As students, you will engage with new information all the time! From preparing for lecture by completing readings, to researching topics for your next paper, it is important to know how to critically think about the information you take in and present. What does it mean exactly to think critically?
Critical Thinking IS…
- Used in academic work to assess or develop an “argument”.
- Asking questions, relevant to a subject area, field of study or discipline.
- Finding evidence to address questions.
- Evaluating the evidence, to arrive at a conclusion and/or new questions to explore.
- Objective, impersonal, and evidence-based
Critical Thinking IS NOT…
- Just describing or explaining a concept or theory.
- About attacking, finding fault or “criticizing” in the way we normally use the word.
- Based on emotions, personal values or belief systems.
The Critical Thinking Process
- Identify the argument (claim, conclusion or theory) being made.
- Look for assumptions behind key claims or theories. If you find some, ask: Are these assumptions reasonable? Do they need to be supported by evidence, rather than just assumed?
- Assess the evidence and ask; does the evidence support the claim? Is it sufficient? Is it from a trustworthy source?
Practice Critical Thinking by:
- Find a news article that interests you
- Identify the Argument
- Look for Evidence that supports the argument
- Asses the Evidence and Ask Questions, such as: Who wrote this article? Are their sources reliable? What bias might they have? Whose voice has been left out? When and how was this evidence collected?
- Draw your conclusion
- Now, try this again with an article you disagree with!
Additional Resources
| Resource | Download | Decsription |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Reading Strategies | PDF Word | Worksheet for identifying the structure and important information about your readings. |
| Become a Critical Thinker | Tips to develop your critical thinking skills | |
| Critical Thinking | Learning Skills Workshop |