Review of Chapter 1

1. What is critical thinking?

2. What are standards of critical thinking?

3. What are benefits of critical thinking?

4. What are major barriers to critical thinking?

5. What are characteristics of a critical thinker?

1
 Review of Chapter 1

Critical thinking means skilled judgment or observation by clear intellectual standards

Eight standards of critical thinking: Barriers to critical thinking:

1. Clarity 1. Egocentrism
2. Accuracy 2. Sociocentrism
3. Precision 3. Unwarranted assumption
4. Relevance 4. Relativistic thinking
5. Consistency 5. Wishful thinking
6. Logical correctness
7. Completeness
8. Fairness
 Real-Life Example 1

Men: „This is no demonstration. We‘re just taking a

walk. The Demo is prohibited“
Reporter: „What is this then?“
Men: „We are just taking a walk“

-> Practical Inconsistency

The men is deniying that he is participating in the demonstartion, although he clearly is marching with the
demonstrators. He is saying one thing, but doing the opposite.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urhIA0HgbBU, Minute 1:41

 Real-life Example 5

Brief explanation: China’s top brass wants dominate the World

Cup. However, they are bottom of group B in the World Cup.
Wishful Thinking

Source: https://bitly.com.vn/e4fytm
 Real – life Example 2: Missing
completeness
Task 1: Write the following numbers in the order of big to small (ones).

Task 1: Write the following numbers in the order of big to small values.

Source: TrườngNgườiTa
►The figure shows that missing clarity and completeness
 Real-life Example 2

Brief explanation: The mocking bird in the novel's title is an implied image for the innocent victims in the
book. "To kill a mocking bird" alludes to a condemnation of racism, saying it is a sin to punish innocent
people. This cat misunderstands and takes the book’s title literally, so it can not find any information related
to killing birds. 
=> Missing relevance
Source: https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/7670261838363569/
 Real-life Example 4
A barrier of critical thinking: Stereotype

Brief explanation: It seems that Stereotype is common in Viet Nam, for example, a
person with colored hair or a tattoo is called spoiled and uneducated.

❖ Source: Tranh cãi hình ảnh cô giáo xăm mình trên mạng xã hội (yan.vn)
 Real – life Example 5:tivism

Source: Storyboardthat ►The figure shows that difference about culture

 Real-life Example 4

“Both polygamy and polyandry are unacceptable!”

Relativistic thinking – cultural relativism

Brief explanation: There are now more than 40 countries where multi-mode
is all legal, as in Africa and Asia. Some examples are Morocco, Libya,
Lebanon, Egypt, Burma, Senegal, India and Indonesia, among others.
Source:https://vi.thpanorama.com/
 Real-life Example 4
Input the text/picture here.

There are two individuals, basically doing and saying the same thing, however, the
perception and reaction from the victim is different in both cases. Because the
victim values appearance and gets offended if the person is less desirable. ->
Therefore, the example violates sociocentrism.

Source :https://nyctalking.com/double-standard-compliments/
 Real- Life Example 5

Explanation: Just because it used to cost more money doesn't automatically make it better. But we have the
wishful thinking that it is better because of that -> Wishful Thinking

Source: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/anchoring-bias/
 Real-life Example 2
The title of the story makes people believe Phi Nhung is dying and can't be rescued
anymore, while the reality is the opposite.

Source: Kenh14.vn

Phi Nhung’s daughter informs good news: It’s likely that they will remove my mom’s ventilator next
week.

Missing completeness

Phi Nhung’s daughter: It’s likely that they will remove my mom’s ventilator next week.
Source: Vietgaitri
 Real-life Example 2
CONSERVATIVE

McDonald's fast food chain is famous with 31,000 restaurants in 119 countries. But,
the owner of this restaurant chain always keeps the old sales mindset and ignores new
culinary trends, leading to the restaurant's huge loss. The main reason is that
McDonald's customers have gradually turned away from this brand. In today's society,
people focus on health more than anything, healthy food will be a priority. Therefore,
the habit of eating fast and processed foods will gradually be boycotted.

Brief explanation: Conservatives often prefer to maintain the old way of

thinking without wanting to accept new things. With the strong development
of society, being conservative will lead to failures in the restaurant business
because it makes your sales work gradually come to a standstill.

