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to the online Tutor Training Workshop on
Critical Thinking
offered by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s
Academic Success Center

Critical Thinking
I think, therefore I am.
(Rene Descartes)
Sitting on top of your shoulders is one
of the finest computers on the earth.
But, like any other muscle in your
body, it needs to be exercised to work
its best.
That exercise is called
THINKING.

What is critical thinking?
Commonly called “problem solving”
Not being content with the first solution to a problem,
but thinking more deeply about it.
Knowing, understanding, analyzing, synthesizing,
applying and evaluating the idea or problem
Looking for what is implied in a question rather than
what is stated.
Applying the rules of logic to problem solving.
Not letting reason be clouded by emotion.

Four Aspects of Critical Thinking
Abstract Thinking:
thinking past what your senses tell you
Creative Thinking:
thinking “out of the box,” innovating
Systematic Thinking:
organizing your thoughts into logical steps
Communicative Thinking:

Critical Thinking:
What is involved?
Question: what is being asked?
Purpose: why do I want the answer?
Point of View: where do I stand to look at the
question?
Information: what data do I have?
Concepts: what ideas are involved?
Assumptions: what am I taking for granted?
Inferences: what conclusions am I drawing?
Consequences: what are the implications of my
question?

Critical Thinkers
 Acknowledge personal limitations.
 See problems as exciting challenges.
 Have understanding as a goal.
 Use evidence to make judgments.
 Are interested in others’ ideas.
 Are skeptical of extreme views.
 Think before acting.
 Avoid emotionalism
 Keep an open mind

Uncritical Thinkers
 Pretend to know more than they do.
 Get annoyed by problems.
 Are impatient.
 Judge on first impressions and
intuition.
 Focus on their own opinions.
 Look only for ideas like their own.
 Are guided by feelings rather than
thoughts.
 Claim that thinking gives them a
headache.
Don’t think
about it, just
sign it!

A Thinker’s Lexicon
Inference A judgment based on evidence
Plausible Logical and believable, credible
Validity Truthful, well-founded
Claim To assert as a fact whether it is or not
Fact A truth that cannot be disputed
Opinion A personal view or belief
Argument A set of claims to support an assertion
Assumption An inference that is believed to be true

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
•Inductive Reasoning
Specific Reasoning Broad Principles
Example: My history All college courses
class requires a lot of have a lot of reading.
reading.
•Deductive Reasoning
Broad Specific
Generalizations Conclusions
Example: All college My art history course
courses are hard. will be hard.

The IDEAL Method
 Identify the problem.
 Define the problem.
 Explore alternative
approaches.
 Act on the best strategies.
 Look back to evaluate the
effects.

Ask Questions
One quality of a good critical thinker is the ability to ask
on-target questions.
If you don’t usually ask questions, is it because you
•Fear embarrassment?
•Worry what others will think of you?
•Worry that the instructor will think your question is
strange?
•Worry that others will think you’re showing off?
When you don’t ask questions, you sacrifice your
education.
If you don’t take risks, you won’t get the maximum
benefit in developing your mind.

There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question (Usually)
 There are unwelcome questions.
 Don’t ask questions that detract from
the momentum of the class.
 Don’t ask questions that focus more on
self-concerns than on the needs of the
class.
 Don’t ask questions that demonstrate
you failed to pay attention.
 Don’t ask silly questions.

Offer Criticism
• You will most likely be asked to judge
or evaluate issues in college.
• First decide whether you like what you
are being asked to judge.
• Consider both positive and negative
attributes.
• Use examples to support your
judgment.
• Don’t be intimidated by this kind of
assignment; your instructors want you
to develop your critical thinking skills.
I just can’t
make sense of
this! Please
explain more.

Make the
Right Inferences
• You are constantly making inferences.
• Inferences are interpretations that you derive from
processing cues in a situation.
• A plausible inference is a judgment that is logical,
and possibly accurate.
• Sometimes inferences become assumptions—
something we believe to be true and act on as
though it were.
• Inferences can be tricky. It is easy to be wrong and
you may operate on faulty assumptions until you
are informed otherwise.

Four Common Decision Making
Problems
• Snap decisions
• Don’t jump to conclusions!
• Narrow thinking
• Broaden your vistas!
• Sprawling thinking
• Don’t beat around the
bush!
• Fuzzy thinking
• Keep it sharp! Keep it
relevant!

What is a Claim?
• A claim is a statement which can be either true or false, but not
both.
• A claim is an assertion you want to have accepted as a fact and not
be disputed.
• When evaluating a claim, you have three choices:
1. accept the claim
2. reject the claim
3. suspend judgment until you have more information
What is an Argument?
• An argument is a set of claims.
• Arguments begin with premises and lead to a conclusion
• A good argument is one in which the premises lead
logically to a strong or valid conclusion.

Form Strong Arguments
• Be sure the conclusion follows logically from the
premises.
• Leave out faulty or dubious premises.
• Use precise language to pinpoint your claim.
• Avoid making claims you can’t prove.
This is a perfectly logical
argument (called a syllogism.)
It only has one small problem:
NASA hasn’t found any green
men on Mars. Oh, well…

Know Your
Own Biases
• Everyone has strong preferences and
prejudices that may prevent us from evaluating
arguments fairly.
• Acknowledging these can increase the
likelihood of coming up with more effective
arguments.
• Good reasoners guard against their own “soft
spots” to increase their objectivity.
• Be honest with yourself: “Am I opinionated?

Refine Your Reasoning
• Be willing to argue
• Use deductive reasoning
• Check your assumptions
• Know your own biases
• Observe carefully
• Stay positive and persistent
• Show concern for accuracy
• Take time before concluding

What Makes a Creative Thinker?
• They actively pursue experiences that are
aesthetically pleasing.
• They enjoy taking a unique approach to
things.
• They love the process of creating.
• They are flexible and like to play with
problems.
• They take risks and learn from their mistakes.
• They strive to evaluate their work fairly.
• They thrive when they think of assignment
guidelines as a launching point for their
imagination.

Nurture Your
Own Creativity
• Don’t accept other people’s blueprints.
• Be vigilant about what others can’t see.
• Differentiate the good from the bad.
• Take the plunge before you’re an expert.
• Concentrate on the big picture.
• Take sensible risks.
• Motivate yourself from inside.
• Shape environments that will support your creativity.
• Actively pursue your creative life.

Critical Thinking:
A Skill to Carry You
Through Life
Professors and future employers value your ability to
perform these critical thinking skills:
 Manage and interpret information.
 Examine exciting ideas and develop new ones.
 Pose logical and cogent arguments.
 Recognize reliable evidence.
 Be proactive rather than reactive.
 Think things through in depth.

Why College Encourages Critical Thinking
Remember:
• Thinkers are generally “movers and shakers.”
• Sometimes how you solve a problem is as important as
the solution.
• Open ended questions of “Why?”, “How?” or “What
If?” have no simple, clear-cut answers.
• There are many valid points of view!
• The greatest gift a college can give you is an open mind.

REFERENCES
• Roadways to Success
by James C. Williamson, Debra A.
McCandrew, and Charles T. Muse, Sr.,
Pearson Education
• Focus on College Success
by Constance Staley, Wadsworth
Cengage Learning

TAKE THE QUIZ!
To receive Tutor Training credit for your
CRLA certification requirements, please
complete the Quiz via the link below, and
sign, print and bring the completed form to
Matthew Mattox, Learning Center
coordinator.
CRITICAL THINKING QUIZ

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