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Thinking critically
Second stage

Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has.
Margaret Mead
American, 1901 - 1978

• Thinking critically I
• Thinking critically II ◄
• Thinking creatively
• Thinking like a genius I
• Radical thinking
• Bloom's taxonomy
• Teaching with questioning
• The Socratic Method
• Reading critically

Second stage exercise in critical thinking:
topic and project development

Critical thinking studies a topic or problem with open-mindedness. This exercise outlines the second stage of applying a critical thinking approach to developing and understanding a topic.  With the second stage:

• Refine/revise the topic
  either narrowing or broadening it according to outcomes of research
• Rank or indicate the importance
  of three sources of research
• Clarify any opinion, prejudice, or bias their authors have
  While an opinion is a belief or attitude toward someone or some thing,
  a prejudice is preconceived opinion without basis of fact
  while bias is an opinion based on fact or research.
• Identify key words and concepts that seem to repeat
  Is there vocabulary you need to define?
  Are there concepts you need to understand better?
• In reviewing your research, are there
  Sequences or patterns that emerge?
  Oposing points of view, contradictions, or facts that don't "fit?"
  Summarize two points of view that you need to address
• What questions remain to be answered?

Critical thinking, first stage helped you to

• Develop a statement of the topic
• List what you understand, what you've been told
  and what opinions you hold about it
• Identify resources available for research
• Define timelines and due dates
  and how they affect the development of your study
• Print the list as your reference

With this second exercise, think in terms of how you would demonstrate your learning for your topic
How would you create a test on what you have learned?
How would you best explain or demonstrate your findings?
From simple to more complex (1-6) operations:

Summary of critical thinking:

• Determine the facts of a new situation or subject without prejudice
• Place these facts and information in a pattern so that you can understand and explain them
• Accept or reject your resource values and conclusions
  based upon your experience, judgment, and beliefs

Flash exercise
Contributed by Lisa Reed and Professor Brad Hokanson, Interactive Media (DHA 4384) School of Design, University of Minnesota;  revised and edited by Joe Landsberger

See also:
Teaching with questioning; teaching critical thinking

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