4.6: Showing Your Critical Thinking
- Page ID
- 304716
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Response paragraphs are meant to demonstrate how and how deeply you’ve interacted with the assigned text. This requires that you engage in a bit of critical thinking by deliberately employing thinking strategies to arrive at a more complete conclusion than you automatically would: the opposite of passive, everyday thinking.
Overall, it’s a process that requires constant re-evaluation of what you know and what the text is saying. This is accomplished by asking different types of questions of both yourself and the text: questioning your comprehension, previous assumptions, and existing evidence. There are four categories of questions that every reader should ask themselves while reading.
Who Said It? & When Did They Say It?
| - Who is it? Are they someone in a position of authority or power? |
| - Are they an expert? What are their credentials or past work? |
| - Does it matter who told you this? |
&
| - Is the information current or old? Does it matter? |
| - Is timing important? Was this information released at this time for a specific purpose? |
What Did They Say? & Why Did They Say It?
| - Did they give facts or opinions? |
| - Have they provided all the facts? |
| - What have they left out, if anything? Is that important? |
&
| - Did they explain the reasoning behind their opinion/conclusion? |
| - What was their motivation? |
| - Are they biased? |
These are important questions to ask yourself outside of class as well, while consuming news or social media, when talking with friends, and when constructing any sort of argument: thinking critically isn’t just an academic skill; it’s a life skill that requires practice!
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PRACTICE 1: Applying Critical Thinking Skills
Read the following statement. Then, with a partner, list what questions you can ask to critically evaluate this information.
Statement: This morning, a report on the news said that the world’s climate is actually changing at a slower pace than previously thought.
Questions for evaluation:
In a response paragraph, the writer’s critical thinking is demonstrated through the support used. Here are a few tips to help you indicate how much you’ve connected with the text.
Use a variety of support types. Like mentioned above, the writer should vary the types of strategies used to support the response. Relying only on personal experience, for example, hints that the writer has only connected with the text in one way, whereas using both personal experience and an example is evidence of multiple connections.
- Make outside connections. While sometimes a difficult task in a timed situation, broadening the mind and pulling outside texts into the conversation signals an ability to recall information, make connections between texts, and evaluate both arguments to come to a conclusion.
- Add something new to the conversation. Even if the paragraph offers an example or a personal experience as support, the writer must further the argument and go beyond simply agreeing and repeating what the author says.
- Be critical. Once the writer has identified what they’d like to respond to, they have to think about all sides of the issue. Ask those questions.
- But don’t (necessarily) criticize. Thinking critically doesn’t necessarily mean being mean: the writer can evaluate the author’s arguments through critique and still end up agreeing with the author. Remember, the writer isn’t assessing the author, just their arguments.