This series of posts attempts to break down the critical thinking process into a number of steps that build upon each other. So far we’ve looked at:
- Improving the organisation of information stored in the brain
- Analysing information in order to identify aids to critical thinking such as possible relationships and/or recognise patterns within sequences.
- The critical thinking component itself
- Identifying good questions to ask yourself and others about what you are reading or hearing.
In this post I want to go into a little more detail so that you have a guide or checklist, if you like, to aid you get more out of your reading. It is based on tips that are generally available from a number of sources. So here’s something with which to work:
- Where is the author coming from – what’s the approach or perspective?
- What other approaches could have been used?
- Is the author directly involved in the subject or writing as an outsider?
- What are main points and do you agree with them? Is the argument being promoted in logical steps?
- What sorts of evidence are presented and are the well-research, logical and non–emotive?
- Does the author use valid reasoning
- Does the author use facts or unsupported generalisation?
- What inferences are made ad do you agree with them?
- If the author presents or interprets the ideas of others? Do you it was done fairly?
- Does the author show bias r provide a balanced of the subject?
Try the guide and see what you think