asking the right questions chapter 1 ui100 62 & 78

Asking the Right QuestionsChapter 1

UI100 62 & 78UI100 62 & 78

Asking the Right QuestionsAsking the Right Questions

We are constantly bombarded with We are constantly bombarded with informationinformation– What do you do with it?What do you do with it?– How do you process it?How do you process it?


If you hear If you hear something on the something on the news or read news or read something in a something in a magazine, do youmagazine, do you– always believe it?always believe it?– think about it think about it

skeptically?skeptically?– never believe never believe

anything you hear anything you hear on the news?on the news?


What can help What can help us to make us to make sound sound decisions?decisions?– Critical Critical

thinkingthinking


Critical Thinking:Critical Thinking:– Consists of an awareness of a set of Consists of an awareness of a set of

interrelated critical questions, plus the interrelated critical questions, plus the ability and willingness to ask and answer ability and willingness to ask and answer them at appropriate timesthem at appropriate times


Two different thinking stylesTwo different thinking styles– Sponge ApproachSponge Approach

Most commonly used thinking styleMost commonly used thinking styleEncourages “absorbing” as much Encourages “absorbing” as much

information as you are ableinformation as you are ableDoes not require strenuous mental effortDoes not require strenuous mental effortProvides no method for deciding which Provides no method for deciding which

information to believe and which to rejectinformation to believe and which to reject


– Panning-for-Gold ApproachPanning-for-Gold ApproachRequires you to ask frequent questions Requires you to ask frequent questions Reflect on the answersReflect on the answersRequires active participationRequires active participationRequires a question-asking attitudeRequires a question-asking attitude


Turn to page 4 in your textbookTurn to page 4 in your textbook We will read the gun-control We will read the gun-control

argumentargument

If you apply the sponge approach, If you apply the sponge approach, what would you learn?what would you learn?

If you apply the panning-for-gold If you apply the panning-for-gold approach, what would you learn?approach, what would you learn?– What does author mean by What does author mean by

“overwhelming majority” or by “typical “overwhelming majority” or by “typical murderer?”murderer?”

– Were statistics provided accurate?Were statistics provided accurate?


– What possible benefits of gun control What possible benefits of gun control are not mentioned?are not mentioned?

– Have important studies that disagree Have important studies that disagree with the author’s position been omitted?with the author’s position been omitted?

– Is it legitimate to assume that because Is it legitimate to assume that because some famous people own guns, then some famous people own guns, then owning guns is desirable?owning guns is desirable?

– How many people are killed each year How many people are killed each year by handguns who would not have been by handguns who would not have been killed were such guns not available?killed were such guns not available?



Meet the Press video clipMeet the Press video clip

The “Right Answer”The “Right Answer”– With human behavior is there always a With human behavior is there always a

right answer?right answer?– Do you think that a right answer for me Do you think that a right answer for me

may be a right answer for you?may be a right answer for you?– Why?Why?– Why not?Why not?


Most of you already have opinions Most of you already have opinions about personal and social issues. about personal and social issues. – AbortionAbortion– Gun controlGun control– WelfareWelfare

You bring these initial opinions with You bring these initial opinions with you to what you hear and readyou to what you hear and read



You need to use your critical You need to use your critical thinking skills tothinking skills to– defend ordefend or– evaluate and revise your initial beliefsevaluate and revise your initial beliefs


Weak-sense critical thinking:Weak-sense critical thinking:– When you approach critical thinking as a When you approach critical thinking as a

method for defending your initial beliefs.method for defending your initial beliefs.– You use weak-sense critical thinking if You use weak-sense critical thinking if

you are unconcerned with moving toward you are unconcerned with moving toward truth or virtue.truth or virtue.


Strong-sense critical thinking:Strong-sense critical thinking:– Requires us to apply the critical questions Requires us to apply the critical questions

to all claims, including our own.to all claims, including our own.– Does not force you to give up initial beliefs.Does not force you to give up initial beliefs.– Can provide a basis for strengthening those Can provide a basis for strengthening those

beliefs.beliefs.

The skills you will learn as a critical The skills you will learn as a critical thinking will greatly improve your thinking will greatly improve your writing and speaking.writing and speaking.

Critical thinking will enhance your Critical thinking will enhance your understanding of other people’s understanding of other people’s expectations.expectations.

You must practice these skills!!You must practice these skills!!



““Skill depends on practice, for it is Skill depends on practice, for it is only with practice that one becomes only with practice that one becomes

good at anything” ~Eleanor good at anything” ~Eleanor RooseveltRoosevelt

asking the right questions chapter 1 ui100 62 & 78

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