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The Miniature Guide to
Critical Thinking
C oncepts
and
T ools
By Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder
The Foundation for Critical Thinking
[Link] 707-878-9100 cct@[Link]
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Why A Critical Thinking Mini-Guide? This miniature guide focuses on of the essence of critical thinking concepts and tools distilled into pocket size. For faculty it provides a shared concept of critical thinking. For students it is a critical thinking supplement to any textbook for any course. Faculty can use it to design instruction, assignments, and tests in any subject. Students can use it to improve their learning in any content area. Its generic skills apply to all subjects. For example, critical thinkers are clear as to the purpose at hand and the question at issue. They question information, conclusions, and points of view. They strive to be clear, accurate, precise, and relevant. They seek to think beneath the surface, to be logical, and fair. They apply these skills to their reading and writing as well as to their speaking and listening. They apply them in history, science, math, philosophy, and the arts; in professional and personal life. When this guide is used as a supplement to the textbook in multiple courses, students begin to perceive the usefulness of critical thinking in every domain of learning. And if their instructors provide examples of the application of the subject to daily life, students begin to see that education is a tool for improving the quality of their lives. If you are a student using this mini-guide, get in the habit of carrying it with you to every class. Consult it frequently in analyzing and synthesizing what you are learning. Aim for deep internalization of the principles you find in ituntil using them becomes second nature. If successful, this guide will serve faculty, students, and the educational program simultaneously.
Richard Paul Center for Critical Thinking
Linda Elder Foundation for Critical Thinking
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The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
Contents
Why Critical Thinking? 4 The Elements of Thought 5 A Checklist for Reasoning 6 Questions Using the Elements of Thought 8 The Problem of Egocentric Thinking 9 Universal Intellectual Standards10 Template for Analyzing the Logic of Articles and Textbooks13 Criteria for Evaluating Reasoning14 Essential Intellectual Traits 15 Three Kinds of Questions 18 A Template for Problem-Solving19 Analyzing and Assessing Research 20 What Critical Thinkers Routinely Do 21 Stages of Critical Thinking Development 22
Fourth Edition 2006 Foundation for Critical Thinking [Link]
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The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
Why Critical Thinking?
The Problem: Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or down-right prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated. A Definition: Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it. The Result: A well cultivated critical thinker: raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely; gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively; comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards; thinks openmindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems. Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It requires rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.
2006 Foundation for Critical Thinking [Link]
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The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
The Elements of Thought
Point of View
frame of reference, perspective, orientation
Purpose
goal, objective
Implications and Consequences Assumptions
presupposition, taking for granted
Question at issue
problem, issue
Information
data, facts, observations, experiences
Concepts
theories, Interpretation definitions, axioms, and inference laws, principles, conclusions, models solutions
Used With Sensitivity to Universal Intellectual Standards
Clarity Accuracy Depth Breadth Significance Precision Relevance
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12
The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Significance Fairness
Could you elaborate further? Could you give me an example? Could you illustrate what you mean? How could we check on that? How could we find out if that is true? How could we verify or test that? Could you be more specific? Could you give me more details? Could you be more exact? How does that relate to the problem? How does that bear on the question? How does that help us with the issue? What factors make this a difficult problem? What are some of the complexities of this question? What are some of the difficulties we need to deal with? Do we need to look at this from another perspective? Do we need to consider another point of view? Do we need to look at this in other ways? Does all this make sense together? Does your first paragraph fit in with your last? Does what you say follow from the evidence? Is this the most important problem to consider? Is this the central idea to focus on? Which of these facts are most important? Do I have any vested interest in this issue? Am I sympathetically representing the viewpoints ofothers?
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2006 Foundation for Critical Thinking
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The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
15
Intellectual Integrity Intellectual Autonomy Intellectual Humility
Intellectual Empathy
Intellectual Traits or Virtues
Confidence in Reason
Intellectual Courage Fairmindedness
Intellectual Perseverance
2006 Foundation for Critical Thinking
[Link]
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The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools
21
Critical thinkers routinely apply the intellectual standards to the elements of reasoning in order to develop intellectual traits.
T h e S ta n da r d s
Clarity Accuracy Relevance Logicalness Breadth Precision Significance Completeness Fairness Depth Must be applied to
T h e E l e m e n ts
As we learn to develop Purposes Questions Points of view Information Inferences Concepts Implications Assumptions
I n t e l l e c t ua l T r a its Intellectual Humility Intellectual Perseverance Intellectual Autonomy Confidence in Reason Intellectual Integrity Intellectual Empathy Intellectual Courage Fairmindedness
2006 Foundation for Critical Thinking
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