Kindle Edition Amazon Category:  Education/Training Publisher: Bulilen Publishing Services ISBN-10:  0615783740 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 106 Copyright: July 8, 2013 ISBN-13: 9780615783741 Price: $3.49 (eBook) Be a Critical Thinker offers a clear process for applying critical thinking skills to scrutinize ideas, facts and interpretations, even when they are inconsistent or contradictory.  Deftly organized into two major sections, Donald Karshner's Be a Critical Thinker is itself a model of rational thought and highly recommended and instructive. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style and presentation, Be a Critical Thinker would make an excellent high school or college curriculum textbook supplement for Philosophy or Political Science classes. Very highly recommended for community and academic library collections."  - The Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch   When reading the newspaper, listening to politicians or discussing current events, how can you determine whether the facts and opinions shared are truthful and accurate or misleading and false?   Donald L. Karshner has had a lifelong interest in developing critical thinking skills. Inspired by his granddaughter, who was open to suggestions as she went off to college, Karshner began compiling his advice on honing critical thinking. This book evolved from the few pages he had written for his granddaughter.   By applying the skills of critical thinking, you will be better equipped to clarify your thinking process, to intelligently critique what you read and hear, to correct errors, to dispel misunderstandings and ignorance, and to make a positive contribution to a discussion or debate. --   Excerpt The Purpose of Critical Thinking The purpose of critical thinking is to scrutinize ideas and facts, even when they are inconsistent or contradictory, and to analyze interpretations that differ from other interpretations. By applying the skills of critical thinking, you will be better equipped to clarify your thinking process, to intelligently critique what you read and hear, to correct errors, to dispel misunderstandings and ignorance, and to make a positive contribution to a discussion or debate. NOTE: Critical thinking may be called analytical thinking. Also, critical thinking may involve creative thinking; conversely, creative thinking may involve critical thinking. Preparation for Critical Thinking How can you prepare to apply critical thinking to an assignment, project, or task? Begin by giving yourself the freedom and permission to be a critical thinker. Approach the process with a positive and open, inquiring mind. Vow to be creative by being innovative. Ask yourself, “In what ways can I be creative with new ideas and plans?” The fountain of creativity never runs dry. Keep in mind that excellent research is a form of truth telling. Vow to know your subject. Realize that just because something is said or written, it does not necessarily follow that it is valid and accurate, misleading or false. To determine these qualities is the task of critical thinking. There is no substitute for knowledge, honesty, and truthfulness. Respect words. Be able to define, understand, clarify, and interpret words and terms. Know what they symbolize and point toward. Understand what emotions they may evoke. Appreciate the nuances that surround them. Aim for verbal accuracy. The critical thinking process described in this book is a process, not the process. It is an avenue to test the authenticity and applicability of whatever is being considered. It can be adapted for a particular interest or assignment. It can be used in conjunction with another critical process, decision making process or planning process. What is essential is this: whatever the process, it must be honest and thorough, demanding vigorous thinking. This critical process has been designed to be used by an individual for his or her own purposes. In addition, it may be used by groups, teams, or committees as a joint approach to dealing with problems and issues. Reader-Thinker: Are you ready to begin? Do you have some feelings of excitement in trying to make sense of the barrage of information confronting you? By using this critical process, step by step, point by point, you will be able to understand, clarify and analyze data, facts, opinions, interpretations, beliefs, etc. Most importantly - always DARE TO THINK! A Process for Critical Thinking 1. The Assignment, Project, Problem, Task, etc. Make a commitment to the assignment, project, problem, issue or task. Be able to define, understand, clarify, and explain it in detail. 2. The Art of Asking Questions The technique of asking questions is simple and direct. It is an art – a learned art. Underlying every assignment, project, or task are a thousand and one questions waiting to be asked. Every section or component of an assignment needs to be bombarded with questions. In fact, questions need to be pounded with other questions. Use questions to: • understand • clarify • examine • explore • probe • challenge • find answers and solutions • etc. By asking questions, issues may be opened and concerns expressed. Intense questioning can be used to refine an assignment. It may be that a critical process will need to be used to determine whether or not some questions and responses are appropriate, relevant or applicable. Some of the questions and responses will need to be recorded and organized in order to become an integral part of the process. Later, they may be integrated into the conclusion, summary or report. During the process for critical thinking, you may continue to ask questions by using the questions found in the Second Supplement. 