Critical thinking is a skill that involves 'taking a step back' to gain new perspectives on issues and ideas. Whilst many of us have been taught to absorb information in a passive, sponge-like fashion during earlier phases of our education, at university it is essential to adopt a new set of 'lenses' for reading and thinking. At its simplest, this involves a consideration of how, and in whose interests, texts make their claims. Your step-by-step guide- From 'what' to 'how': when you know what a text is telling you, find out how it goes about it. Note its methodology, style and voice to help you identify bias. Critical thinkers believe that the means is just as important as the ends. This means that the way in which a case is proven or a concept applied is just as important as the final outcome.
- Reflect: When reading or thinking, reflect on your responses. What do you agree with and why? With what do you disagree? Challenge yourself to account for your responses before accepting them.
- Question: Approach your topic or text from a position of doubt. Healthy scepticism will force you to challenge facts, opinions and inferences. For some useful critical questions to get you started, download a 'Critical Thinking' Survival Guide.
- Context: Note the background in which a text or idea has been formed. This includes publication details, the author's body of work, relevant historical events and, most importantly, the attendant norms, values and attitudes of society at that time and place. For example, before the assumption of a universal (male!) reader was challenged, the pronoun 'he' was used in most academic literature.
- Types of evidence: Does a text use a lot of complex theory? Are there copious case studies? Graphs? Diagrams? Almost a whole album of photographs? Different types of evidence are persuasive in different ways. Photographs suggest authenticity, whereas graphs designate raw data. Consider the impact and effectiveness of the evidence on the text’s broader claims. NB: Remember that all methodologies have specific limitations and specific uses - do you know what these are?
- Gaps and silences: Reading between the lines is just as important as the words printed on the page. Ask who or what has been left out, and try to account for this in light of the broader issue. What is assumed? Are there social, political and/or ethical lines of debate to be pursued here? What impact does this gap or silence have on the validity of data or ideas?
- Link: Make connections between fine detail and broader concepts. Explain and account for how these impact upon one another. If links are difficult to make, consider why this is.
- Critical language: In your planning and writing use direct, active terms such as 'In my opinion…'; 'I argue…'; 'It is Henderson's contention that…'; 'In contrast…'; 'Grauaug’s assumption is…'; 'The most compelling case is…'
- Argument and Voice: When markers read your essays, reports, summaries and annotated bibliographies, they are invariably looking for clear, succinct language that identifies your position. This applies across all faculties. Ensure that when you introduce authors, answer questions, and discuss results that you clearly outline and justify how you have interpreted, used, and engaged with these ideas to develop a specific thesis.
PodcastsLectopia: Critical Thinking Workshop Youtube: Monty Python's Argument Sketch LinksStrategies for Success: Critical Thinking
Key elements of critical thinking and useful guidelines. Critical Reading for Critical Thinking
Tips for critical thinking, reading and writing. A Practical Guide to Critical Thinking
Comprehensive guide for critical writing. Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts
Deeper discussion of critical thought. Survival Guides: Reading and Thinking Series ReviewAllen, Matthew. Smart Thinking: Skills for Critical Understanding and Writing. Melbourne: Oxford UP, 1997. Smart Thinking is careful to remind us that all readers approach texts from different perspectives. Instead of telling us to read in the 'right way', this book helps us use our range of knowledge, experiences and beliefs to generate interesting, thoughtful and incisive responses. For Allen, 'smart thinking' is the process of linking, analysing and testing claims in a reasoned and careful manner. The book is particularly useful for those who are new to the idea of critical thinking, as it starts with the foundations and gradually builds to a sophisticated level. One of the best aspects of this book is its readability. Each chapter begins with a clearly defined set of aims and closes with a Review section that is highlighted and easy to find. Further, Allen uses a direct, straightforward style to remind us that we already have the tools to think critically; we just need to apply them. Smart Thinking is therefore structured around key ideas, examples and exercises complete with answers and discussion. There is also a comprehensive glossary, with definitions of all those words we 'kind of know the meaning of', but can't put into words. Due to its accessibility, this book caters well for those who would like to develop a thorough, sophisticated knowledge of critical thought, analysis and expression, whilst also addressing key issues in a clear, concise form. It is therefore ideal for students in tertiary education, and was even written by a local academic from Curtin University of Technology! Reviewed books can be borrowed from Student Services,
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