Critical-ThinkingPPT课件.ppt

1、.1Critical ThinkingnThinking is a purposeful mental activityyou control itnThinking is a two-sided activityfirst you produce ideas and then you evaluate themnProducing ideas widens your focus (resist the temptation to settle for a few familiar ideas).nEvaluating narrows your focus. Sort the ideas, i

2、dentify the most reasonable ones.2Why critical thinking is importantnSuccess in work depends on thinking skills.nIt isnt enough to possess knowledge but you must be able to apply information to your job.nCritical thinking is a reliable way of searching for the truth.3Facts and OpinionsnFacts are rea

3、lities; opinions are beliefs or judgments.nOpinions may fit the facts or be in error.nEven the greatest experts sometimes hold incorrect opinions.nThat is why research is so important in every subject areait confirms some opinions and disproves others.4Forming OpinionsnCritical thinkers realize how

4、easy it is to be mistaken so they form their opinions with care.nThey revise their opinions, even cherished ones, whenever they prove to be in error.nThere is no shame in being wrong, but problems occur when we stubbornly cling to a mistaken view.5Recognizing facts & opinionsnFact: Babe Ruth was a f

5、amous baseball player.nOpinion: Smoking should be banned in all public places.nFact: Camels hair brushes are made of Siberian squirrel fir.nOpinion: Eyewitness testimony is generally unreliable.6Separating facts & opinionsnIf you state a fact that is not common knowledge, or that cant be easily veri

6、fied, briefly state where you got your information.nIf you state an opiniona view others might disagree with, include answers to questions others might ask.nIf you are not sure whether a statement is a fact or an opinion, treat it as an opinion.7Opinion versus personal preferencenOften confusing to

7、many people.nExample: “Comic books are as instructive about life as novels are.”nWhen asked what evidence exists that comic books are so instructive, they dont have an answernPreferences dont need to be defended as long as they are expressed as preferences. (If we express them as opinions, dont be s

8、urprised if others challenge them.8Basic Approach to Critical ThinkingStep One: Decide what you think and why you think it.Step Two: Seek other views and more evidence.Step Three: Decide which view is most reasonable.9Step OnenBegin by deciding what your position is on the issue in question. (Puttin

9、g this decision in writing can help. Dont be discouraged if this takes several attempts.)nAsk yourself what evidence do you have to support your view?nAre there other conclusions possible?nAnswer these questions as completely as you can. (You might list them rather than write full sentences.).10Step

10、 TwonOther viewpoints help you test your view and discover your biases.nYou gain additional insights by looking at new ideas.nGather ideas from multiple sources: libraries, instructors, or experts in the field.nLook at ideas that both agree and disagree with your viewpoint.11Step ThreenMeasure your

11、view and the views of others against the evidence.nDecide which one is the most reasonable based on the evidence.nResearch will often prove your viewpoint. If it always proves your viewpoint, you may be twisting the evidence to meet your needs.12Critical Reading StrategiesnChoose your time and place

12、nRead actively (ask questions/seek answers)nConcentrate on the tasknWrite a summary (in your own words; emphasize key points; & write accurately)nReflect on the ideas.13Critical Thinking & WritingnCritical thinking provides the ideas for writing, and writing stimulates more ideas.nAllow time for ref

13、lection every day.nFocus on discovering ideas.nBe open to ideas at other times.14Expressing your thoughts for othersnComplete the thinking process first. nDiscovery writing is part of the thinking processyou produce rather than communicate ideas.nUse your viewpoint as your controlling idea.nChoose a

14、 suitable organization.15Expressing your thoughts for others - continuednIntroductionnYour controlling ideanYour first argument for this idea and supporting evidencenYour second argument and supporting evidencenYour third argument (if you have one) and supporting evidencenConclusion.16Expressing you

15、r thoughts for others - continuedSupport your view with evidenceBe exact, but lively. (Choose word that convey your idea exactly.)Break your thoughts into paragraphs.Use standard punctuation and observe conventions of grammar and usage. (The Department of Health Studies uses APA format for most pape

16、rs.).17Characteristics of Critical ThinkersnKnow their own minds.nAre honest with themselves.nAcknowledge all truthseven unpleasant ones.nAccept responsibility and accountability for their actions.nAccept sound argumentseven if that means rejecting their own.nCritical thinkers overcome confusion and

17、 ask questions.nThey base their judgments on evidence.18Characteristics of Critical Thinkers - continuednThey base their judgments on evidence.nThey resist manipulation.nThey look for connections between subjects.nThey balance their thinking.nCritical thinkers are intellectually independent.19Recogn

18、izing and avoiding errorsnThree types of broad errors in critical thinkingnErrors of PerceptionnErrors of JudgmentnErrors of Reaction.20Perception ErrorsnFaulty ways of seeing realitypreventing us from being open-minded even before we begin to think.n“Mine is better” thinkingnSelective Perceptionfoc