3. Collect Data and Information Set out to illuminate the assignment. This may be as simple as looking up a definition of a word, or it may be extensive and involved, requiring that you consult various sources for all the information needed. From this research, expect to be able to frame the issues and outline the debate. 4. Evaluate the Data and Sources Recognize the necessity of continuously evaluating the data and sources. The authenticity of your assignment will rest upon the trustworthiness of the data. You may have to subject some of the data (perhaps all of it) to a critical process before they can be accepted for the assignment. Remember: critical thinking is a demanding exercise. 5. Criteria Select and enumerate the criteria, standards, or qualifications for evaluating the issue, project or assignment. This procedure should be continuous – adding some criteria, subtracting others, and modifying still others. Some criteria may have to undergo a critical process before they can be fully accepted for the assignment. A variety of sources may need to be consulted in arriving at the criteria, standards or qualifications. Reminder: an evaluation of the sources of the criteria may be as important as the criteria themselves. 6. Priorities Select and arrange the various components or elements of the assignment in order of priority. This simple procedure can help to give direction and purpose to the project. 7. What are the Assumptions? Proceed with your assignment by listing all of the assumptions being made. In fact, it is important to realize that every component of the project or task is rooted in assumptions. Ask yourself, “What are the assumptions?” “What am I assuming?” “What are others assuming?” 8. What are the Implications? Move on in the process by understanding what is being implied. Look for direct as well as indirect implications, suggestions and hints. These need to be enumerated in order to illuminate the assignment. 9. What are the Ramifications? Advance in the process for your assignment by dealing with the ramifications. Ask yourself, “Where is it leading?” “Where are the branches branching out?” “Where are the tributaries flowing?” Follow the outstretching of the branches; follow the flow of the tributaries. These need to be followed, explored and evaluated. List and understand the ramifications in order to have a thorough grasp of the assignment or project. 10. What are the Consequences? The next step is to list all of the consequences, possible effects, and results as they pertain to your assignment. Be specific. Some of the consequences may need to be clarified by using the critical process. You may start by asking: What are the positive consequences, effects, results or impact? What are the negative consequences? What are the expected consequences? What are the unexpected consequences? What are the intended consequences? What are the unintended consequences? What are the desired consequences? What are the undesired consequences? What are the appropriate consequences? What are the inappropriate consequences? What are the realistic consequences? What are the unrealistic consequences? What are proper consequences? What are improper consequences? What are the ethical consequences? What are the unethical consequences? What are the legal consequences? What are the illegal consequences? Etc. 11. What are the Exceptions? List, explore and analyze the exceptions or possible exceptions for your ideas or assignment. There may be some ideas, perceptions, purposes and plans that are irregular, distorted, or simply do not fit. All of these need to be accounted for before the task is finished. 12. What are the Limitations? List the limitations, boundaries, parameters, or restraints as they emerge while using the critical process. These need to be understood before the assignment is concluded. 13. Safeguards Sometimes “fences” need to be built and “guardrails” constructed. At times safety measures need to be taken because of the nature of the assignment. They may be material, physical, financial, economic, political, legal, psychological, medical, etc. The purpose and nature of safeguards need to be understood and evaluated.

Highly recommended book on critical thiinking
"Deftly organized into two major sections, Donald Karshner's Be a Critical Thinker is itself a model of rational thought and highly recommended and instructive. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style and presentation, Be a Critical Thinker would make an excellent high school or college curriculum textbook supplement for Philosophy or Political Science classes. Very highly recommended for community and academic library collections."
- The Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch