Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools

Dr. Richard Paul & Dr. Linda Elder

Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools

©Foundation for Critical Thinking

CLEAR → ACCURATE & PRECISE & RELEVANT → DEEP → BREATH → LOGIC → SIGNIFICANT → FAIRNESS

CLEAR: “What can we do about the education system?” = unclear

ACCURATE: “Most dogs are over 300 pounds” = clear, but not accurate

PRECISE: “Jack is overweight” = clear, accurate but not precise (1 lbs, 100 lbs overweight?)

RELEVANT: “I put a lot of effort in my paper” Effort does not measure the quality of work or learning.

DEEP “Just say No” = clear, accurate, precise, relevant, but treats a very complex issue superficially.

BREATH: Conservative or liberal arguments can be deep in issue, but only recognize one side of question

LOGIC: Combination of thoughts is mutually supporting

SIGNIFICANT: Is this the central idea to focus on? Which facts are the most important?

FAIRNESS: Do I have any vested interest in this issue? Have I examined my thinking for prejudice?

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:

What information am I using to come to this conclusion?

What experience do I have to support this claim?

How did I reach this conclusion?

What assumptions have led me to this conclusion?

Is there another way to interpret the information?

From what point of view am I looking at this information?

EGOCENTRIC THINKING:

“It’s true because I believe it.”

“It’s true because we believe it.”

“It’s true because I want to believe it.”

“It’s true because I have always believe it.”

“It’s true because it is in my selfish interest to believe it.”

1/29/04