UGRC 150: Critical Thinking Lecture 1

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of critical thinking?

  • To analyze statements and arguments
  • To reject all claims without evaluation
  • To accept claims without questioning
  • To determine the confidence level of a claim (correct)

What is the ultimate goal of critical thinking?

  • To reject all claims without justification
  • To evaluate arguments for the sake of evaluation
  • To solve practical problems of existence (correct)
  • To analyze statements for the sake of analysis

What is the role of the critical thinker?

  • To analyze and evaluate statements and arguments (correct)
  • To accept claims without evaluation
  • To provide reasons for accepting claims
  • To suspend judgment about a claim

What is critical thinking concerned with?

<p>How well a claim is supported by reasons (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the critical thinker do to statements and arguments?

<p>Analyzes and evaluates them (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of critical thinking?

<p>To expose fallacies or errors in reasoning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate aim of the course?

<p>To teach critical thinking and practical reasoning (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is critical thinking essential for?

<p>Evaluating claims and judging their validity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of sentence is used to seek information?

<p>Interrogative (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an imperative sentence?

<p>Take off your cap. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of sentence conveys information that can be either true or false?

<p>Declarative (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of interrogative sentences?

<p>To seek information (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of declarative sentences?

<p>Are used to give commands (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of sentence is 'Could you direct me to the library?'

<p>Imperative (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is common to both imperative and interrogative sentences?

<p>They do not have a truth-value (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a declarative sentence?

<p>The exam has been cancelled. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a person who thinks critically?

<p>Being clear about their beliefs and reasons (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of open-mindedness in critical thinking?

<p>Accommodating other views and evaluating issues on merit (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of the course on critical thinking?

<p>To equip students with concepts and skills for effective speaking, sound reasoning, and problem-solving (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a value judgment?

<p>To express a subjective viewpoint about an object (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'sentence-shaped thought'?

<p>Expressing thoughts in language, as we often capture or express thoughts in sentences (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of UNIT 1: Sentence-Shaped Thought?

<p>Developing critical thinking skills through scrutiny of thoughts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a moral value judgment?

<p>Abortion is evil (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a definition?

<p>It can be either true or false (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which skill is NOT mentioned as a key objective of the course?

<p>Mathematical modelling (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of an effective communicator in critical thinking?

<p>Presenting a point of view in a clear, structured, and reasoned way (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a non-moral value judgment?

<p>He is a good boxer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a definition in a sentence?

<p>To give meaning to a word or term (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of critical thinking in everyday life?

<p>Recognizing, diagnosing, and solving problems (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is another way of expressing a value judgment?

<p>Using a metaphor (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of declarative sentence informs by giving meaning to a word or term?

<p>Definition (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of declarative sentence expresses a subjective viewpoint about an object or person?

<p>Value judgment (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definiendum in the definition 'A bachelor is an unmarried adult male'?

<p>A bachelor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definiens in the definition 'A bachelor is an unmarried adult male'?

<p>Unmarried adult male (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a sentence that can be either true or false?

<p>A statement (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a sentence that is not a statement?

<p>Why are you crying? (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between sentences and statements?

<p>All statements are sentences, but not all sentences are statements (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'Recall and practice!' section?

<p>To review previously learned material (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between facts and values?

<p>Facts are objective, while values are subjective (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author of the lecture notes?

<p>Dr. Nancy Myles B.Gyamfi (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Critical Thinking

Careful determination of whether to accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim.

Critical Reasoning

Analyzing and evaluating statements to distinguish correct from incorrect reasoning.

Open-mindedness

Willingness to consider different perspectives and ideas.

Inquiring Mind

A tendency to ask questions and seek information.

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Analytic Skills

Ability to break down information into smaller parts for examination.

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Evaluative Skills

Ability to assess the worth or validity of something.

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Communicative Skills

Ability to clearly and effectively share information with others.

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Sentence-Shaped Thoughts

Expressing thoughts in language.

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Interrogatives

Sentences that express questions.

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Imperatives

Sentences that express commands or requests.

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Declaratives

Sentences that convey information and can be true or false.

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Value Judgment

A type of declarative sentence that expresses an opinion.

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Moral Value Judgment

A value judgment relating to right and wrong.

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Non-moral Value Judgment

A value judgment not related to ethics.

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Definition

A type of declarative sentence giving the meaning of a word.

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Definiendum

The word or phrase being defined.

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Definiens

The part of a definition that gives the meaning.

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Sentence

A collection of words with a complete thought or meaning.

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Statement

A sentence that can be either true or false.

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Sentence vs. Statement

Not all sentences are statements.

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Study Notes

Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning

  • Critical thinking is the careful and deliberate determination of whether to accept, reject, or suspend judgment about a claim, based on the degree of confidence with which to accept or reject it.
  • Critical thinking involves analyzing and evaluating statements and arguments to distinguish good (correct) from bad (incorrect) reasoning.

Critical Thinking Skills

  • Open-mindedness
  • Inquiring mind (question-asking)
  • Analytic skills
  • Evaluative skills
  • Communicative skills

Course Objectives

  • Effective speaking
  • Sound reasoning and analysis
  • Conceptual clarity
  • Recognizing, diagnosing, and solving problems for the work environment and everyday life

Sentence-Shaped Thoughts

  • Humans express their thoughts in language, making it possible to scrutinize (study) what others think.
  • Unit 1 aims to help students understand the need and how to subject their thoughts (and those of others) to scrutiny.

Interrogatives

  • Interrogatives are sentences that express questions, seeking information.
  • Examples: "Is she your mother?", "Did Kojo travel?", etc.
  • Interrogatives do not have a truth-value; they are not truth bearers.

Imperatives

  • Imperatives are sentences that express commands, requests, directives, or instructions.
  • Examples: "Take off your cap.", "Raise your hand.", etc.
  • Imperatives have no truth-value; they are not truth bearers.

Declaratives

  • Declaratives are sentences that convey information, which can be either true or false (have a truth-value).
  • Examples: "The exam has been cancelled.", "Ghana has a new Speaker of Parliament.", etc.

Types of Declaratives

  • Value Judgment:
    • Moral value judgments (e.g., "Abortion is evil.")
    • Non-moral value judgments (e.g., "He is a good boxer.")
  • Definitions (e.g., "A bachelor is an unmarried adult male.")
    • Definiendum (word being defined)
    • Definiens (part of the definition giving the meaning)

Distinguishing Sentences from Statements

  • A sentence is a collection of words with a complete thought or meaning.
  • A statement is a type of sentence that can be either true or false.
  • Not all sentences are statements; some sentences can be questions or commands.

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