Critical reading

Summarize, review and study your reading assignment, whether
book, chapter, handout, article, whitepaper, etc.:

Characteristics of Critical Readers

• They are honest with themselves
• They resist manipulation
• They overcome confusion
• They ask questions
• They base judgments on evidence
• They look for connections between subjects
• They are intellectually independent

Ask yourself the following questions as you read:

• What is the topic of the book or reading?
  What issues are addressed?
• What conclusion does the author reach about the issue(s)?
• What are the author's reasons for his or her statements or belief?
  Is the author using facts, theory, or faith?

Facts can be proven
Theory is to be proved and should not be confused with fact
Opinions may or may not be based on sound reasoning
Faith is not subject to proof by its nature

• Has the author used neutral words or emotional words?
  Critical readers look beyond the language to see if the reasons are clear
• Be aware of why you do, or do not, accept arguments of the author

Critical thinking II

Second stage exercise in critical thinking:

Critical thinking studies a topic or problem with open-mindedness.
This exercise outlines the second stage of applying a critical thinking approach to developing and understanding a topic.
With the second stage:

• Refine/revise the topic
  either narrowing or broadening it according to outcomes of research
• Rank or indicate the importance of three sources of research
• Clarify any opinion, prejudice, or bias their authors have
  While an opinion is a belief or attitude toward someone or some thing,
  a prejudice is preconceived opinion without basis of fact
  while bias is an opinion based on fact or research.
• Identify key words and concepts that seem to repeat
  Is there vocabulary you need to define?
  Are there concepts you need to understand better?
• In reviewing your research, are there
  Sequences or patterns that emerge?
  Oposing points of view, contradictions, or facts that don't "fit?"
  Summarize two points of view that you need to address
• What questions remain to be answered?

Critical thinking, first stage helped you to

• Develop a statement of the topic
• List what you understand, what you've been told
  and what opinions you hold about it
• Identify resources available for research
• Define timelines and due dates
  and how they affect the development of your study
• Print the list as your reference

With this second exercise,
think in terms of how you would demonstrate your learning for your topicHow would you create a test on what you have learned?
How would you best explain or demonstrate your findings?
From simple to more complex (1-6) learning operations:

1. List, label, identify: demonstrate knowledge
2. Define, explain, summarize in your own words: Comprehend/understand
3. Solve, apply to a new situation: Apply what you have learned
4. Compare and contrast, differentiate between items: analyze
5. Create, combine, invent: Synthesize
6. Assess, recommend, value: Evaluate and explain why

Summary of critical thinking:

• Determine the facts of a new situation or subject
  without prejudice
• Place these facts and information in a pattern
  so that you can understand and explain them
• Accept or reject your resource values and conclusions
  based upon your experience, judgment, and beliefs

Critical thinking I

Strategies for critical thinking in learning and project management

Critical thinking studies a topic or problem with open-mindedness.
This exercise outlines the first stage of applying a critical thinking approach to developing and understanding a topic. You will:

• Develop a statement of the topic
• List what you understand, what you've been told
  and what opinions you hold about it
• Identify resources available for research
• Define timelines and due dates
  and how they affect the development of your study
• Print the list as your reference

Here is more on the first stage:
Define your destination, what you want to learn
Clarify or verify with your teacher or an "expert" on your subject
Topics can be simple phrases:
"The role of gender in video game playing"
"Causes of the war before 1939"
"Mahogany trees in Central America"
"Plumbing regulations in the suburbs"
"Regions of the human brain"

• Develop your frame of reference, your starting point,by listing what you already know about the subject
• What opinions and prejudices do you already have about this?
  What have you been told, or read about, this topic?
• What resources
  are available to you for research
  When gathering information, keep an open mind
  Look for chance resources that pop up!
  Play the "reporter" and follow leads
  If you don't seem to find what you need, ask librarians or your teacher.
• How does your timeline and due dates affect your research?Keep in mind that you need to follow a schedule.
  Work back from the due date and define stages of development,
  not just with this first phase, but in completing the whole project.

Critical thinking I | Critical thinking II | Critical reading

Summary of critical thinking:

• Determine the facts of a new situation or subject without prejudice
• Place these facts and information in a pattern so that you can understand them
• Accept or reject the source values and conclusions based upon your experience, judgment, and beliefs