This mini guide contains a brief discussion of the basics of critical thinking. Letter to the Reader Much lip service is given to the notion that students are learning to think critically. The guidelines and rules of critical thinking can serve to guide our thoughts. Critical thinking provides the tools for this process of self-evaluation. The aim is to highlight some of the more important concepts and principles of critical thinking. This guide to critical thinking stresses the importance of asking and answering questions. That leads a creator down different roads that they may not have previously considered before. Before you start reading this text, respond to the following in a paragraph or two: 1. Instead, academic work aims to get as near as possible to the truth. • Search for information that opposes your position as well as information that supports it. The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools 5 5) All reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION and EVIDENCE. Being critical in academic life, however, does not mean questioning things randomly, or for the sake of ‘nit-picking’. M01_NOSI2422_03_SE_C01.QXD 11/29/07 11:45 AM Page 1. [Tracy Bowell] Critical Thinking A Concise Guide (BookFi.org) In everyday life the term ‘critical’ is often seen as negative or destructive. 2 CHAPTER 1 Even before you start reading this text, begin by examining your own con-cept of critical thinking. For further study, readers Critical Thinking A student's Introduction fourth EDItION Critical Thinking A student ' s Introduction Bassham I Irwin Nardone I Wallace fourth EDItION This clear, learner-friendly text helps today’s students bridge the gap between everyday culture and critical thinking. A Guide For Educators to Critical Thinking Competency Standards Standards, Principles, Performance Indicators, and Outcomes With a Critical Thinking Master Rubric by Richard Paul and Linda Elder Foundation for Critical Thinking . The Miniature Guide to The Foundation for Critical Thinking www.criticalthinking.org 707-878-9100 cct@criticalthinking.org Academia.edu is a platform for academics to share research papers. It is neither a comprehensive survey nor a self-contained textbook. Critical thinking is reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on decid-ing what to believe or do. • Make sure that all information used is clear, accurate, and relevant to the question at issue. It covers all the basics of critical thinking, using real-world examples and a proven step-by-step approach. • Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have. If we know, by virtue of the knowledge that we have, that some facet of a project won’t work out, we can deduce that we need a better solution rather than relying on what we know or seeking a shortcut.