CRITICALTHINKINGMODEL.docVIP

“CRITICAL THINKING” MODEL Elements of Reasoning: 1. Purpose: (objectives, goals, intentions, motives, function, desired outcome) What am I trying to accomplish? What is my central aim or task in this line of thought? 2. Information: (facts, data, evidence, research, observation, experience) What information am I using in coming to that conclusion? What experience have I had to support this claim? What information do I need to settle the question? 3. Point of View/Context: (perspective, orientation, bias/setting, background, framing analysis) From what point of view am I looking at this issue? 4. Concepts: (theories, principles, definitions, laws, ideas, models, axioms, organizing ideas, categories) What is the main idea here? Can I explain this idea? 5. Questions: (issues, problems, topic, question-at-issue, “the point”) What question am I raising? What question am I addressing? Am I considering the complexities in the question? What kink of question is this? Is it clear? Is it complex? 6. Thinking Process/Creative In-put Out-put/Problem Solving/Decision Making A. Assumptions: (presupposition, what is given? background theory, axioms) What am I taking for granted? What assumption has led me to that conclusion? B. Implications(follow from thoughts)/Consequences(follow from actions): (What follows? Risk and cost/benefit/alternative analysis, options, choices) If someone accepted my position, what would be the implications? Is there another way to interpret the information? Have I identified risks and recognized alternatives. C. Inferences/Conclusions: (interpretations, solutions, how decisions arrived at) How did I reach this conclusion? Does this interpretation make sense? Standards of Critical Thinking: a. Clarity/ (understandable, the meaning can be grasped) Could you elaborate further? Clearness: Could you give me an example? Could you illustrate what you mean? b. Accuracy: (true, free from errors or distortions)