OCR ARTFF027 Critical Thinking & Study Skills Revision Test Autumn 2024-2025 PDF

ARTFF027: Critical Thinking and Study Skills REVISION – TEST  Structure of the Test  Test (20% of marks)  i. Multiple choice - 35 questions  ii. T/F - 15 questions  Details  Marks : 20% (of total Marks)  Duration: 1 hour  Date: 14th October  T...

ARTFF027: Critical Thinking and Study Skills REVISION – TEST  Structure of the Test  Test (20% of marks)  i. Multiple choice - 35 questions  ii. T/F - 15 questions  Details  Marks : 20% (of total Marks)  Duration: 1 hour  Date: 14th October  Time: 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm  Venue: F1A02 & F1A03 Lecture 1 - What is critical thinking?  Critical thinking and logic  Distinguishing between a giving an opinion and engaging in critical thinking  Critical thinking as process  Involves a wide range of skills and attitudes  Cognitive development - 3 stages identified by educational researcher William Perry  Lecture 1 - What is critical thinking?  Critical thinking as process  Cognitive development among university students Dualism  Viewing knowledge in a simple dualistic way, viewing things as right or wrong. Relativism  Reject dualistic viewpoint argue that all truth is relative or just a matter of viewpoint. Commitment Able to make decisions and commit to particular positions on the basis of reason and evidence Lecture 1 - What is critical thinking?  Characteristics of a good critical thinker  Benefits of critical thinking  Barriers to critical thinking  Critical thinking and self-development  Self examination important  Life plan – important  Three-tiered model of thinking The three levels of thinking Lecture 1 - What is critical thinking?  Critical thinking and self-development  Three-tiered model of thinking Experience  The foundation level of critical thinking involves firsthand experience, as well as empirical facts derived from other sources Interpretation  Involves trying to make sense of experiences Analysis  Involves raising our level of thinking and critically analising our interpretation of an experience Lecture 1 - What is critical thinking?  Resistance act as barrier to effective critical thinking types of resistance Avoidance Anger Cliches Denial Ignorance Conformity Struggling Distractions Lecture 2 – Language & Communication  What is language?  Definiton  Functions of language  Informative  Directive  Expressive  Ceremonial Lecture 2 – Language & Communication  Nonverbal language – helps interpret/reinforce verbal communication  Tone of voice, body language, posture  Denotative/Connotative meanings  denotative meaning of a word or phrase expresses the properties of the object, being, or event the word is symbolizing; its dictionary definition.  connotative meaning of a word or phrase includes feelings and personal feelings Lecture 2 – Language & Communication  Communication styles  4 styles assertive aggressive passive passive –aggressive  Characteristics  Impact on individuals Lecture 2 – Language & Communication  The use of language to manipulate  Emotive language  Rhetoric devices  Euphemisms  Dysphemisms  Sarcasm  Hyperbole  Deliberate deception  Deception  Lying  Lecture 3 - Ethics and Moral Decision Making 13  What is moral reasoning?  Moral and non moral issues  The development of moral reasoning  Pre-conventional  Conventional  Post Conventional  Moral arguments Lecture 3 – Knowledge, Evidence & Errors in Thinking  Knowledge and wisdom  Evaluating evidence  The fallibility of direct evidence – false memory syndrome  hearsay  anecdotal evidence  Experts and credibility Lecture 3 – Knowledge, Evidence & Errors in Thinking  Experts and credibility  Important to examine credentials of experts before accepting their arguments.  Four factors used to determine expertise:  Education or training from a reputable source  Experience in making judgments in the field  Reputation among peers in the field  Accomplishments in the field, such as publications and/or awards Lecture 3 – Knowledge, Evidence & Errors in Thinking  Evaluating claims  Be skeptical and open minded  Avoid confirmation bias  Research key to knowledge  Recommended research resources Expert interviews Dictionaries and encyclopedias Library catalogues and scholarly journals Government documents and Internet sites Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Argument and rhetoric – difference  Characteristics of argument  Has an audience  Makes a point  Concerns an arguable issue  Is developed from relevant evidence  Uses reason – more than a collection of facts  Requires awareness of topic complexity  Incorporates values Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Arguable issues  Assertion  Inference  Judgement  Non-Arguable issues  Questions  Exclamation  Commands  Personal preference Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Elements of argument  Generalisation  Proposition/Thesis Statement  Premise  Conclusion  Unstated premise  Premise support  Signal words Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Types of argument  Deductive  The reasoning process when we reach a specific conclusion rather than a generalisation.  words and phrases are commonly used in deductive arguments; these include certainly, absolutely, definitely, conclusively, must be, and it necessarily follows that. Inductive Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Types of argument  Inductive  The reasoning process when we reach a conclusion which is a generalisation.  Certain words and phrases are commonly in inductive arguments include probably, most likely, chances are, it is reasonable to suppose, we can expect, and it seems probable that.. Lecture 4 – Recognising, Analising & Constructing  Evaluating arguments  Five criteria are useful for evaluating arguments  Clarity  Credibility  Relevance  Completeness  Soundness  Lecture 5 – Informal Fallacies  What are fallacies?  Formal fallacies  Informal fallacies  Three groups of Informal fallacies  Fallacies of Ambiguity  Fallacies of Relevance  Fallacies Involving Unwarranted Assumptions  Lecture 5 – Informal Fallacies  Fallacies of Ambiquity  Arguments that contain ambiguous words or phrases, sloppy grammar, or confusion between two closely-related concepts can lead to fallacies of ambiguity.  Equivocation  Amphiboly  Accent  Division  Lecture 5 – Informal Fallacies  Fallacies of Relevance  In fallacies of relevance, one or more of the premises logically irrelevant, or unrelated, to the conclusion.  Personal attack, or ad hominem fallacy  Appeal to force, or scare tactics  Appeal to pity  Popular appeal  Appeal to ignorance  Hasty generalization  Straw man fallacy  Red herring  Lecture 5 – Informal Fallacies  Fallacies of Unwarranted Assumptions  Fallacies involving unwarranted assumptions occur when an argument includes an assumption that is not supported by evidence.  Begging the question, or circular reasoning  Inappropriate appeal to authority  Loaded question  False dilemma  Questionable cause  Slippery slope  Naturalistic fallacy.  Lecture 5 – Informal Fallacies  Strategies for avoiding fallacies  Know yourself and the fallacies you are most susceptible to.  Build your self-confidence and self-esteem.  Cultivate good listening skills; study others’ arguments for fallacies  Avoid ambiguous, vague terms and faulty grammar.  Avoid confusing the soundness of an argument with the character or circumstances of the person making the argument.  Know your topic. Do your research.  Adopt a skeptical “default” position.  Watch your body language. Avoid inflammatory actions.  Don’t be set on winning every argument. Seek the truth, not victory.  Structure of the Test  Test (20% of marks)  i. Multiple choice - 35 questions  ii. T/F - 15 questions  Details  Marks : 20% (of total Marks)  Duration: 1 hour  Date: 14th October  Time: 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm  Venue: F1A02 & F1A03