and classified.

Concepts that Guide Ecologists’ Thinking: One of the most fundamental concepts in ecology is ecosystem, defined as a group of living things that are dependent on one another and living in a particular habitat. Ecologists study how differing ecosystems function. Another key concept in ecology is ecological succession, the natural pattern of change occurring within every ecosystem when natural processes are undisturbed. This pattern includes the birth, development, death, and then replacement of natural communities. Ecologists have grouped communities into larger units called biomes, regions throughout the world classified according to physical features, including temperature, rainfall and type of vegetation. Another fundamental concept in ecology is balance of nature, the natural process of birth, reproduction, eating and being eaten, which keeps animal/plant communities fairly stable. Other key concepts include imbalances, energy, nutrients, population growth, diversity, habitat, competition, predation, parasitism, adaptation, coevolution, succession and climax communities and conservation.

Key Assumptions that Ecologists Make: Patterns exist within animal/plant communities; these communities should be studied and classified; animals and plants often depend on one another and modify one another; and balances must be maintained within ecosystems.

Implications of Ecology: The study of ecology leads to numerous implications for life on Earth. By studying balance of nature, for example, we can see when nature is out of balance, as in the current population explosion. We can see how pesticides, designed to kill pests on farm crops, also lead to the harm of mammals and birds, either directly or indirectly through food webs. We can also learn how over-farming causes erosion and depletion of soil nutrients.

Point of View of Ecologists: Ecologists look at plants and animals and see them functioning in relationship with one another within their habitats, and needing to be in balance for the earth to be healthy and sustainable.

Activity Three: Beginning to Figure Out the Logic of a Subject or Discipline

Using your beginning understanding of the elements of reasoning, take turns completing these statements.

The purpose of the discipline is…

Some of the main questions pursued within the discipline are…

Some of the important implications of studying the discipline are…

Process What important insights did you gain

through doing these activities – insights about the elements of reasoning?

How might you better foster use and understanding of the elements of reasoning in your classes?

Circle – Dots

Elements of Reasoning Conclusions, assumptions, points of view

Think of a difficult situation in your life, a problem in your relationship w/ someone, a decision you have to make, or something important about CT and education.

Formulate three good questions about that situation, using each of the three elements listed.

Answer the questions as well as you can.

For Example Situation (from a student’s point of view): I’m

considering dropping this course b/c it looks too hard.

Question: What assumptions am I making about this situation?

Answer: I am assuming it will be too hard – I wonder if that is accurate?

Question: What conclusion should I draw?

Answer: My conclusion is to wait and see. I need more information.

Making the Standards Intuitive

For X in the questions below, substitute the name of your discipline (course). Then answer them.

In what ways is it necessary to be clear in X? What are the areas where people are most likely to

be inaccurate in X? What are the most important aspects of X to master?

What are the dangers of giving insufficient responses in X?

In what ways are depth and breadth central to X? How is precision most important in X?

Discovering and Following out the Implications

Using the word critical in the sense of critical thinking, what would you say are the main earmarks of critical reading? What is the difference between reading your text

and reading it critically? How about critical listening?

What is the difference between listening to a lecture in a course and listening to it critically?

Can a person listen critically and not disagree at all?

Essential Idea:

To learn well, we must write well.

Short Writing: PhysicsAcceleration and Velocity

You are Dr. Science, the question-and-answer person for a popular magazine called Practical Science. Readers of your magazine are invited to submit letters to Dr. Science, who answers them in “Dear Abby” style in a special section of the magazine. One day you receive the following letter:

Dear Dr. Science:

You’ve got to help me settle this argument I am having with my girlfriend. We were watching a baseball game several weeks ago when this guy hit a high pop-up straight over the catcher’s head. When it finally came down, the catcher caught it standing on home plate. Well, my girlfriend told me that when the ball stopped in midair just before it started back down, its velocity was zero, but its acceleration was not zero. I said she was stupid. If something isn’t moving at all, how could it have any acceleration?

Ever since then, she has been making a big deal out of this and won’t let me kiss her. I love her, but I don’t think we can get back together until we settle this argument. We checked some physics books, but they weren’t very clear. We agreed that I would write to you and let you settle the argument. But, Dr. Science, don’t just tell us the answer. You’ve got to explain it so we both understand because my girlfriend is really dogmatic. She said she wouldn’t even trust Einstein unless he could explain himself clearly.

