What is Critical Thinking?

 Now that you have the basics down time to move on from the basic thinking to thinking Critically.

Critical Thinking is the general term given to a wide range of cognitive and intellectual skills needed to:

Effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments.

Discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases.

Formulate and present convincing reasons in support of conclusions.

Make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe and what to do.

With that in mind let's break it down on to how to make sure you are thinking critically about a subject.

You must always use these filters:

• Clarity
• Accuracy
• Precision
• Relevance
• Depth
• Breadth
• Logic
• Fairness

Clarity- Never ever take the information presented to you at face value. Always question, ask for examples make them clarify their point and information.

Accuracy- Is it really true? Can you check if it is indeed true?

Precision- Clarify further. Force more detail out and make sure it is specific.

Relevance- Is the information presented what the main subject is about? What does the information have to do with the topic?

Depth- Does the information address the real issue or the main points of the issue?

Breadth- Should you consider another point of view? Can you look at the topic another way? Should you?

Logic- Does the information make sense? Do your thoughts make sense after hearing it? Does it follow?

Fairness- Remember you are OPEN-MINDED. IMPARTIAL. FREE OF ANY BIASES AND PRECONCEPTIONS