Improve your critical thinking

Improve your critical thinking

Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us, and it’s impossible to make a perfect choice every time.

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But there are many ways to improve our chances — and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking.

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​History of Critical Thinking“The intellectual roots of critical thinking are as ancient as its etymology, traceable, ultimately, to the teaching practice and vision of Socrates 2,500 years ago who discovered by a method of probing questioning that people could not rationally justify their confident claims to knowledge. Confused meanings, inadequate evidence, or self-contradictory beliefs often lurked beneath smooth but largely empty rhetoric.”

​“He [Socrates] established the importance of seeking evidence, closely examining reasoning and assumptions, analyzing basic concepts, and tracing out implications not only of what is said but of what is done as well. His method of questioning is now known as "Socratic Questioning" and is the best known critical thinking teaching strategy. In his mode of questioning, Socrates highlighted the need in thinking for clarity and logical consistency.”

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​More on critical thinking through the ages is available here.Eight Dimensions of Critical ThinkingThe Foundation for Critical Thinking, one of the leading schools of thought on modern-day critical thinking, highlights eight dimensions of critical thinking: Purpose, Question, Information, Interpretation, Concept, Assumptions, Implications, Perspectives.

​Be as curious as possible

​Examples of Non-Critical Thinking: “I never heard of that before so it must not be true. ”

“I don’t believe it, therefore it isn’t true. ” “That’s not my opinion, so it can’t be right. ”

​1. What’s happening?

Establish the basics and begin forming questions.

2. Why is it important?

Ask yourself why this is or isn’t significant.

3. What don’t I see?

Consider, alone or with others, if there’s any crucial information or perspective you might be missing, or that the ‘thing’ in question is missing.

4. How do I know?

Identify how you know what you think you know, and how that meaning was constructed.

5. Who is saying it?

Identify the ‘position’ of the ‘thing’–a speaker and their position on an issue, for example–and then consider how that position could be influencing their thinking.

6. What else? What if?

Ask, ‘What else should we consider?’ and ‘If we consider it, how will it change X or Y?”

​5 tips to improve your CT

​ 1.Watch the video.

​ 2. Click on the following slides and answer the tasks .

Multiple Choice

What is one advantage of critical thinking?

• It’s a process that helps us make only large, important decisions

• It’s a process that helps us make only small, unimportant decisions

• It’s a process that helps us create hidden issues, bias and manipulation

• It’s a process that helps us reveal hidden issues, bias and manipulation

Multiple Choice

What is the first step (of five) in the critical thinking process?

• Consider implications

• Formulate questions

• Apply information

• Gather information

Multiple Choice

When making a decision, what is the main purpose of gathering facts and information?

• To make sure your assumptions are illogical

• To weigh out various options or choices

• To ignore the implications of your choices

• To explore your own perspective and point of view

Multiple Choice

Considering the implications of a decision means:

• Examining its potential outcomes and effects

• Asking questions to determine your goal

• Gathering information to weigh out options

• Determining whether information is logical

Multiple Choice

How can critical thinking improve your chances of making better choices?

• Critical thinking helps you pick the correct and best choice for all situations

• Critical thinking helps you explore only your own perspective and no others

• Critical thinking helps you examine information and make unreasonable choices

• Critical thinking provides you the tools to sift through complex information logically

Open Ended

Consider the example of the diet craze presented in the video. In your own words, explain how you would apply information to determine whether the weight-loss claims are logical and accurate. Be specific about each step you would take.

Open Ended

Read the scenario below and respond to the prompt that follows. Two candidates are running for the President of your country. One candidate advocates for reducing corporate taxes to boost external trade, foster economy, and businesses. The opposing candidate wishes to increase corporate tax rates to use the profi to address domestic issues like education. Describe why it is valuable and beneficial to the decision-making process to explore both political perspectives before casting your vote.

Open Ended

Silently reflect on an upcoming choice you may encounter in the future. Compose a paragraph (5 sentences maximum) that discusses how you will employ critical thinking to enhance your decision-making process. Be specific about how you would apply at least three of the five steps mentioned in the video.