19、using on different things.21Perception Errors - continuednPretending to knownResistance to changenEither/or thinking (Example Evolution versus Creation Theories).22Judgment ErrorsnOver generalizing or stereotypingnHasty conclusionnUnwarranted assumption (assumptions: ideas that are taken for granted

20、) Example: if something appears in print, it must be true.nFailure to make a distinction.23Judgment Errors - continuednDistinctions are subtle differences among things.nDistinguish between the person and the idea. Example: Critical thinkers judge an idea on its own meritsnot on the celebrity status

21、or expertise of the person expressing itnDistinguish between familiarity and validity. Its easy to believe that reasoning is valid because weve heard it many times.24Judgment Errors continuednDistinguish between “often” and “always,” “seldom” and “never.”nOversimplification differs from simplificati

22、on. It omits essential information or ignores complexity. It distorts reality and confuses discussion.25Errors of ReactionnExplaining Away (Example: Marijuana Useusers feel the studies are wrong because they have smoked for years and its had no effect on them”nShifting the burden of proof. When you

23、make an assertion, you might have to defend it. If you find you cant, avoid shifting the burden of proof to others but instead withdraw the assertion.26Reaction Errors - continuednAttacking the person. “You have no business lecturing me about” nInstead focus on the idea than the person.nBe flexible

24、and be willing to admit a mistake.27Argument Solving StepsnFind the Controlling Ideathe idea that is the most reasonable. Usually stated right after the introduction.nRead the Article (while keeping the controlling idea in mind.)nIdentify Relationships (more info next slide)nWrite a Summary.28Identi

25、fy RelationshipsnAnd relationships signal that what follows adds to what preceded. (Words like also, first, in addition, next, further, and, moreover, finally, lastly, besides and another.)nBut relationships signal what follows contrasts with what preceded. (Words like however, nevertheless, yet, or

26、, but, on the other hand, and in contrast.29Identify Relationships - continuednTherefore relationships signal that a conclusion is being made about the preceding evidence. (Words like so, consequently, accordingly, thus, therefore, and it follows that.).30Coping with ComplexitynOvercome confusion by

27、 dealing with one sub-issue at a time.nBegin by making a spreadsheet. Put the names of the authorities across the top of the page and the sub-issues down the left-side. Then indicate each authoritys view on each sub-issue.31Medical DoctorHealth TeacherDietician DieterIs the Adkins Diet safe?NoNoNoYe

28、sIs it costly?Yes?YesNoDoes it work?NoYes?Yes.32Complexity - continuednChart the sub-issuesnLook for the disagreementsnLook at the evidence for those sub-issuesthen decide who makes the best persuasive case for that issue (dont assume that any authority is right on every issue!)nUse your decisions o

29、n the sub-issues to determine your overall view of the issue.33Evaluating Your Own ViewsnStep 1: Decide what you think and why you think it.nStep 2: Seek other views and more evidence.nStep 3: Evaluate the various views.nStep 4: Construct the most reasonable view.34ProcessnOriginal ViewnSignificant

30、ideas discovered in the investigation/research processnRevised View.35Evaluating Others ViewsnStep 1: Understand the other persons view. (Withholding all judgment)nStep 2: Seek other views and more evidence.nStep 3: Evaluate the various views. (Pros & Consmay want to chart)nStep 4: Construct the mos

31、t reasonable view. (If no one view proves to be fully reasonable, then construct a view by combining parts of the views.).36Propaganda TechniquesnBandwagon-creates the impression that everyone is doing something or buying something. It appeals to the urge to conform.nGlittering Generality Using word

32、s or phrases to imply excellence or uniqueness. “Amazing new discovery”.37Techniques - continuednEmpty Comparison Uses words like “bigger,” “better,” or “more.” Used to make statements that seem to make a serious claimyet you cant hold the advertiser responsible because you cant tell exactly what is

33、 being claimed. Bigger or better than what?.38Techniques - continuednMeaningless Slogan designed to create a positive impression. “Fly the friendly skies” is designed to associate United Airlines with friendliness. Aimed at associating a business with a particular idea or concept.nTestimonial an end

34、orsement for a product or service lending their credibility and celebrity status to products.39Techniques - continuednTransfer nVoice-over even if the viewer cannot name the speaker, the voice may be familiar and make the message more appealing.nObjects Statue of Liberty or American Flagshowing the

35、symbols arouses strong positive feelings in many people.40Techniques - continuednParty Scene where we see people enjoying themselves. The product may be shown as creating a good time. The product may just be included in the scene but still leaves an impressionnUse critical thinking skills to identify propaganda not only in media but also in writing styles.41CreditsnAll the information for this PowerPoint came from the book Critical Thinking by Vincent Ryan Ruggiero. The book was designed as a supplement to the “Becoming A Master Student” Program.