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1: Foundations of Critical Thinking and Information Literacy

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    296051

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    • 1.1: What Is Information Literacy and Why Does It Matter?
      This page introduces and defines information literacy as the ability to effectively locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information in various contexts. It highlights the importance of critical assessment amidst vast data access and identifies five core components: identify, find, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge. The chapter connects information literacy to multiple literacies and references the ACRL Framework.
    • 1.2: Critical Thinking, Logic, and Rhetoric
      This page emphasizes critical thinking as essential for information literacy, enabling effective evaluation of sources and informed decision-making. It discusses Bloom's revised taxonomy for cognitive processes and Aristotle's rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) for argument analysis. Key components of strong arguments, including claims, evidence, reasoning, and counterarguments, are outlined, alongside an eight-element logic model for argument construction.
    • 1.3: Context, Positionality, and the Researcher's Lens
      This page discusses the concept of positionality, highlighting how a researcher's background shapes their perspective and approach to research. It emphasizes the distinction between perspective and bias, encouraging scholars to acknowledge their viewpoints to ensure objectivity. The chapter outlines four layers of a researcher's lens and encourages the creation of a positionality statement for transparency.

    This page titled 1: Foundations of Critical Thinking and Information Literacy was last modified on Sat, 18 Jul 2026 01:41:54 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Brandee Idleman.