Critical Thinking Basics
What is critical thinking?
The ability to think clearly and rationally about what to believe or do, involving analysis, evaluation, and inference.
Why is research important in academic writing?
It provides evidence to support claims and arguments.
Why is it important to know an author's qualifications?
To assess the credibility and reliability of the source.
What does synthesis mean in academic writing?
Integrating insights from various sources into a coherent argument.
What is the purpose of a thesis statement?
To clearly state the main argument or objective of the paper
What does "analysis" mean in the context of critical thinking?
Breaking down complex information into manageable parts to understand it better
What does engaging with existing literature help writers do?
It situates their work within a broader scholarly conversation.
What is one question to ask when evaluating the credibility of a source?
Is the publication peer-reviewed?
What is thematic analysis?
Grouping related ideas to identify common themes across different works.
What should each body paragraph focus on?
A single point that supports the thesis
What component of critical thinking involves assessing the credibility of information sources?
Evaluation.
What is the primary purpose of conducting a literature review?
To systematically search for relevant studies related to a specific topic.
What is a "logical fallacy"?
An error in reasoning that weakens an argument.
How does concept mapping help in academic writing?
By visually representing relationships among concepts to clarify connections between ideas.
Why is a topic sentence important in a paragraph?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
What is inference in critical thinking?
Drawing logical conclusions from available information and evidence.
How does research help identify "gaps" in academic writing?
By showing what has been studied and what remains unexplored.
Why is it essential to consider assumptions in arguments?
Assumptions can reveal biases or limitations in reasoning
What is one purpose of synthesizing information?
To present a well-rounded perspective on a topic.
What should the conclusion of an academic paper do?
Summarize key findings and reinforce the thesis without introducing new information.
According to Facione, how is critical thinking defined?
The intellectually disciplined process of conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information.
Name the two main types of research and give an example of each.
Primary research (e.g., conducting surveys or experiments) and secondary research (e.g., reviewing existing studies).
What is one way to assess the credibility of a study funded by a corporation?
Investigate if there might be vested interests that could influence its findings.
Give an example of synthesizing information for a research topic.
Combining studies on factors influencing student success to create a comprehensive argument about educational achievement.
What are the three main parts of a structured argument?
Introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.