Developing a Critical Thinking Framework

ACCY 415 – Spring 2016

Critical Thinking

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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

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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”

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Start with a Framework• Numerous guides available• We will use the framework provided by the

Foundation for Critical Thinking• www.criticalthinking.org

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.

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Elements of Thought

https://www.criticalthinking.org/ctmodel/logic-model1.htm

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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.

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.

All reasoning is based on assumptions.

All reasoning is done from a POINT OF View

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

All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, CONCEPTS and IDEAS

All reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which we draw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to data.

All reasoning ends somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES

Article Analysis Template1. 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)_________.

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.

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