Defining Critical Thinking

In a reflective and analytical essay, establish your own definition of critical thinking in order to then identify, explain, and evaluate examples of critical thinking in the writing of an author you choose AND in one or more samples of your own writing. Correlate these examples of critical thinking with your personal processes of reading, writing, and learning—all as they relate back to your original definition of critical thinking.
The author’s work you discuss needs to be from a written text (e.g., an article, essay, book chapter, blog, etc.), and it can’t be something from our required course readings. You may choose any genre of writing, and virtually any source, so long as it involves written language that demonstrates critical thinking. For samples of your own writing, you can choose anything from previous courses or other examples of your writing (personal essays, blogs, journals, etc.).
Writing Guide
Begin by considering some of the prominent definitions of critical thinking. After recognizing any important differences or discrepancies in those definitions, offer a working definition of critical thinking as you think it should be defined.
Continue in the body paragraphs of your paper by identifying written examples of critical thinking. These examples should be drawn from the work of another and from your own writing. One way to structure these body paragraphs is to compare and contrast examples of critical thinking in your own writing with examples from your selected author.
Conclude by considering any or all of the following questions: What do students stand to gain from actively practicing critical thinking in their lives? What prevents critical thinking from taking place? What can be done to facilitate it? On the flip side, are there limits to critical thinking as others have defined it? Are there potential downsides to the promotion of critical thinking in schools? In other words, are there valid arguments against critical thinking?
Requirements
1,000 words minimum.
MLA format.
In the body of the essay, include written examples of critical thinking from at least one outside reading and at least one of your own writing projects from the past.
Grading Criteria (20% for each criterion below)
Controlling Idea: The essay has a specific, research-based, arguable, and complex thesis.
Development: The essay uses research-based evidence and analysis to support an argument.
Sentences/Style: The essay applies a variety of sentence structures within a formal academic style.
MLA Formatting: The essay integrates appropriate MLA standards to the following (8) items: heading, running header, fonts, spacing, indentation, works cited page, in-text citations, and correct use of block quotes (if used), with minor errors.
Informational Literacy: The research demonstrates information competency in these three items: locating, interpreting, and evaluating appropriate sources.
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Defining Critical Thinking: Sources to Consider for the Essay
Mulnix, Jennifer Wilson. “Thinking Critically About Critical Thinking.” Educational Philosophy and Theory, vol. 44, no. 5. (Links to an external site.)
As a philosophy professor, one of my central goals is to teach students to think critically. However, one difficulty with determining whether critical thinking can be taught, or even measured, is that there is widespread disagreement over what critical thinking actually is. Here, I reflect on several conceptions of critical thinking, subjecting them to critical scrutiny. I also distinguish critical thinking from other forms of mental processes with which it is often conflated. Next, I present my own conception of critical thinking, wherein it fundamentally consists in acquiring, developing, and exercising the ability to grasp inferential connections holding between statements. Finally, given this account of critical thinking, and given recent studies in cognitive science, I suggest the most effective means for teaching students to think critically.
Pritchard, Michael. “Philosophy for Children.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2018. (Links to an external site.)
What is meant by ‘critical thinking’? Characterizations range in complexity from Robert Ennis’s admirably brief, “reasonable reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do” (Ennis 1987) to a complex statement by a group of 46 panelists convened by the American Philosophical Association’s Committee on Pre-College Philosophy to employ the Delphi Method of striving for consensus:
We understand critical thinking to be purposeful, self-regulatory judgment which results in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference, as well as explanation of the evidential, conceptual, methodological, criteriological, or contextual considerations upon which that judgment is based…. The ideal critical thinking is habitually inquisitive, well-informed, trustful of reason, open-minded, flexible, fair-minded in evaluation, honest in facing personal biases, prudent in making judgments, willing to reconsider, clear about issues, orderly in complex matters, diligent in seeking relevant information, reasonable in the selection of criteria, focused in inquiry, and persistent in seeking results which are as precise as the subject and the circumstances of inquiry permit. (Facione, 1989)
Gabennesch, Howard. “Critical Thinking: What Is It Good for? (In Fact, What Is It?).” Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 30, no. 2, 2006. (Links to an external site.)
No one should pontificate a definition of critical thinking, nor should we expect to achieve unanimity. But I offer the following definition for consideration: Critical thinking is the use of rational skills, worldviews, and values to get as close as possible to the truth.
Arnold, Andrew. “How to Maintain Critical Thinking in the Modern World of New Media.” Forbes, 27 Feb. 2018. (Links to an external site.)
Sharpen your critical thinking skills. One significant issue is that it is easy to become intellectually lazy in the face of all of this information being spoon fed to us. Don’t become a passive consumer of news and other data. Instead, make an effort to keep your critical thinking skills sharp. Always challenge your own assumptions and biases. Use a combination of your own experience as well as data that has proven to be true through solid testing procedures to validate ideas and opinions.