Source: https://www.kiotviet.vn/tu-duy-bao-thu-dan-den-that-bai-trong-kinh-doanh-quan-an/
 Chapter 2

RECOGNIZING ARGUMENTS

14
 CONTENTS

1. Statements

2. Non-statements

3. Arguments

4. Non-arguments
 1. STATEMENTS

- A statement is a sentence/utterance that can be viewed as either true

or false.

Examples:
- The Covid-19 pandemic began in late 2019. True

- There are three Covid-19 virus variants. False

- The Covid-19 virus variants cannot be controlled by vaccines. False
 1. STATEMENTS (con’t)

A statement may be a fact or an opinion.

 A fact is a statement that can be verified. It can be proven to be true or false through
objective evidence.

 An opinion is a statement that expresses a feeling, an attitude, a value judgment, or a

belief. It is a statement that is neither true nor false.

Examples:
- There are exchange students at International University. Fact
- International University is the best choice in HCMC. Opinion
- Students at International University are friendly and happy. Opinion
 ACTIVITY: WHICH OF THESE ARE STATEMENTS?

1. On what day do we study Critical Thinking?

2. Critical Thinking always gives us a headache.
3. Hi, my dear IUers.
4. Don’t come to class late next time!
5. A good score of Critical Thinking guarantees good scores of others.
6. Please do some reading before each class meeting.
7. International University has many soft skills clubs.
8. Let’s submit our assignments before the deadline.
9. Office of Academic Affairs: “Be advised to keep Blackboard open for instant notices”.
10. A TOEFL iBT or IELTS score is an entry requirement at HCMC International University.
11. Oh dear!
 ACTIVITY: WHICH OF THESE ARE STATEMENTS?

1. On what day do we study Critical Thinking? Question

2. Critical Thinking always gives us a headache.

3. Hi, my dear IUers. Greeting

4. Don’t come to class late next time! Command

5. A good score of Critical Thinking guarantees good scores of others.

6. Please do some reading before each class meeting. Request

7. International University has many soft skills clubs.

8. Let’s submit our assignments before the deadline. Proposal

9. Office of Academic Affairs: “Be advised to keep Blackboard open for instant notices”. Instruction
10. A TOEFL iBT or IELTS score is an entry requirement at HCMC International University.

11. Oh dear! Exclamation

 2. NON-STATEMENTS

• Questions

• Greetings

• Commands

• Requests

• Proposals

• Instructions

• Exclamations
 Task 1: Statements or non-statements?
1. Capital punishment is wrong.
2. Do you say we stop at the next station?
3. Great!
4. Please print your name legibly.
5. Turn off your engine when waiting to pick up your kid.
6. Turn off your engine when waiting to pick up your kids. Idling longer than 10 seconds uses more gas
than restarting the car.
7. What a boy!
8. I’ll have a cheese burger, please.
9. Happy New Year!
10. Yuck!
11. “Ờ mây zing, gút chóp em!” (“Amazing, good job!”) – rapper Binz
12. Be nice to your kids. They’ll choose your nursing home.
 Be critical with nonstatement-looking sentences

1. You should quit smoking. Don’t you realize how bad it is for your health?

2. Do not read beauty magazines. They will make you feel ugly. (Mary
Schmich.)
 Be critical with nonstatement-looking sentences

1. You should quit smoking. Don’t you realize how bad it is for your health?
This rhetorical question is in fact a statement: Smoking is bad for heath.

2. Do not read beauty magazines. They will make you feel ugly. (Mary
Schmich.)
This imperative is in fact a statement: You should not read beauty magazines.

Consider the meaning, not form, to decide on a statement or non-statement.

Only statements are used in arguments.
 WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

A number of students in this class are interested in Critical Thinking.

So, probably all students want to develop this reasoning skill.

A number of students in this class are interested in Fact

Critical Thinking.

So, probably all students want to develop this Opinion

reasoning skill.

This is an argument in which the speaker uses a fact to support his/her opinion.
 WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

Dr. K, Director of National Institute of Public Health, said in an interview that

people should not be picky with the types of vaccines and delay the vaccination at
this critical time. Therefore, I’ll take any type of vaccine as soon as it is offered.

