Critical Thinking – Why It Counts and What It Is?

In our everyday life we use many handy objects and tools; every day we have to solve many problems, see many people, we have to pass our own opinion on many arguments, reasons and thoughts of others. We may not even notice when we begin to think critically in our everyday life. Sometimes, this process falls far beyond conscious realm as it may become purely unconscious process at times. You just express your opinion. It is an extremely powerful process, and we have to know what a critical thinking process (C.T.) is, how to apply this stuff practically, how to make use of it, and above all, how to combine this kind of thinking with our educational.

Today, we are going to discuss a very interesting and slightly controversial topic. It is better to start today’s article with giving a definition of critical thinking.

So, what is critical thinking?

Basically, critical thinking means a process of thinking over a certain topic, problem, question, issue, point of view, etc. with the involvement of critique, and giving a reasoned argument or judgement to this or that point of view. It is a process that involves logical and reasonable assessment of a certain situation, etc. This is a general critical thinking definition because we do not want to overload your mind with too scientific definitions of the term.

When school or college students get an assignment that involves a critical thinking, it means that they have to examine a problem from every possible angle to be able to assess a certain issue logically. Thinking critically means analyzing analytically an information that you’ve heard, read or seen. Sometimes, providing a reasonable argument that is different from another point of view may well become an outcome of this thinking process. Such way of thinking is important and useful at every stage of your education, as well as it can be helpful in your professional activity. There are various purposes for giving such assignments to school and college students, but mainly these tasks are given to:

• Teach a student to understand other points of view and thoughts, even if such thoughts differ considerably from yours;
• Teach a student to evaluate his or her own thoughts properly;
• Teach a student to judge every argument in terms of personal applicability;
• Teach a student to analyze data and information;
• Teach a student to render his or her judgment accurately;
• Teach a student to recognize false or wrong arguments and statements;
• Teach a student to have a personal point of view on everything in this world, and to pass an argument respectively;experience.

C.T. learns us how to be one of a kind, how to question generally accepted theories and statements, teaches us not to follow the crowd blindly, but to find our own path. Another important thing that you have to bear in mind that this is going to be difficult because you have to use some skills that have been inactive for a certain time. It is just like unworked muscles that you have to accustom. This is always difficult at the beginning, but it’s getting easier along the way. Remember, critical thinking isn’t criticizing. However, you may criticize a certain argument or thought, but at the same time you have to provide appropriate evidence of your resentment.

In general, there are two types of critical thinking. It can be:

• Oral C.T.;
• Written C.T.;

While everything is pretty much clear with oral assignments, many of you may be taken aback by the meaning of written C.T. assignments. It’s simple: these tasks include critical thinking essays critical responses, worksheets, written statements that require providing appropriate argumentation.

Another missing piece of this riddle is a writing process. When you have to submit your critical thinking assignment, you may wonder how to write it down, right? Don’t say a word! Here are several tips on how to write such things:

1. Think what you are going to write about.

Of course, this rule may be applied if you are free to choose, but if you are not, it’s a little bit easier. Why? Because you no longer have to brainstorm for hours to provide yourself with a statement that you have to question.

2. Analyze the material.

Read, watch or listen to the relevant information. If this is a group project, ask what other members of your team think about that and share your thoughts with them. As it was said, you should examine the problem from every possible angle to able to come to the right conclusion. You are welcome to make some notes along the way. If you have to produce a critical response to literary work, in such a case, read it and write down some pieces of text to prove your point of view. Make yourself think of reasons for saying this or that thing. You should wonder “Why is it like that?”, “Why did he or she say it?”, and not just accept a certain statement or position of another person as true.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=josRsaUPAEU[/embed]

3. Visualize the problem.

Visualizing helps to comprehend the context of what you need to do, and comprehend the scope of a research you need to perform to complete a task. Visualization helps you identify patterns between different arguments and statements; and such patterns, in their own turn, are a useful tool to make conclusions.

4. Determine your position.

Further, you need to determine your own position on a certain argument or statement as it predetermines the result of your work. When you are done, enforce your argumentation with appropriate evidence quoting a reliable source to prove your point. This task is not just saying whether you like something or not; you should deep into the problem to see its core, and find the truth.

As you can see, it is not a passive process where you are a mere observer, you are the leading person in the action.  At least you need to be this person to complete this task effectively. To be good at critical thinking, you need to start thinking with an open mind, you need to be prepared for anything, be ready to accept alternatives. It is a great exercise to improve knowledge and learn to accept alternative point of views. This assignment involves conscious and subconscious processes: emotions, logic, intuition, faith, common sense. It’s all about reason and logic. Your writing improves by the ongoing thinking process. Be good at it, and you’ll be good at writing.

In any case, it looks like a journey, and at the end of it you are going to find your own answers…Think fast, critical, and don`t forget to buy essay on Pro Papers!