Critical thinking skills
What is Critical Thinking?
Here are three definitions of critical thinking:
1- Robert Ennis’s classic definition
“Critical thinking is reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.”
2- Matthew Lipman’s definition
“Critical thinking is skillful, responsible thinking that is conducive to good judgment because it is sensitive to context, relies on criteria, and is self-correcting.”
3- Richard Paul uses this definition
“Critical thinking is thinking about your thinking, while you’re thinking, in order to make your thinking better.”
Three Parts of Critical Thinking:
Critical thinking involves three parts:
1- Critical thinking involves asking questions that go to the heart of the matter. Moreover, Critical thinking involves noticing that there are questions that need to be addressed.
2- Second, critical thinking involves trying to answer those questions by reasoning them out. It is different from giving an answer we have always taken for granted without thinking about or answering by saying the first thing that comes into our mind.
3- critical thinking involves believing the results of our reasoning. Critical thinking is different from just engaging in a mental exercise. When we think through an issue critically, we internalize the results. We don’t give merely verbal agreement: we actually believe the results because we have done our best to reason the issue out and we know that reasoning things out is the best way to get reliable answers.
Characteristics of critical thinking
a) asks pertinent questions
b) assesses statements and arguments
c) is able to admit a lack of understanding or information
d) has a sense of curiosity
e) is interested in finding new solutions
f) is able to clearly define a set of criteria for analyzing ideas
g) is willing to examine beliefs, assumptions, and opinions and weigh them against facts
h) listens carefully to others and is able to give feedback
i) sees that critical thinking is a lifelong process of self-assessment
j) suspends judgment until all facts have been gathered and considered
k) looks for evidence to support assumption and beliefs
l) is able to adjust opinions when new facts are found
m) looks for proof
n) Examines problems closely
o) is able to reject information that is incorrect or irrelevant
Obstacles to Critical thinking
a. Mine is better;
b. Resistance to change;
c. The urge to conform;
d. The need to save face;
e. Stereotypes;
f. Faulty common sense
g. Oversimplification.