Dr. K, Director of National Institute of Public Health, said in an interview that

Opinion
people should not be picky with the types of vaccines and delay the vaccination
at this critical time.

Therefore, I’ll take any type of vaccine as soon as it is offered. Opinion

This is an argument in which the speaker uses an opinion to support his/her opinion.
 WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

Many people in the U.S. insist on their freedom and they do not take any vaccines or
wear masks. Therefore, there are still cases of Covid-19 infections in the U.S.
though vaccines are available.

Many people in the U.S. insist on their freedom and they do Fact
not take any vaccines or wear masks.

Therefore, there are still cases of Covid-19 infections in the U.S. Fact
though vaccines are available.

This is not an argument because there is no opinion; only two facts are given.
 WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?

 Basically, an argument consists of one or more premises/evidence

and a conclusion/claim.

 The premise(s) and conclusion are the core of an argument.

 Arguments are the core of critical thinking.

*Note: A premise may be a fact or an opinion.

 Is there any argument?

You just want attention; you don’t need my heart!

(Charlie Puth)

Nope, it’s an unsupported assertion.

 Is there any argument?

Oh yes, man is a fool

And he thinks he’ll be okay

Dragging on, feet of clay

Never knowing he’s astray

Keeps on going anyway…

Happy new year

Happy new year

May we all have a vision now and then

Of a world where every neighbor is a friend

Nope, only unsupported assersions and greetings

 Is there any argument?

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you

Now that I've been lovin' you so long
How am I supposed to live without you
How am I supposed to carry on

When all that I've been livin' for is gone.

Yep, there are two arguments.

 Is there any argument?

Don't let them in, don't let them see

Be the good girl you always have to be commands

Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know

Well, now they know

premise 1

FROZEN Let it go, let it go

conclusion

Can't hold it back anymore premise 2

Let it go, let it go conclusion
Turn away and slam the door

Yep, there are commands and an argument.

 IS THERE ANY ARGUMENT?

Take care of your health

Keep your place clean and so yourself
Instructions

Spread the facts to everyone else

Put an end to Corona, Corona

Micro size, but it’s true people die from the Premise 1
virus Corona
There’s a will, and I’m sure there’s a way Premise 2 + Conclusion
We’ll take back those old good days Conclusion
(From Ghen Co Vy - English version)
 IS IT AN ARGUMENT?

“Con người cũng như con chim chiều về tổ sáng

thì kiếm ăn. Ngày mải mê đi tìm cơm gạo, đêm
co mình dưới một miếng trăng.”

(Lộn xộn 3)

“Humans are like birds. They come back to their

nests in the afternoon and look for food in the
morning. They earn their living during the day
and shrink under a piece of moonlight at night.”

(Messy thoughts 3)

Yep, it’s an argument.

 ASSUMPTIONS – (IN)VISIBLE ELEMENT OF ARGUMENTS

1. Premise(s): evidence including reasons, examples,

(Support)
facts, figures, etc.

2. Assumption(s):
(Warrant) belief(s) or principle(s) taken for granted

3. Conclusion(s):
(Claim) inferences drawn from evidence
and assumptions
 A sample argument

I ate a hamburger this morning and now I’m having a stomachache.

Obviously, the hamburger is not fresh any more.

Premises: (1)I ate a hamburger this morning and (2)now I’m having a
stomachache.

Conclusion: Obviously, the hamburger is not fresh any more.

 Now look at the argument again.

I ate a hamburger this morning and now I’m having a stomachache.

Obviously, the hamburger is not fresh any more.

What does the speaker assume or believe?

Expired food causes stomachache.

 Assumption: the X-factor of an argument

Student 1: It’s the second week that our Critical

Thinking class is just voices and chats!

Student 2: Yeah, this semester we’ll only have

a teacher and many friends in the ears and
the texts.   

Assumption: The social distancing will last until the end of semester 1.
 Assumption: the X-factor of an argument

Assumption: “date” refers to Assumption: “air” refers to the

time. physical atmosphere.
Assumption: the X-factor of an argument

Assumption: You get what you

pay for.
 What is your conclusion?

Premise 1: A man who works is a workman.

Premise 2: A man who does business is a businessman.
Conclusion: So, a boy who plays is a _______?

