Critical Thinking Skills

1. Critical Thinking Skills How do I begin to grow? HS 24

2. Common Core Standards Addresed • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric LifeKnowledge®

3. Bell Work / Objectives! • Explain the difference between “critical” and “non-critical thinking. • What is “positive” thinking. • What is the advantage of “positive” thinking. LifeKnowledge®

4. Terms: • Argument • Critical Thinking • Skills • Positive thinking • Negative thinking • Evidence • Opinion

5. What are critical thinking skills? Critical thinking: personal, purposive and reflective thinking used to solve problems, make decisions and clarify concepts. Skills: the ability to do something well arising from talent or training. Objective 1 HS 24 TM A LifeKnowledge®

6. Methods of Critical Thinking Accept new evidence • Uncritical thinkers hold on to their own cherished ideas and beliefs. • Critical thinkers accept valid evidence even if it is against their previous belief. Objective 2 HS 24 TM B1 LifeKnowledge®

7. Methods of Critical Thinking • Example: A new report is released stating that genetically modified fruit are more nutritious than traditionally grown fruit. • An uncritical thinker continues to buy traditionally grown fruit, not willing to accept the new evidence. • A critical thinker considers if the new evidence is valid. If so, he may buy genetically modified grown fruit even though he previously believed traditionally grown fruit is more nutritious. Objective 2 HS 24 TM B1 LifeKnowledge®

8. Methods of Critical Thinking Resist abuse of propaganda • Uncritical thinkers are easily swayed to believe propaganda. • Propaganda – information or ideas spread to promote or injure a cause, movement, or nation. • Critical thinkers see through propaganda. Objective 2 HS 24 TM B2 LifeKnowledge®

9. Methods of Critical Thinking • Example: You pick up a flyer that displays a picture of a hunter in a jail cell for shooting a deer. The statement on the bottom reads, “Stop the killing of innocent animals.” • An uncritical thinker believes the propaganda thinking that all hunters kill innocent animals. • A critical thinker realizes that the flyer is propaganda and researches the issue to discover facts concerning hunters, hunting seasons, and wildlife populations. LifeKnowledge®

10. Methods of Critical Thinking Simplify confusion • Uncritical thinkers avoid complex situations. • Critical thinkers take time to find an answer to complex problems. LifeKnowledge®

11. Methods of Critical Thinking Example: FFA members are no longer coming to the monthly meetings. • An uncritical thinker avoids trying to determine why FFA members are no longer coming to meetings • A critical thinker takes time to resolve why FFA members are not coming to meetings. They may look at the time of the meetings, length of the meetings, activities during the meetings, or location of the meeting place. Objective 2 HS 24 TM B3 LifeKnowledge®

12. Methods of Critical Thinking Ask questions • Uncritical thinkers accept statements as they are given. • Critical thinkers ask questions to test inaccurate statements. LifeKnowledge®

13. Methods of Critical Thinking • Example: Consider the statement, “Trucks are safer to drive than cars.” • An uncritical thinker believes that trucks are safer thantodrive than cars and decides to buy a truck. • A critical thinker asks questions about the statement. Which trucks and cars were evaluated? Who did the evaluation? What kinds of tests were done on the trucks and cars? What safety features were tested? What speeds were used in the tests? How many tests were completed? Objective 2 HS 24 TM C1 LifeKnowledge®

14. Methods of Critical Thinking Base judgments on evidence. • Uncritical thinkers find opinions that match their own belief. • Opinion – a belief or judgment based on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. • Critical thinkers find evidence to support valid claims. • Evidence – data that tends to prove or disprove something. LifeKnowledge® Objective 2 HS 24 TM C2

15. Methods of Critical Thinking Example: You are reading a newspaper and find an article claiming that cookies are healthier to eat than brownies. You prefer eating brownies. • An uncritical thinker that prefers brownies to cookies does not read the article for fear of being proved wrong. You may begin trying to find an article stating brownies are a healthy food. • A critical thinker reads the article to consider the evidence and then does more research to find out if cookies really are healthier to eat than brownies. Objective 2 HS 24 TM C2

16. Methods of Critical Thinking Look for connections. • Uncritical thinkers are narrow-minded. • Critical thinkers realize knowledge in one subject applies to other subjects. LifeKnowledge®

17. Methods of Critical Thinking Example: You watch a video demonstrating a technique used to train a pet dog. • An uncritical thinker believes that the technique can only be used on dogs, and that the person in the video is the only one able to perform that technique. • A critical thinker sees the technique and realizes that the same training will work on your pet pig. LifeKnowledge®

18. Evidence, Argument, Persuasion • Evidence: data that tends to prove or disprove something. • Argument: a statement or reason offered as proof of evidence. • Persuasion: to cause a person to do something by advising or urging. Objective 3 HS 24 TM D LifeKnowledge®

19. LifeKnowledge®

20. LifeKnowledge®

21. LifeKnowledge®

22. The End! LifeKnowledge®