Asking the Right Questions: chapter 1

Panning for Gold approach

-Interactive approach -Requires a question asking attitude and active participation -Process provides a model for active readers and listeners as they try to determine the worth of what they read and hear -To distinguish the gold from the gravel in a conversation requires you to ask frequent questions and to reflect on the answers Example: -Person approaches reading hoping to learn something new, then asks himself a number of questions designed to uncover the best available decisions or beliefs

critical thinking

-awareness of a set of interrelated evaluative questions - the ability and willingness to ask and answer those evaluative questions

Primary values of a critical thinker

1. Autonomy (freedom from outside influence) 2. Curiosity 3. Humility (a low view of one's own points) 4. Respect for good reasoning wherever you find it

Sponge Approach

emphasizes knowledge acquisition. Taking in all information at face value and not digging into the subject

Values

often unstated ideas, beliefs, and attitudes about what is important that help guide the way you live

Weak-sense critical thinking

the use of critical thinking to defend your current beliefs

Strong-Sense Critical Thinking

use of critical thinking skills to evaluate all claims and beliefs equally, including your own