critical thinking student services orientation 2011 angela dierks

Critical thinking

Student Services

www.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck

Orientation 2011Angela Dierks

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/

Critical thinking in everyday life

•You think critically all the time for example when– deciding not to buy a particular

product– telling your friends why you

like/dislike a film/book/piece of music– reacting to a news story– deciding which school to send your

child towww.bbk.ac.uk/mybirkbeck

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Your choice• You can react in many different ways to a

(new) idea or proposition:– Reject it– Accept it– Half believe it– Believe aspects of it– Investigate further, find evidence for or

against, ask probing questions and come to your own conclusions


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What is critical thinking?• Looking at different points of view with an

open mind• Comparing arguments• Being sceptical• Analysing and constructing an argument• Coming to your own conclusions


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Critical thinking in a nutshell

In the process of critical thinking you• analyse• synthesise• evaluate


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Analyse (take apart)• Look at the key points, arguments

and underlying assumptions• Comprehend the key points and

arguments• Compare and contrast arguments• Look at the different components of

the argument and how they relate to each other


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Synthesise (put together)

• Pull together different arguments to express a proposition/idea

• Make logical connections to serve one argument


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Evaluate (create your own)

• Criticise views you don’t agree with/arguments that don’t hold up

• Weigh up and come to your own judgement

• Justify your view with the evidence you have found and develop your own arguments


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So, to recap critical thinking involves…

• Agreeing or disagreeing with a point of view• Conceding that an argument may have this merit but…• Comparing different view points• Proposing a different point of view• Bringing together differing points view by adding a new

perspective• Applying your knowledge to different contexts• Coming to a conclusion and being able to make

inferencesThese skills can be learned! (www.bbk.ac.uk/ahead)


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Critical reading

Ask the following questions– What are the main arguments?– What are the reasons given to justify an

argument?– What’s the evidence for the argument?– What do you know about the author?– Who is the author speaking to?– What sources did the author use?


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Critical writing

• Well structured with a clear line of reasoning

• Does more than simply state what is – explores ideas and answers questions such as why? what if? what next?

• Has convincing arguments and compelling evidence and opens up new horizons


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Developing critical thinking skills

• Take the time to pause and reflect – go over notes and what you have written and take stock

• Engage actively in your learning – use colour markers when reading, check your understanding

• Question what you hear – be ready to disagree• Trust your own judgement – even if that seems

risky. Critical thinking is about taking risks.• Talk to your peers – check each others’

understanding, have a constructive argument


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Critical thinking - Why does it matter?

AC Grayling: The Unconsidered Life (You Tube video, 2009)

“If you don’t reflect on your life, if you don’t consider it, if you don’t choose the values that you are going to live by then you are going to live according to somebody else’s choices, you are going to be like a football that they are kicking around (…)”

“Most people would rather die than think and most people do and one doesn’t want to be one of them.” (Bertrand Russell)


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critical thinking student services orientation 2011 angela dierks

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