Overview
Critical thinking is the foundation of thoughtful writing. It involves getting beneath the surface of events and ideas, exploration of more than one perspective, developing informed opinions, and trying new approaches to situations.
Inquisitiveness
An inquisitive thinker asks probing questions that get beneath the surface of events and ideas. It is not enough to know what happened and when it happened, but also why and how it happened. It’s more than “just the facts”, but the situations and reasoning behind those facts.
Perspectives
An open-minded thinker sees other aspects to a situation, besides the one that is the most comfortable. Other perspectives must be evaluated carefully before arriving at an informed conclusion. It is not enough to consider just a single dimension. Analytic thought about a number of perspectives, and then synthesizing common elements is also part of the process.
Evidence-Based
A knowledgeable thinker uses evidence to support their position. Objective evidence is factual and observable rather than subjective and unsupported. For example, a patient may say that they are in pain. The pain they are feeling may come from a source shown on a MRI, such as torn ligaments in their right knee. Those torn ligaments are observable to those who read the MRI, and then the source of their pain can be treated effectively. If there is not enough objective evidence, a critical thinker will admit the need for more and seek it before forming an opinion. It might involve more research in specific areas, and then evaluating the type of evidence. Suppose a product is being sold by infomercial, and the only evidence presented was testimonials from celebrities. No objective evidence existed to show how the product works, or even why it works. When you think critically about the claims, the evidence, and the state of your finances, will you rush out to buy it?
Creative
Critical thinking about a situation often demands a new approach, outside the tried and true. The traditional ways to express ideas may not been as effective as they were in the past. Clichés and conventional expressions were once new and fresh, but now they read as hackneyed and stale. Effective communication demands creative thinking.
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