CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action. In its exemplary form, it is based on universal intellectual values that transcend subject matter divisions: clarity, accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance, sound evidence, good reasons, depth and fairness.

STEPS TO WRITE A CRITICAL THINKING

It is therefore important that from the outset, with every writing assignment, you consider the implemention of each of these dimensions of critical thinking. Then, with every assignment, you will familiarize yourself with their dynamic, strengthen your communicative abilities, and make your contribution to critical thinking and writing.

1. Identify the basics of the topic:

This is the introduction to your paper. Present the importance of the issue, outline context and potential ramifications. End your intro with a paragraph providing an overview of the following paper.

2. Analyze the material:

Analysis may be employed in different ways using different methods. Define your concepts and discuss your method. Analysis is about examination and synthesis: investigating components, identifying their qualities, strengths, and weaknesses, and connecting those in a coherent manner, demonstrating their relevance and importance for the whole. Always question content and relevance!

3. Address different perspectives:

Consider different viewpoints on the material. Never assume a certain perspective to be self-evident and obvious. Different analytical perspectives may reveal different ideas and understandings of the same event or idea. This analytical dimension requires examination and critique of scholarly opinions on your material.

4. Examine contexts:

Identify and assess assumptions and ideological perspectives to be found in historical and social contexts. Interpretation is also conditioned by your own assumptions, cultural, and ideological bias. Analysis and interpretation is ultimately about disclosing and examining such contextually determined points of view.

5. Identify own position:

Your own opinion on the material in opposition to those of other sources, may be presented in a particular section, for instance after your objective analysis of the material and your discussion of different perspectives. You may also choose to inject your voice as a discussant throughout your paper. This is most effectively done in an objectifying manner without continuous use of the pronouns "I" and "my."

6. Conclusion

Consider the importance of your findings and their implications. Tie all strings together in an overview. Emphasize the qualities and importance of your investigation, and briefly outline directions for further study.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

THE PROBLEM: all people think, it is our nature to do so, the problem is that a big part of our thinking is not ojective and it is manipulated by our feelings, good thoughts must be cultivated through the time and personal experiences.

DEFINITION: It is a kind of thinking in which people improves the quality of their thinking by carefully taking charge of the structures inherent in thinking and imposing intellectual strandards.

RESULTS: The most important result of developping critical thiinking is to get a well cultivated thinking, a critical thinker must be able to:

Analyze questions and problems and formulate them clearly and precisely.

Collect and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it efffectively and come to well-reasoned conclusions

Think openmindely within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing their assumptions, implications and practical consequences.

Is able to communicate effectively with others offering solutions to complex and simple problems

REFERENCES:

http://public.wsu.edu/~kimander/criticalthinking.htm

http://www.pearsonhighered.com/showcase/sims1e/assets/Sims_ch01.pdf