Background of Critical Thinking

In Mayer and Goodchild (1990), critical thinking is an active, systematic process of understanding and evaluating arguments. An argument provides an assertion 

The elements of reasoning (keeping in mind the context and alternatives) are, in no particular order as this is a circle, the point of view, the purpose, the question at issue, assumptions, implications and consequences, information, concepts, conclusions, and interpretations (Niosich, 2012, pp. 49-60). 

There are seven standards to thinking critically clearness, accuracy, importance or relevance, sufficiency, depth, breadth, and precision (Niosich, 2012, pp. 133-148). 

Paul and Elder (2005) use these Elements of Thought to create a checklist for students that will guide them in their analytic thinking it is shown in Table 2.1. The benefit of this model and checklist to instructors and students is that they teach individuals how to analyze a broad range of materials, from news articles to chapters in textbooks, government reports, novels, and poems. 

Students should regularly use the following checklist for reasoning to improve their thinking in any discipline or subject area  

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