Critical Thought Process for Knowledge- EngConvo

Critical thinking is not a new concept or practice. Most teachers might be impressed to learn that critical thinking can be traced back many centuries ago. In fact, it has been practiced from times immemorial, notably, by Socrates and Plato (according to the critics). It is crucial to be aware of the fact that critical thinking is not “survival thinking”; and requires careful and intentional development of specific skills in processing information, considering beliefs, opinions, solving problems. It is stated that critical thinking means correct thinking in the pursuit of relevant and reliable knowledge about the world. Another way to describe it is reasonable, reflective, responsible, and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do. The critical thought process is required to get knowledge.
A person who thinks critically can ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, efficiently and creatively sort through this information, reason logically from this information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world that enable one to live and act successfully in it.

Different Steps of Critical Thinking

Acknowledging

When we read or listen to a text, we process it and then try to understand it. In our native language, this is simply a case of knowing what we are reading, seeing or listening to. For the language learner doing this in a foreign language, this stage will, of course, take longer. The teacher might need to ask questions such as: What kind of text is it? Is it from a newspaper? Where would you read it?

Implementing

Having studied a text, we take new information and apply it to something. In the language classroom, this often means answering some comprehension questions or filling in a table with some facts or figures in the text. In other words, it is about task completion with the new information that we have understood.

Critically Analysing

The analysis stage is where we return to the text and start to question how the author’s information is presented. For example, the students might have found information in the text but next, we want them to find evidence supporting the main point(s). Often the task involves identifying how a text or its arguments are constructed. In other words, students are becoming more critical of the text and not accepting it at face value. Critical thought process is enhanced by critical analysis.

Evaluating

Evaluating is one of the key ‘higher-order’ critical thinking skills. It’s the stage at which students have isolated the author’s arguments and views and start to evaluate the validity and relevance of the information. This could involve asking students to assess how much of the text is in fact supported by evidence and how much is the opinion of the author. If they are going to use the information in the text to support their own writing then they need to be sure it is both valid and relevant. Evaluating is probably the most complex stage for many language learners as it can require very high-level language skills.

Creating

This is the last of the five sub-skills. Having studied a topic by drawing on a number of texts, students need to apply their new knowledge and to create something of their own out of it. For example, perhaps they are writing an essay expressing their own opinion but based on the facts and evidence they have researched. Or perhaps they do a group presentation with other students in which they present all the arguments for and against a view before then presenting their own conclusions.

Importance of Critical Thought Process

If you learn and practice effective critical thinking skills early on in your studies with the OU, they will contribute at many levels in your academic life. When reading, they will allow you to understand the content of your course clearly. You will be able to analyze and evaluate – and compare and contrast – the value of particular materials, including theories, methods, concepts and the major debates that have been presented. Developing critical thinking skills will allow you to develop more reasoned arguments for your assignments, projects and examination questions. You will be able to use and draw on evidence to justify your own arguments and ideas. In addition, you will be able to synthesize your own thoughts, the thoughts of differing theorists/ researchers and those of the course materials authors.
Read More