AIU Critical Thinking Course Outline PDF

Critical Thinking Dr. Hanaa Abdel-Maguid 11 July 2024 Critical Thinking Course Outline Introduction to Critical Thinking Recognizing Arguments Basic Logical Concepts Language Logical Fallacies Analyzing Arguments Finding, Evaluating and Using Sources Writing Argumenta...

Critical Thinking Dr. Hanaa Abdel-Maguid 11 July 2024 Critical Thinking Course Outline Introduction to Critical Thinking Recognizing Arguments Basic Logical Concepts Language Logical Fallacies Analyzing Arguments Finding, Evaluating and Using Sources Writing Argumentative Essays Critical Thinking 2 Course Outline A Little Categorical Logic A Little Propositional Logic Inductive Reasoning Thinking Critically about the Media Science and Pseudoscience Critical Thinking 3 ASSESSMENT Attendance & Participation 5% Continuous Quiz 1 (Lec. 4, ) 5% Assessment Quiz 2 (Lec. 11) – Formative Assessment Mid Term Written Exam (In Campus) 30% Capstone Research Project. 20% Final Written Exam (In Campus) 40% Mid Term and Final Written Exams will be in Campus Critical Thinking 4 Course Reference Critical Thinking: A Students Introduction, McGrow Hill, James Wallace, Gregory Bassham, Henry Nardone and William Irwin Link to the free online book: https://dimparato.wordpress.com/wp- content/uploads/2016/08/critical-thinking.pdf Critical Thinking 5 Lecture 1 Introduction to Critical Thinking Learning Outcomes Define Critical Thinking. Differentiate between Critical Thinking & Creative Thinking Describe Critical Thinking Standards. Explain The Benefits of Critical Thinking. Describe the Barriers of Critical Thinking. Enumerate The Characteristics of a Critical Thinker. Critical Thinking 7 Question? Why do YOU study for a Degree? Critical Thinking 8 Do You Agree With This Statement? “Some people study all their life and at their death they have learned everything except to THINK” – Francois Domergue Why? Critical Thinking 9 Do You Agree? Why is Imagination so Important? I Need input from you! Critical Thinking 10 Why does AIU have this course? To help you improve your Thinking Skills ☺ HOW TO THINK! Critical Thinking 11 1.1 What is Thinking? Why doesn’t SHE like me? Why doesn’t HE like me? As you start asking questions and seek answers, you are in fact thinking. Critical Thinking 12 1.1 What is Thinking? Thinking is a purposeful, organized cognitive process that we use to make sense of our world. Critical Thinking 13  1.2 Types of Thinking Analyzing Evaluating Problem Solving Reasoning Decision Making New Ideas Critical Left Right Creative Thinking Thinking Critical Thinking 14 1.3 What is Critical Thinking? WARNING: THIS MAN IS NOT THINKING CRITICALLY!! Critical Thinking 15 1.3 What is Critical Thinking? Critical Thinking is the general term given to a wide range of cognitive and intellectual skills needed to: Effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments. Discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases. Formulate and present convincing reasons in support of conclusions. Make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe and what to do. More Definitions… Critical Thinking 16 1.3 What is Critical Thinking? Reasoning Analyzing CRITICAL Evaluating THINKING SKILLS Decision Making Problem Solving Critical Thinking 17 1.4 Critical Thinking Standards (CTS) The most significant critical (intellectual) thinking standards: Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Fairness Critical Thinking 18 1.4 CTS - Clarity Could you elaborate further on that point? Could you express that point in another way? Could you give me an illustration? Could you give me an example? Clarity is the gateway standard Critical Thinking 19 1.4 CTS – Accuracy Is that really true? How could we check that? How could we find out if that is true? This chicken weighs over 300 pounds. A statement can be clear but not accurate Critical Thinking 20 1.4 CTS – Precision Could you give more details? Could you be more specific? Yao Ming is TALL! A statement can be both clear and accurate, but not precise Critical Thinking 21 1.4 CTS – Relevance How is that connected to the question? How does that bear on the issue? I studied hard all semester, therefore I should get A+. A statement can be clear, accurate, and precise, but not relevant to the question at issue. Critical Thinking 22 1.4 CTS – Depth How does your answer address the complexities in the question? How are you taking into account the problems in the question? Is that dealing with the most significant factors? A statement can be clear, accurate, precise, and relevant, but superficial. Critical Thinking 23 1.4 CTS – Breadth Do we need to consider another point of view? Is there another way to look at this question? What would this look like from a conservative standpoint? What would this look like from the point of view of...? A line of reasoning may be clear, accurate, precise, relevant, and deep, but lack breadth. Critical Thinking 24  1.4 CTS – Logic Does this really make sense? Does that follow from what you said? How does that follow? But before you implied this and now you are saying that; how can both be true? Superman sees through anything. Superman sees through walls. Superman sees through You. When the combination of thoughts are mutually supporting and make sense in combination, the thinking is "logical.