ASK Week Spring 2013 - Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Courtney Hopf Academic Skills Adviser

ASK WEEK Pathways to Success 18-22 November 2013

Session outline • Consider the basic elements of critical thinking • Understand the importance of critical thinking • Identify some of the barriers to thinking critically • Discuss how to move past these barriers • Consider techniques for reading critically • Activity

• In pairs or groups, create a mind-map of all the possible elements of critical thinking • Can you add any specific examples of when you have had to think critically?

Activity

What is Critical Thinking?

Moving from remembering, recording and describing information to analysing, evaluating and synthesising knowledge Describing

Analysing and Evaluating

Critical thinking is a questioning attitude, rather than a set of skills

Developing Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a developmental process Certainty

Relativism

Constructed Knowledge

Why is it important to think critically?

• Independent and active learning is essential at university • Reasoning and analysis skills are highly valued by employers • Universities have a vital role in democratic societies • Having a critical identity makes you a more interesting person!

Are you critical?

Write for one minute on whether you are an independent thinker in your life and at university. Is it something you find difficult, or does it come naturally?

Critical Life: One Minute Paper

Question What is your biggest barrier to becoming a more critical thinker?

A. Lack of knowledge of subject B. Respect for authority and tradition C. Underdeveloped thinking skills D. Avoiding conflict

Barriers to Critical Thinking Cultural factors • Respect for authority

Lack of Knowledge • Critical thinking skills • In-depth knowledge of the subject

Psychological factors • Avoiding conflict • Feeling overawed

Thinking Independently • Do not avoid conflict • You are a scholar too: do not be in awe of experts

Overcoming Barriers to Critical Thinking Cultural awareness • Engaging with conflicting points of view • Reading widely • Interacting with others from a different background

Attitude • Being prepared to challenge knowledge and hold a questioning attitude

Knowledge • Developing critical thinking processes • Having an in-depth knowledge of the subject

At its simplest…

Critical thinking is about asking questions and identifying assumptions.

• • • •

How? Why? To what effect?

Says who?

Steps for critical reading Read selectively and effectively 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Why this source? What do you hope to find out?

Review the abstract, table of contents, index, etc.

Quickly skim or scan to identify useful parts.

Read and re-read those parts for comprehension.

Think about how/if your questions are answered.

Write a brief paragraph in your own words summarising what you’ve found out.

Steps for critical reading Questions to be asking: 1. What is the main argument?

2. What evidence is produced to support this argument?

3. What assumptions are made? What hidden agendas might there be?

4. What flaws can I locate? What is done well?

Be a detective

Be a lawyer

Further questions • What does the writer want me to accept? Why? • Are there relevant and sufficient reasons for arguing their point?

• Is the argument logical?

• Are there any exceptions?

• What is the source?

• How accurate is the data?

• What conclusions does the writer make?

• Does this shed new light on, or make me think differently, about anything else I’ve seen?

Activity: Critical Analysis

Read the passage on the handout and answer the questions that follow

Summary • Developing critical thinking skills is vital both for succeeding at university and in the workplace • Critical thinking requires moving from assuming what is known to questioning that knowledge • Critical thinking requires a questioning attitude

• Critical thinking is a developmental process

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