General CT
What is critical thinking?
Critical thinking is finding and evaluating evidence to make the best decisions.
Name one place you can encounter a fact and one place you can encounter an opinion
Facts - school, books, articles, teachers, internet (sometimes)
Opinions - TV, songs, advertising, texting, blogs
Name one way you can promote creative or imaginative thinking.
Exercise
Daydream
Get out in nature
Watch crazy cat videos
What are the two statements that make up an argument?
Premises and conclusion
Ambiguity
a lack of clarity due to a word, phrase, or statement having more than one meeting.
Why is critical thinking an essential skill?
It helps us to identify when others are trying to convince or deceive us and encourages us to make our own opinions and fact-check information before we accept it as truth.
Name one instance in which someone might try to confuse, trick, or deceive you.
Commercials, news, opinionated teachers, arguments, con artists, magicians, salesmen...
What is the most important sentence in your essay?
The THESIS!
What is a signal word or phrase? Can you give an example?
Signal words help us to distinguish whether a statement is a fact or an opinion. They can also help us determine what type of argument someone is using. Examples: "confirm", "demonstrated", "in my opinion", "the best", "disgusting", "sometimes", "always".
Doublespeak
“language which pretends to communicate but doesn’t.“
Doublespeak tries to make what is negative or unpleasant seem positive and attractive. It also avoids or shifts responsibility. It is designed to alter our perception of reality, and it corrupts our thinking.
What is one thing that can negatively impact our critical thinking?
Tell me 2 different ways the sentence below could be interpreted?
You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses would you?
You wouldn't hit a guy wearing glasses, would you?
You wouldn't use glasses to hit a guy, would you?
What type of source should you pull quotes from?
A reliable source!
Write two sentences about dogs. Write one using emotional language and one using neutral language.
Good job!
Euphemisms
A positive word or phrase, or a word that is offensive, that is used to avoid an unpleasant reality.
Name 3 of the 6 basic skills that critical thinking help with
Comprehension, Analysis, Evaluation, Construction, Creativity, Communication
Give an example of how commercials deceive the audience.
Great!
Describe the what the 5 paragraphs in an essay typically consist of.
1. Introduction
2. Paragraph 1 (point)
3. Paragraph 2 (point)
4. Paragraph 3 (point)
5. Conclusion
Name your favorite type of argument and describe what it is?
Nice!
Jargon
A specialized language that serves a valuable function for a profession, trade, or a specialized group.
Who is your favorite critical thinking tutor?
I will not not be dissapointed if the answer isn't me.
Explain the difference between possible, probable, and proven.
To be “possible” means that something, let’s call it ask, is logically and physically possible - that there is a chance that X could happen.
To be “probable” would be higher on the scale than possible
To be “proven” means that something is definitely true
Describe the typical order of a body paragraph.
Relate to thesis (Write topic sentence)
Unpack the topic sentence
Evidence - quotation
Give explanation (explaining, interpreting, commentating)
Close with another sentence (prove the objective)
Transitional statement
What is the difference between an inductive and a deductive argument?
The basic difference between the two is due to the strength of the inferential relationship between the conclusion and the premises.
Inflated Language
important-sounding words used to give commonplace things and events an elevated, glowing appearance