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What is Critical Thinking? Why do we employ it? When do we employ it? How do we read critically?
Critical thinking is: the awareness and use of a set of interrelated critical questions the ability to ask and answer critical questions at appropriate times the desire to actively use critical questions
Find the Issues An issue is a question or controversy that is responsible for the discussionit is the stimulus for what is being said Look for the issues in each text Some are obviousthe writer may tell you outright Look in the title or the beginning of the text
Descriptive issues are those that raise questions about the accuracy of descriptions of the past, present, or future For example: Does watching TV make us relatively insensitive to crime on the streets?
Prescriptive issues are those that raise questions about what we should do or what is right or wrong, good or bad For example: Should sex education be taught in the school?
Conclusions
Conclusions are inferred: they are derived from reasoning they are ideas that need support To believe one statement (the conclusion) because you think it is well supported by other beliefs is to make an inference When we engage in this process, we are reasoning--the conclusion is the outcome of this reasoning
Clue #1: Ask what the issue is- since a conclusion is always a response to an issue, it will help you find the conclusion if you know the issue look in the title look in the opening paragraph
Clue #2: look for indicator words, these announce that a conclusion is coming--
Indicator Words
therefore thus but so hence in short it follows that it is believed that shows that
indicates that suggests that proves that yet instead we may deduce that the point Im making is in my opinion in fact
The most obvious explanation it is highly probable that the truth of the matter is alas as a result it should be clear that
Clue # 3: Look in likely locations look in the beginning of the text look in the end look for a statement of purpose look for a summary or conclusion
Clue # 4: be sure to remember what a conclusion is NOT conclusions will NOT be any of the following:
examples statistics definitions background information evidence
Reasons are- Evidence: verifiable facts and statistics credible expert opinions peer reviewed academic journals textual examples (in literary study) --offered to support or justify conclusions