“ Critical Thinking 25 1.4 CTS – Fairness Critical thinking demands that our thinking be fair. Open-minded Impartial Free of distorting biases and preconceptions Fair-mindedness is an essential attribute of a Critical Thinker. Critical Thinking 26 1.4 CTS – Good Thinking is… CLEAR……….....rather than........UNCLEAR ACCURATE…....rather than…….INACCURATE PRECISE……....rather than…….VAGUE RELEVANT…….rather than…….IRELEVANT CONSISTENT….rather than……INCONSISTENT LOGICAL……….rather than……ILLOGICAL COMPLETE……rather than……INCOMPLETE FAIR…………….rather than…....BIASED Critical Thinking 27  1.5 Benefits of Critical Thinking Academic Performance understand the arguments and beliefs of others Critically evaluating those arguments and beliefs Develop and defend one's own well-supported arguments and beliefs. Workplace Helps us to reflect and get a deeper understanding of our own and others’ decisions Encourage open-mindedness to change Aid us in being more analytical in solving problems Daily life Helps us to avoid making foolish personal decisions. Promotes an informed and concerned citizenry capable of making good decisions on important social, political and economic issues. Aids in the development of autonomous thinkers capable of examining their assumptions, dogmas, and prejudices. Critical Thinking 28 Critical Thinking 29 1.6 Barriers to Critical Thinking If Critical Thinking is so important, why is it that uncritical thinking is so common? Why is that so many people including many highly educated and intelligent people find critical thinking so difficult? Critical Thinking 30 1.6 Barriers to Critical Thinking Common Barriers Lack of relevant background Distrust of reason information Stereotyping Poor reading skills Unwarranted assumptions and Poor listening skills stereotypes Bias Relativistic thinking Prejudice Scapegoating Superstition Rationalization Egocentrism Wishful thinking Socio-centrism Short-term thinking Peer pressure Selective perception / attention Mindless Conformism Selective memory Mindless non-conformism Overpowering emotions Provincialism Self-deception Narrow-mindedness Face-saving Closed-mindedness Fear of change Critical Thinking 31  1.6 Barriers to Critical Thinking Five Powerful Barriers to Critical Thinking: I am Self-centered thinking probably the Egocentrism self-interested thinking greatest self-serving bias thinker since Socrates! Group-centered thinking Sociocentrism Group bias Conformism Beliefs that are presumed to be true Unwarranted without adequate evidence or justification Assumptions Assumption Stereotyping Believing that something is true because Wishful one wishes it were true. Thinking The truth is “just a matter of opinion” Relativism Relativistic ❑ Subjectivism Thinking ❑ Cultural relativism 32 Critical Thinking 1.7 Characteristics of a Critical Thinker Are you OPEN MINDED about other people’s view? Are you HONEST to yourself (or others) when you are wrong? Do you have the COURAGE and PASSION to take initiative and confront problems and meet challenges? Are you AWARE of your own biases and preconceptions? Do you WELCOME CRITICISM from other people? Do you have INDEPENDENT opinions and are not afraid to disagree? Critical Thinking 33  Critical Thinkers Uncritical Thinkers Have a passionate drive for clarity, precision, accuracy, Often think in ways that are unclear, imprecise, relevance, consistency, logicalness, completeness, and inaccurate, etc. fairness. Are sensitive to ways in which critical thinking can be Often fall prey to egocentrism, sociocentrism, skewed by egocentrism, sociocentrism, wishful wishful thinking, etc. thinking, etc. Are intellectually honest with themselves, Pretend they know more than they do and ignore acknowledging what they don’t know and recognizing their limitations. their limitations. Listen open-mindedly to opposing points of view and Are close-minded and resist criticisms of beliefs welcome criticisms of beliefs and assumptions. and assumptions. Base their beliefs on facts and evidence rather than Often base their beliefs on mere personal on personal preference or self-interest. preference or self interest. Are aware of the biases and preconceptions that Lack awareness of their own biases and shape the way they perceive the world. preconceptions. Think independently and are not afraid to disagree Tend to engage in ‘group think’, uncritically with group opinion. following the beliefs and values of the crowd. Are able to get to the heart of an issue or problem, Are easily distracted and lack the ability to zero in without being distracted by details. on the essence of a problem or issue. Have the intellectual courage to face and assess fairly Fear and resist ideas that challenge their basic ideas that challenge even their most basic beliefs. beliefs. Love truth and curious about a wide range of issues. Are often relatively indifferent to truth and lack of curiosity. Have the intellectual perseverance to pursue insights Tend to preserve when they encounter intellectual 34 or truths, despite obstacles or difficulties. Critical Thinking obstacles or difficulties. Summary 1. What is Thinking? Thinking is a purposeful, organized cognitive process that we use to make sense of our world. 2. Types of Thinking Creative & Critical Thinking 3. What is Critical Thinking? Critical Thinking is the general term given to a wide range of cognitive and intellectual skills needed to: Effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments; Discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases; Formulate and present convincing reasons in support of conclusions; and Make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe and what to do. Critical thinking skills emphasized in this course, include: Reasoning, Analyzing, Evaluating, Decision Making and Problem solving. 4. Critical Thinking Clarity, Accuracy, Precision, Relevance, Depth, Breadth, Standards Logic and Fairness 5. Benefits of Critical Academic performance, workplace and daily life. Thinking 6. Barriers to Critical Examples include Egocentrism, Sociocentrism, Unwarranted Thinking Assumptions, Wishful Thinking, and Relativistic Thinking 7. Characteristics of a Open-mindedness, independent thinking, self-aware, Critical Thinker passionate, insightful, honest and intellectual humility, intellectual courage, and welcome criticism, etc.