• Time, stress and
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• Studying/learning;
  with others, and in the classroom

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• Thinking/memorizing;
  Test preparation

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• Writing, vocabulary and spelling

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• Research and reading

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• Math and science;
  Bibliographies

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Thinking and recall series

Critical thinking II

Second stage exercise in critical thinking:

Critical thinking studies a topic or problem with open-mindedness.
This exercise outlines the second stage of applying a critical thinking approach to developing and understanding a topic.

With the second stage:

• Refine/revise the topic
  either narrowing or broadening it according to outcomes of research
• Rank or indicate the importance
  of three sources of research
• Clarify any opinion, prejudice, or bias their authors have
  While an opinion is a belief or attitude toward someone or some thing,
  a prejudice is preconceived opinion without basis of fact
  while bias is an opinion based on fact or research.
• Identify key words and concepts that seem to repeat
  Is there vocabulary you need to define?
  Are there concepts you need to understand better?
• In reviewing your research, are there
  Sequences or patterns that emerge?
  Opposing points of view, contradictions, or facts that don't "fit?"
  Summarize two points of view that you need to address
• What questions remain to be answered?

Critical thinking, first stage helped you to

• Develop a statement of the topic
• List what you understand, what you've been told
  and what opinions you hold about it
• Identify resources available for research
• Define timelines and due dates
  and how they affect the development of your study
• Print the list as your reference

With this second exercise,
think in terms of how you would demonstrate your learning for your topic
How would you create a test on what you have learned?
How would you best explain or demonstrate your findings?
From simple to more complex (1-6) learning operations:

1. List, label, identify: demonstrate knowledge
2. Define, explain, summarize in your own words: Comprehend/understand
3. Solve, apply to a new situation: Apply what you have learned
4. Compare and contrast, differentiate between items: analyze
5. Create, combine, invent: Synthesize
6. Assess, recommend, value: Evaluate and explain why

Summary of critical thinking:

• Determine the facts of a new situation or subject
  without prejudice
• Place these facts and information in a pattern
  so that you can understand and explain them
• Accept or reject your resource values and conclusions
  based upon your experience, judgment, and beliefs

Thinking and recall series

Concentrating | Radical thinking | Thinking aloud/private speech |
Thinking critically I | Thinking critically II | Thinking creatively |
Mapping explanation | Make your own map I | Make your own map II |
Thinking like a genius: Creative solutions | Famous thinkers | Blog

See also: Teaching with questioning; teaching critical thinking