Title: 
Headings:  Critical Thinking
Critical
 
Thinking

ConCepts
 
and
 
tools

By
 
Dr.
 
Richard
 
Paul
  
and
  
Dr.
 
Linda
 
Elder

The
 
Foundation
 
for
 
Critical
 
Thinking

www.criticalthinking.org
 
707-878-9100
  
cct@criticalthinking.org

Why
 
A
 
Critical
 
Thinking
 
Mini-Guide?

Contents
          


Why
 
Critical
 
Thinking?

The
 
Problem:


 
Definition:

The
 
Result:

Point
 
of
 
View

Assumptions

             
Concepts

Purpose

Question
 
at
 
issue

Information

Interpretation
and
 
inference

Used
 
With
 
Sensitivity
 
to
 
Universal
 
Intellectual
 
Standards

Th
 
e
 
STa
 
n
 
da
 
r
 
dS

Th
 
e
 
el
 
e
 
m
 
e
 
nT
 
S

InTe
 
l
 
l
 
e
 
cTua
 
l
 
Tr
 
aI
 
T
 
S


Content: Critical
 
thinking
 
is
 
the
 
art
 
of
 
analyzing
 
and
 
evaluating
 
thinking
 
with
 
a
 
view
 
to
 
 
improving
 
it. The
 
Result: well
 
cultivated
 
critical
 
thinker: raises
 
vital
 
questions
 
and
 
problems,
 
formulating
 
them
 
clearly
 
and
 
precisely; gathers
 
and
 
assesses
 
relevant
 
information,
 
using
 
abstract
 
ideas
 
to
 
interpret
 
it
 
effectively; comes
 
to
 
well-reasoned
 
conclusions
 
and
 
solutions,
 
testing
 
them
 
against
 
relevant
 
criteria
 
and
 
standards; thinks
 
openmindedly
 
within
 
alternative
 
systems
 
of
 
thought,
 
recognizing
 
and
 
assessing,
 
as
 
need
 
be,
 
their
 
assumptions,
 
implications,
 
and
 
practical
 
consequences; and


 
communicates
 
effectively
 
with
 
others
 
in
 
figuring
 
out
 
solutions
 
to
 
complex
 
problems. Critical
 
thinking
 
is,
 
in
 
short,
 
self-directed,
 
self-disciplined,
 
self-monitored,
 
and
 
self-corrective
 
thinking. It
 
requires
 
rigorous
 
standards
 
of
 
excellence
 
and
 
mindful
 
command
 
of
 
their
 
use.