Assumption: Compound nouns follow the same rule.

Can you solve this simple math problem?

Question:

Jack is a salesman and he

makes 20 dollars a day. How
much can he earn in a week?
A thing to remember!
 Task 2: Find assumptions

1. There are around 100 students in our Zoom class today. Therefore, it is clear to me
that my online students are still attentive.

2. The city authority has just imposed a travel restriction. So, streets will be totally
distanced and cases of infection will go down soon.

3. You should be careful with your possessions when you’re on buses. I lost my laptop
last month.

4. There is nothing wrong talking on a mobile phone during lectures. Other students do
it quite often.

5. The authority decided to provide free wi-fi in forced quarantine places. Therefore, all
people in forced quarantine will feel comfortable.
 Identifying

premise indicators and conclusion indicators

 Now look at these arguments

1. Having fun can be the spice of life but not its main course, because when it is over,
nothing of lasting values remain. (Harold Kushner)
2. Since effective reasoning requires reliable information, it’s important to be able to
distinguish good sources and trustworthy experts from less useful ones. (Drew E.
Hinderer)
3. Women are not by any means to blame when they reject the rules of life, which have
been introduced into the world, seeing that it is men who have made them without
consent. (Michel de Montaigne)
4. To know that God exists in a general and confused way is implanted in us by nature,
inasmuch as God is man’s beatitude. (Saint Thomas Aquinas)
 PREMISE INDICATORS

since because as

seeing that given that considering that

inasmuch as in view of the fact that for

as indicated by judging from on account of

 Now look at these arguments

1. You want people to be honest with you, so be honest with them.

2. Sorrow is merely a state of mind and may not be warranted by the circumstance. Hence
whether or not you feel sad over something is all in the mind. (Lie Zi)

3. Your life is what your thought make it. That is why it is important for all of us to guard our
minds from unhealthy habits of thinking, habits that hold us back from what we could be
accomplishing. (Tom Morris)

4. As our birth brought us the birth of all things, so will our death bring us the death of all
things, Wherefore it is as foolish to weep because a hundred years from now we shall not
be alive, as to weep because we were not living a hundred years ago. (Michel de
Montaigne)
 CONCLUSION INDICATORS

therefore wherefore thus so

hence as a result that is why

accordingly it follows that for this reason

we may infer that this being so

this shows/implies/suggests… that

 Now let’s look at this argument.

Find the premise and/or conclusion indicator(s)

I can’t be completely responsible for my life. After all, there are many factors outside
my control, people and forces that create obstacles and undermine my efforts. And
we are subject to pressures and influences from within ourselves: feelings of greed,
fear of death, altruistic impulses, sexual compulsions, need for social acceptance,
and so on. (John Chaffee, emphasis omitted)

Not all arguments contain premise/conclusion indicators.

 Identifying three elements in the argument

In years past, professional baseball players lifted weights less but

were also injured less often during games. Obviously, the more an
athlete lifts weights, the more likely they get injured.

Premises: - Professional baseball players lifted weight

less;
- They got injured less in games
Conclusion: If athletes lift weight more, they are more likely to
get injured.
 Identifying three elements in the argument

In years past, professional baseball players lifted weights less but were also injured less often
during games. Obviously, the more an athlete lifts weights, the more likely they get injured.

What is the assumption of the argument?

(A) The increase in baseball injuries is due to a factor other than weightlifting.
(B) The activities of baseball players represent those of athletes as a group.
(C) Most baseball injuries today result from too much weight-lifting.
(D) There is no proven correlation between how much athletes lift weights and how likely they are
to be affected by injury.
(E) Weightlifting has always been common practice for professional athletes.

The correct answer is (B).

4. WHAT IS NOT AN ARGUMENT?
 Let’s consider these texts.

1. There was a heavy storm last night. Hundreds of houses were destroyed and
20 people were killed.

2. The world economy will recover drastically at the end of this year.

3. If vaccines were more available, many countries would be in the new normality
now.

4. Europe is generally characterized by a temperate climate. For example, in most

of Germany the climate is moderately continental, characterized by cold
winters, with average daily temperatures around 0 °C (32 °F).

5. I ate because I was hungry.

 What is not an argument?

