Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking requires one to always agree with the majority opinion to avoid conflict.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Critical thinking involves evaluating all viewpoints, including minority opinions, and forming one’s own reasoned conclusions (Spears, 2012).

What are the main claims made in the argument?

• The main claims focus solely on personal opinions.

• The main claims include the central thesis, supporting evidence, and addressed counterarguments.

• The argument does not address any opposing views.

• The claims are based on anecdotal evidence only.

Identify any assumptions underlying the argument.

• The argument relies on the assumption that the premises adequately support the conclusion.

• The argument is based on personal beliefs rather than evidence.

• The argument assumes that all premises are true.

• The argument relies on emotional appeal rather than logic.

What evidence is presented to back up the argument?

• Historical documents, fictional narratives, and opinion pieces.

• Statistical data, expert testimonials, and case studies.

• Random guesses, hearsay, and irrelevant articles.

• Personal anecdotes, unverified claims, and social media posts.

How does the context influence the argument's effectiveness?

• Context has no impact on the argument's effectiveness.

• Context only matters in written arguments, not in verbal ones.

• The argument's effectiveness is solely determined by its logical structure.

• Context significantly influences an argument's effectiveness by aligning it with the audience's values and perceptions.

What counterarguments could be made against this position?

• The original position is universally accepted without dispute.

• There are no alternative perspectives to consider.

• The original position may be overly simplistic and ignore counter-evidence.

• The original position is based on extensive empirical evidence.

Evaluate the credibility of the sources used in the argument.

• Consider the length of the sources as a measure of credibility.

• Evaluate the sources based on their popularity among peers.

• Focus solely on the publication date of the sources.

• Assess the sources based on author expertise, publication credibility, citation quality, objectivity, and recency.

How does the author address potential objections?

• The author ignores counterarguments entirely.

• The author dismisses objections without explanation.

• The author only presents personal opinions without evidence.

• The author acknowledges counterarguments and provides evidence to refute them.

Are there any biases present in the argument?

• The argument is based solely on facts without any biases.

• There might be some biases, but they are negligible.

• Yes, there are biases present in the argument.

• No, the argument is completely unbiased.

How could the argument be strengthened?

• Provide more evidence and address counterarguments.

• Rely solely on personal opinions without facts.

• Use vague statements without supporting details.

• Ignore the main point and focus on unrelated topics.