Critical Thinking: Making Reasoned Judgements
Developing analytical skills for Year 11 English/Language Arts 45-minute exploration
What is Critical Thinking?
Think-Pair-Share: In your own words, define critical thinking Consider: How do you make important decisions? What makes some reasoning better than others?
Defining Critical Thinking
The ability to think clearly and rationally Understanding logical connections between ideas Identifying and evaluating arguments Making reasoned judgements based on evidence Questioning assumptions and biases
Critical vs Non-Critical Thinking
{"left":"Asks 'Why?' and 'How do we know?'\nAccepts information without question\nConsiders multiple perspectives\nRelies on single sources\nEvaluates evidence quality","right":"Makes assumptions quickly\nRecognises bias and limitations\nFollows emotions over logic\nDraws reasoned conclusions\nJumps to conclusions"}
The Critical Thinking Process
1. Identify the issue or question 2. Gather relevant information 3. Consider different perspectives 4. Evaluate evidence and sources 5. Draw reasoned conclusions 6. Reflect on the reasoning process
Practice: Evaluating Arguments
Read the provided argument about social media Identify the main claim List the evidence presented Spot any assumptions or biases Rate the argument's strength (1-5) Suggest improvements
The Importance of Questions
'The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.' - Albert Einstein
Common Thinking Traps
Confirmation bias - seeking information that confirms our beliefs Hasty generalisation - drawing broad conclusions from limited examples Appeal to authority - accepting claims because of who said them False dilemma - seeing only two options when more exist Emotional reasoning - letting feelings override logic
Building Your Critical Thinking Toolkit
Create a personal action plan Choose 3 critical thinking strategies to practice Set specific goals for improvement Identify situations where you'll apply these skills Plan how to track your progress
Putting It All Together
Critical thinking is a skill that improves with practice Apply these strategies across all subjects Question, evaluate, and reflect regularly Remember: good thinking leads to better decisions Your future success depends on thinking well