1. Reports

2. Unsupported assertions

3. Conditional sentences

4. Illustrations

5. Explanations
 Your turn: Is it an argument?

Nope, it’s a conditional sentence/hypothesis.

 Your turn: Is it an argument?

Nope, it’s an unsupported assertion.

Your turn: Is it an argument?

Nope, it’s a report.

Your turn: Is it an argument?

Yep, it’s an argument.

Your turn: Is it an argument?

I CAN’T UNDERSTAND YOUR ARGUMENT

Nope, it’s an explanation. 62

Your turn: Is it an argument?

YOUR ARGUMENT IS INVALID

Yep, it’s an argument. 63

 REVIEW OF CHAPTER 2

Statement: sentence/utterance that can Non-statements: Non-arguments:

be viewed as either true or false • Questions • Reports

• Greetings • Unsupported assertions

Statements: core of an argument • Commands • Conditional sentences
• Requests • Illustrations
Argument: premise(s) + conclusion(s)
• Proposals
• Explanations
• Instructions
Argument: core of critical thinking
• Exclamations

* Assumption: hidden belief/principle that

that decides the value of the conclusion
 Assignment for Chapter 2

Instructions: Find premises, conclusions, and assumptions in the following

arguments, then evaluate if they are good or not good arguments based on the

assumptions (Argument 1 given as an example).

Link to submit:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10-uOz4PE43Jn3Erc9EY_sR7N1GYnu8xC4n3XiYvrx3E/edit

Deadline: End of Wednesday

* Delete all the lesson slides, keep only the assignment slides and submit your file to the link.
65
 Argument 1

A group of volunteers participated in a study of a new Covid-19 vaccine efficiency

and they were divided into two groups. The first group of volunteers was given two
doses of the vaccines approved by World Health Organization (WHO) and are now
widely in use. The second group of volunteers was given the two doses of new
vaccine that is fully approved by WHO but not yet popularly applied to the public.
After two months of normal living in the same location, no volunteers in the second
group were tested positive while many volunteers in the first group were. Therefore,
the researchers concluded that the new vaccine was more much effective than the
other vaccines widely in use.
 Argument 1
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 67

 Sample answer for Argument 1
Premises:
1. 1st group: 2 doses of WHO approved vaccines now widely in use
2. 2nd group: 2 doses of WHO approved vaccines not yet in use
3. After 2 months of normal living: a few members tested + in Group 1 >< no members tested+ in Group 2

Conclusion: new vaccine much more effective than other vaccines in use

Assumption(s):
4. All members of the two groups do not apply any preventive methods other than the vaccines.
5. All vaccines (widely used and new ones) were designed for the same virus variants.

Evaluation:
The conclusion of the argument is not reasonable for the following reasons:
- 1st assumption-based: If Group 2 members apply mask + distancing + handwash, etc., they do not get infected probably due
to these preventive methods, not due to the new vaccine efficiency.
- 2nd assumption-based: The widely used vaccines possibly designed for previous virus variants like Alpha or Beta and the
new vaccine is for the new variant Delta. Let’s suppose now that the two groups living in the same location with Delta variant,
the new vaccine works properly but it does not mean the widely used vaccines are much less effective. They were just
designed for other virus variants.
 Argument 2

“I registered Calculus, Chemistry, and Critical Thinking for Semester 1 but my

overall scores for those courses sank to the bottom. I looked back and saw that I
had two weeks of despair due to my break up with my girlfriend during that
semester. In Semester 2, I registered Academic Writing, Public Speaking, and
Physical Education. Luckily, I got all As. So, everyone please take my advice:
never fall in love to avoid ending a relationship during your college years if you
don’t want to suffer academically.”
 Argument 2
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 70

 Argument 3

“In country X, vaccines are abundantly available and the government

has encouraged its people to take full vaccination (two doses) in return
for a generous money gift. In just about two months, 20 million out of
its population of 30 million have been fully vaccinated. Therefore, the
government is very positive that in one more month, the whole country
will be safe from the Covid-19 and life will get back to normal for all of
its people.”
 Argument 3
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 72

 Argument 1
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 73

Argument 4
 Argument 4
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 75

 Argument 1
Premises:

Conclusion:

Assumption(s):

Evaluation:
(Reason)

* Note taking is advised. 76