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Critical Thinking Guide for Students

This document provides guidance on developing critical thinking skills. It defines critical thinking as taking an active, skeptical approach to learning by questioning ideas and arguments rather than accepting them unconditionally. The document outlines steps for critically evaluating information, including exploring evidence; examining assumptions, research methods, and logical reasoning; considering bias; and looking at different viewpoints. It emphasizes the importance of structured, reasoned arguments and discerning fact from opinion. Overall, the document advises clarifying one's own point of view by weighing evidence and reaching conclusions supported by effective reasoning and examples.

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Klara Bicanova
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235 views1 page

Critical Thinking Guide for Students

This document provides guidance on developing critical thinking skills. It defines critical thinking as taking an active, skeptical approach to learning by questioning ideas and arguments rather than accepting them unconditionally. The document outlines steps for critically evaluating information, including exploring evidence; examining assumptions, research methods, and logical reasoning; considering bias; and looking at different viewpoints. It emphasizes the importance of structured, reasoned arguments and discerning fact from opinion. Overall, the document advises clarifying one's own point of view by weighing evidence and reaching conclusions supported by effective reasoning and examples.

Uploaded by

Klara Bicanova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Identify what is important

What are the key ideas, problems, arguments, observations, findings, and conclusions?
Study Success at Sussex

Critical thinking
What evidence is there?

Distinguish critical from other types of writing (e.g. descriptive); fact from opinion; bias from
reason

Evaluate what you find


checklist
Explore the evidence - does it convince?
Critical thinking is about using your ability to reason.
What assumptions are being made and inferences drawn?
It is about being active (as opposed to passive) in your learning. It means that when you
Is there engagement with relevant, up to date research?
approach an idea, you do so with scepticism and doubt, rather than with unquestioning
How appropriate are the methods of investigation? acceptance. You are always questioning whether the ideas, arguments and findings you come
across are the whole picture and you are open to finding that they are not. You are identifying,
Is there a consistent and logical line of reasoning? analysing and, where possible, solving problems systematically.
Do you agree with what is being said? Why or why not?
Arguments, here are the way in which ideas are developed and organised into a line of
How is language being used (emotive, biased etc.)? reasoning which moves in a logical order to the conclusion and which aims to persuade the
reader or listener of the validity of the point of view presented.
Look beyond what you are reading/hearing Being able to discern and create structured, reasoned arguments is central to critical
thinking.
What other viewpoints, interpretations and perspectives are there? What is the evidence for
these? How do they compare? You can find Study Success at Sussex at:
How does your prior knowledge and understanding relate to these ideas, findings, The Careers and Employability Centre
observations etc.?
The Library, University of Sussex
What are the implications of what you are reading/hearing?
01273 877531
s3@sussex.ac.uk

Clarifying your point of view www.sussex.ac.uk/s3


www.facebook.com/studysuccess.atsussex
Weigh up the relevant research in the area

Find effective reasons and evidence for your views

Reach conclusions on the basis of your reasoning

Illustrate your reasons with effective examples

Download this handout at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/studyskills Published May 2015

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