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3 Elements of Thought 1
3 Elements of Thought 1
Critical Thinking
Lesson 3: Elements of
Thought
Learning outcomes
In this lesson, we will:
1. Learn the elements of thought
2. Understand how identifying the elements of
thought in multiple contexts is present in our
reasoning.
3. Understand why the elements of thought are
essential to our thinking.
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A Brief Overview of the Universal Intellectual Standards and Elements of Thought
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Purpose
All reasoning has a PURPOSE.
• Take time to state your purpose
clearly.
• Distinguish your purpose from
related purposes.
• Check periodically to be sure you
are still on target.
• Choose significant and realistic
purposes.
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Question at Issue
All reasoning is an attempt to
figure something out, to settle
some QUESTION, to solve some
problem.
• State the question at issue clearly
and precisely.
• Express the question in several
ways to clarify its meaning.
• Break the question into sub-
questions.
• Distinguish questions that have
definitive answers from those that
are a matter of opinion or that
require multiple viewpoints
(review types of questions).
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Five ways to generate questions that lead to disciplined
thinking:
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Information
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Information
Types of information
1. Primary sources (eyewitness)
2. Secondary sources (report)
3. Tertiary sources (third party)
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Concepts
All reasoning is expressed through,
and shaped by, CONCEPTS and
IDEAS.
• Identify key concepts and explain
them clearly.
• When evaluating sources, be sure you
understand how the author is using a
concept.
• Consider alternative concepts or
alternative definitions of concepts.
• Make sure you are using concepts
with precision.
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ic-model1.htm
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Concepts
Concept: an abstract idea; a general
notion [about a thing or class of
things].
synonyms: idea, notion, conception,
abstraction, theory, hypothesis
(Oxford Dictionary)
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Mapping Concepts
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Inference and Interpretation
An inference is a
conclusion arrived at by
analyzing information.
Inferences must be
logical and make sense
of the information we
have.
Inferences unify our
understanding of the
data as we seek to
answer the question at
issue.
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Assumptions
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Two Kinds of Assumptions:
1. Warranted assumptions –
something we take for granted
with good reason.
2. Unwarranted assumptions –
something we take for granted
without good reason.
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Ways to reflect critically on assumptions:
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The Difference between Assumption and
Inference
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Inference & Interpretation
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Implications & Consequences
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Implications/consequences
are forms of transportation
– they take us somewhere.
Consequence = what
actually happens
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Three kinds of implications
1. Possible ones
2. Probable ones
3. Necessary ones
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Point of View
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Point of view
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Point of view = Perspective
When I look at
__________.
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Three Additional Elements of Thought
A man is walking down the street one day when he Identify the issue in the
suddenly recognizes an old friend whom he has not seen
short story.
in years walking in his direction with a little girl. They
greet each other warmly, and the friend says, “I married
since I last saw you, to someone you never met, and this
How did the man know
is my daughter, Ellen.” the man says to Ellen, “You look
the little girl looked “just
just like your mother.”
like her mother?”
Issue = Question
Answer = Claim
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Three Additional Elements of Thought
A claim is . . . . . Issues
• An assertion of the truth of something.
• Spoken or written to convey information Claims
• Open to examination and evaluation
Arguments
OBSERVATIONS:
• Some claims require little or no critical evaluation.
• A claim that is offered as a reason for believing
another claim is a premise.
• The claim for which a premise is supposed to give a
reason is the conclusion.
• Not all statements are claims (e.g., questions,
greetings, requests, exclamations, commands
intended as orders, suggestions, or proposals).
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Three Additional Elements of Thought
An argument is not
• A feud or fuss about something
Arguments
• A list of facts
• An explanation
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Arguments:
Expressing an
Claims
Opinion
R
E e
E
v a
x Arguments are structures of
i s
a reasoning designed to be
d o
m persuasive. They must
e n
p meet certain standards:
n i
l their claims must be
F c n
e supported by reasoning,
e g
s a facts, examples, and
c evidence. In a good
t argument, the reasoning is
s Assumptions carefully constructed. A
poor argument lacks
examples, facts, evidence,
and reasoning; and it rests
on unexamined
assumptions.
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Supporting an Opinion
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Analyzing an Opinion
To Analyze an Opinion:
1. Is the opinion a judgment, advice, generalization or sentiment.
Support your answer providing an example and explaining it
fully.
2. Is this opinion a personal expression of taste or sentiment, or is it
offered in an attempt to influence others? Explain fully.
3. Does the person giving the opinion show any special expertise
regarding the subject or have any special qualifications? Explain
what information you have and what is lacking.
4. Is the opinion backed up by evidence and sound reasoning?
Show why or why not.
5. Does the opinion appear to be based on an objective study of
the facts, or does it seem to be motivated by vested interests or
a profit motive? Explain your judgment.
6. Would you call this a responsible opinion? Why or why not?
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Putting It All Together
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For Further Study
Follow the link to the Foundation for Critical Thinking
http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/learn-the-elements-and-
standards/861
Questions?
Email questions and comments to your instructor.