Moving from Analysis to Evaluation Or, Well, it s my opinion isn t enough anymore
How do we make judgments? Often quick, instinctive, even knee-jerk Often rely on non-critical thinking That s what I like. We ve always done it this way. That s how people around here think. Rarely stop to consider the underlying criteria for making our judgments We judge on autopilot, not on standards.
Intellectual Traits Required Intellectual Integrity: willingness to hold yourself to the same high standards you hold others to; the resolve to do the work and not take short-cuts (especially in a hurry) or rely on autopilot thinking. Pursuit of truth: willingness to change your mind, even if it s painful or leads you to an uncomfortable place.
Linked to these are Becoming a critical, not a noncritical thinker: Replacing stereotypes, egocentrism, haste, enculturated patterns, and habitual thinking with reasoned examination of real evidence based on known elements Accepting that some things can t be proven absolutely so determining that you have done enough thinking for what your pitch and moment require
I just can't sleep tonight Knowing that things ain't right It's in the papers, it's on the TV, it's everywhere that I go Children are crying, soldiers are dying, Some people don't have a home But I know there's sunshine behind that rain I know there's good times behind that pain Hey, can you tell me how I can make a change? I close my eyes and I can see a brighter day I close my eyes and pray I close my eyes and I can see a better day I close my eyes and pray
I lose my appetite knowing kids starve tonight Am I a sinner, 'cause my dinner is still on my plate? Ooh I got a vision to make a difference And it's starting today 'Cause I know there's sunshine behind that rain I know there's good times behind that pain Can you tell me how I can make a change? I close my eyes and I can see a brighter day I close my eyes and pray I close my eyes and I can see a better day I close my eyes and pray for the brokenhearted I pray for the life not started I pray for all the ones not breathing I pray for all the souls in need I pray, can you give 'em one today?
Where are you going to use these? Paper 2: Evaluating a scholarly article Paper 3: Evaluating a cultural event Group project paper: Evaluating your work Final exam Other classes book reviews, lab reports, peer assessments, site visits, observations, etc. Hopefully, in lots of phases of your life
Standards of Critical Thinking Clearness (C) Accuracy (A) Importance, Relevance (I,R) Sufficiency Depth Breadth Precision CRTW shorthand for all of these is CAIR STANDARDS
Much of the evaluation of these standards Is contextual depends on the moment, the purpose, and the audience Is often bound by point of view
Clearness
Characteristics of Clear Thought Easily understood: uses language, examples, and illustrations appropriate to the subject & the audience; connects with POV Free from the likelihood of misunderstanding Implications of the pitch are readily apparent
Impediments Me-focused, not youfocused Not anticipating what others won t understand Not overcoming FBIs that inhibit clearness Not being able to step outside the proposer s POV
Accuracy
Accurate Thinking Describing the way things actually are Bound by what is provable but standards of proof may vary, based on subject & discipline. Can t be based on Well, it could have been like this (e.g. Obama s birth certificate or two of Carr s friends) Assumptions and evaluative criteria can be articulated and defended
Impediments to Accuracy Fear Inertia, Habits, Enculturation Wishful thinking and denial Hasty generalization Folk wisdom Limited or non-representative sampling Non-critical thinking
Relevance
Importance, Relevance Elements that really matter in deciding an issue often founded on concepts underlying the assumptions Not always the glamorous or sexy parts, and not always the comfortable or likable ones, either May vary from person to person (both in the writer and the reader) or discipline to discipline
Impediments Losing sight of the purpose Losing sight of the context Not setting weights on information Refusing to consider evidence presented Jumping to conclusions Undue outside influence
Sufficiency Has to do with both quantity and quality Makes you slow down and ask about all the steps Requires you to get past old habits and enculturation Apply disciplinary thinking i.e., show your work
Depth Making yourself look at concepts and theories underlying the assumptions Checking the sources to see what the information is based on Thinking about an issue in 3-D: scuba diving, not jetskiing Antidote to surf and click reading and thinking
Breadth Expanding the worldview of the question (responding to egocentrism and developmental thinking) Seeing the big picture Thinking outside the box Not thinking in clichés
Precision Using the right terms, not the nearly-right terms Avoiding hyperbole and sound bites Not relying on generalities and stereotypes but going for specifics (e.g. not Democrats raise taxes but Obama s economic plan will raise taxes for the top 1% of wage earners )