Sincerely, Baseball Blues

Can this relationship be saved? Your task is to write an answer to Baseball Blues. Because space in your magazine is limited, restrict your answer to what can be put on a single five-by eight-inch card. Don’t confuse Baseball and his girlfriend by using any special physics terms unless you explain clearly what they mean.

Analyzing Assignments

What is the purpose of this assignment? What intellectual skills does it target?

What are the key concepts students are to engage?

What types of questions should students ask when working through the problem?

What are we, as instructors, assuming when giving such an assignment? Are our assumptions sound?

Principle of Leverage “A small amount of writing preceded by a

great amount of thinking.” (Bean, 80). Design short writing assignments that target

one or two key concepts. Design the assignment to require that

students explain the concept, differentiate the concept(s) from related and opposite concepts, contextualize/exemplify the concept.

Psychology: Operant Conditioning

Consider the following problem: In the morning, when Professor Catlove opens a

new can of cat food, his cats run into the kitchen purring and meowing and rubbing their backs against his legs. What examples, if any, of classical condition, operant conditioning, and social learning are at work in this brief scene? Note that both the cats and the professor might be exhibiting conditioned behavior here.

You and some fellow classmates have been discussing this problem over coffee, and you are convinced that the other members of your group are confused about the concepts. Write a one- to two-page essay that sets them straight.

Analyzing Assignments

What is the purpose of this assignment? What intellectual moves are we asking

students to make? What connections are students challenged

to make? (content and process) If we regularly ask students to engage in

such work, then what insights / skills should we expect to see developed?

Analytical Framework

The elements of reasoning provide concepts that, when critically engaged, direct our thinking in a way that can lead to greater insight.

They are a system probing system.

Help foster critical thought by giving assignments that explicitly focus student thinking in directions that require reasoning through a problem or issue.

Key Point

Student thinking is easily confused.

We want to guide student thinking, or model for them the process of asking background and follow-up questions.

Too many questions can confuse students.

Make prompts succinct: give one question instead of many questions.

Common Problem

In the graveyard scene of Hamlet, Shakespeare alters his sources by adding the clownish gravediggers. How does the presence of the gravediggers influence your interpretation of the scene? Do you think they are funny? Absurd? Blasphemous? How does Hamlet’s attitude toward the gravediggers affect the scene? Do you think it is appropriate to sing while digging a grave? What about the jokes they tell? Is the scene really lighthearted? Etc…

Confusing

In the graveyard scene of Hamlet, Shakespeare alters his sources by adding the clownish gravediggers. How does the presence of the gravediggers influence your interpretation of the scene?

(Phrased as a single question forces students to frame a single answer as a thesis: focuses their thinking)

Clearer

1. Present a proposition (thesis) that students defend or refute.

2. Give students a problem or question that requires a thesis answer.

3. Ask students to follow an organizational structure that requires a problem-thesis pattern.

Thesis Governed Thinking

Mathematics Example

Write a letter to the editor against sales tax on the grounds of it being a regressive tax. Explicitly use ratio and proportion to explain to the uninformed reader the meaning of regressive tax.

Students take position you specify

Upon arriving home for Christmas, you discover your father writing a letter to his representative in Congress urging the passage of legislation limiting beef imports from Argentina. He argues that such imports put ranchers out of business, cause U.S. packing houses to close, and generally make this country poorer.

Economics Example

You, on the basis of your brilliant performance in Economics 105, engage your father in a spirited discussion. Write the argument that you use to convince him of the error of his position. Your father doesn’t understand economic jargon, so any jargon you use must be explained.

“This proposed bridge design does/does not meet the criteria set forth by the city in its requires for proposal.” (civil engineering)

“The path to holiness lies through questioning everything.” Agree or disagree. (religious studies)

Mercury amalgam fillings are/are not safe. (research project on scientific argument)

(1) Present a proposition (thesis) that students defend or refute.

Help foster critical thought by giving assignments that explicitly focus student thinking in directions that require reasoning through a problem or issue.

Key Point

• Bean, J.C. (1996). Engaging Ideas: A Professor’s Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom.

• Nosich, G. (2009). Learning to Think Things Through: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum. 3rd Ed.

• Tishman, S., Perkins, D., & Jay, E. (1995). The Thinking Classroom: Learning and Teaching in a Culture of Thinking.

• Tovani, C. (2000). I Read It, But I Don’t Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers.

• Unrau, N. (1997). Thoughtful Teachers, Thoughtful Learners: A Guide to Helping Adolescents Think Critically.

Selected Sources