1. Define critical thinking and list six questions that the critical thinker normally asks and say why these questions are important in the process of critical thinking. Discuss three ways in which this course has honed your analytical skills. Give illustrations to support your answer.
Critical thinking is a rich concept that has been developing throughout the past 2500 years. According to Duncan (n.d.) who wrote an article on Critical Thinking, defined critical thinking in four ways:
• Critical thinking is a higher order of thinking: it is the practice of using a number of different advanced thinking skills in a variety of complex ways.
• Critical thinking focuses on thought: it looks at how facts are proven, arguments are formed, conclusions …show more content…
Duncan (n.d.)
In other words, critical thinking is the dynamic and logical process of communicating, problem-solving, evaluating, analyzing, synthesizing and reflecting both individually and in community to foster understanding, support sound decision-making and guide action. According to Paul and Elder (2008) the key to powerful thinking is powerful questioning therefore when we ask the precise questions, we succeed as a scholar. The authors further highlighted that questions are the force that powers our thinking since thinking can swerve into many different directions, which may at times lead to dead-ends.”
Critical thinking begins with asking questions. According to Carroll (2000) a major part of becoming critical thinkers is to learning how to ask the questions (to pose the problems) yourself. That means noticing that there are questions that need to be addressed (recognizing that there are problems). Based on the article “Six Questions Every Critical Thinker Should Ask” (2014) the author shared simpler views with Carroll (2000) as both agreed that the key to critical thinking is the ability to pose challenging and ‘thought provoking’ questions to “yourself”. The article expressed that “to think critically is to delve deeper into those hidden layers of meaning …show more content…
What’s happening? Gather the basic information and begin to think of other questions. This question is important in the process of critical thinking because it allows developing critical thinkers to propose essential questions and problems, and formulate them in a clear and precise manner.
2. Why is it important? Ask yourself why it is significant and whether or not you agree. This questions is important because it help the critical thinker to provide “grounds” and “support” to their information so that their response is not merely based on “emotions”
3. What don’t I see? Is there anything important missing? This question is important to the critical thinking process because it allows critical thinker to delve deeper and critically analyze the information given to determine if there is any discrepancy or unanswered questions.
4. How do I know? Ask yourself where the information came from and how it was constructed, example: Pluto is not a planet. By asking these questions, it allows critical thinkers to collect and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively, draws well-reasoned conclusions and solutions while testing them against relevant criteria and standards. Therefore, when critical thinkers are clearer about the information they are using they will become clearer about their inferences or conclusion based on that
Critical thinking is a rich concept that has been developing throughout the past 2500 years. According to Duncan (n.d.) who wrote an article on Critical Thinking, defined critical thinking in four ways:
• Critical thinking is a higher order of thinking: it is the practice of using a number of different advanced thinking skills in a variety of complex ways.
• Critical thinking focuses on thought: it looks at how facts are proven, arguments are formed, conclusions …show more content…
Duncan (n.d.)
In other words, critical thinking is the dynamic and logical process of communicating, problem-solving, evaluating, analyzing, synthesizing and reflecting both individually and in community to foster understanding, support sound decision-making and guide action. According to Paul and Elder (2008) the key to powerful thinking is powerful questioning therefore when we ask the precise questions, we succeed as a scholar. The authors further highlighted that questions are the force that powers our thinking since thinking can swerve into many different directions, which may at times lead to dead-ends.”
Critical thinking begins with asking questions. According to Carroll (2000) a major part of becoming critical thinkers is to learning how to ask the questions (to pose the problems) yourself. That means noticing that there are questions that need to be addressed (recognizing that there are problems). Based on the article “Six Questions Every Critical Thinker Should Ask” (2014) the author shared simpler views with Carroll (2000) as both agreed that the key to critical thinking is the ability to pose challenging and ‘thought provoking’ questions to “yourself”. The article expressed that “to think critically is to delve deeper into those hidden layers of meaning …show more content…
What’s happening? Gather the basic information and begin to think of other questions. This question is important in the process of critical thinking because it allows developing critical thinkers to propose essential questions and problems, and formulate them in a clear and precise manner.
2. Why is it important? Ask yourself why it is significant and whether or not you agree. This questions is important because it help the critical thinker to provide “grounds” and “support” to their information so that their response is not merely based on “emotions”
3. What don’t I see? Is there anything important missing? This question is important to the critical thinking process because it allows critical thinker to delve deeper and critically analyze the information given to determine if there is any discrepancy or unanswered questions.
4. How do I know? Ask yourself where the information came from and how it was constructed, example: Pluto is not a planet. By asking these questions, it allows critical thinkers to collect and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively, draws well-reasoned conclusions and solutions while testing them against relevant criteria and standards. Therefore, when critical thinkers are clearer about the information they are using they will become clearer about their inferences or conclusion based on that