Critical Thinking Topics 4-9

Critical thinking enhances communication by integrating reading, thinking, and writing.
Reading in academia and business is about synthesizing information to connect facts, theories, and examples for coherent writing.
Facts are classified into:
- Proven Facts: Universally accepted truths (e.g., "Metallica is a band").
- Probable Facts: Supported by evidence (e.g., specific employment statistics).
Opinions stem from personal judgments and emotions; misinformation can arise from bias and selective data interpretation.
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to broader generalizations, while deductive reasoning leads from general statements to specific conclusions.
The Four-Step Approach in reasoning includes:
- Observation: Gathering data and information.
- Induction: Identifying patterns and forming hypotheses.
- Deduction: Making predictions based on hypotheses.
- Verification: Testing predictions with further data.
Reputable sources must be credible, accurate, sufficient, recognized, and current.
Peer-reviewed literature ensures quality through rigorous expert review prior to publication.
The UNE Library provides access to peer-reviewed journals and academic resources, alongside helpful videos and guides.
Skim-reading helps familiarize with academic articles, followed by evaluation based on peer review status, evidence quality, and clarity of language.

Clear writing is essential to prevent misunderstandings and associated costs in academic and business settings.
Effective writing requires audience awareness, robust research, and well-organized ideas.
Differences between academic and business writing include:
- Purpose: Academic writing aims to persuade through expertise; business writing focuses on informing or persuading without deep subject knowledge.
- Audience: Academic writing targets experts; business writing caters to non-experts needing clear information.
- Structure: Academic writing follows strict conventions; business writing prioritizes clarity and simplicity.
Characteristics of plain English in writing emphasize clear expression with simple, specific language, avoiding jargon and redundancy.

Critical thinking enhances communication by integrating reading, thinking, and writing.
Reading in academia and business is about synthesizing information to connect facts, theories, and examples for coherent writing.
Facts are classified into:
- Proven Facts: Universally accepted truths (e.g., "Metallica is a band").
- Probable Facts: Supported by evidence (e.g., specific employment statistics).
Opinions stem from personal judgments and emotions; misinformation can arise from bias and selective data interpretation.
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to broader generalizations, while deductive reasoning leads from general statements to specific conclusions.
The Four-Step Approach in reasoning includes:
- Observation: Gathering data and information.
- Induction: Identifying patterns and forming hypotheses.
- Deduction: Making predictions based on hypotheses.
- Verification: Testing predictions with further data.
Reputable sources must be credible, accurate, sufficient, recognized, and current.
Peer-reviewed literature ensures quality through rigorous expert review prior to publication.
The UNE Library provides access to peer-reviewed journals and academic resources, alongside helpful videos and guides.
Skim-reading helps familiarize with academic articles, followed by evaluation based on peer review status, evidence quality, and clarity of language.

Clear writing is essential to prevent misunderstandings and associated costs in academic and business settings.
Effective writing requires audience awareness, robust research, and well-organized ideas.
Differences between academic and business writing include:
- Purpose: Academic writing aims to persuade through expertise; business writing focuses on informing or persuading without deep subject knowledge.
- Audience: Academic writing targets experts; business writing caters to non-experts needing clear information.
- Structure: Academic writing follows strict conventions; business writing prioritizes clarity and simplicity.
Characteristics of plain English in writing emphasize clear expression with simple, specific language, avoiding jargon and redundancy.