Purpose

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines Critical Thinking Skills (CT) as "creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information."

Critical thinking is a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. As a student, you demonstrate critical thinking when you analyze and evaluate information in order to form a reasoned judgment. Therefore, good critical thinking involves asking questions, examining evidence, and considering different perspectives.

Tasks

Criteria

Be an active learner, rather than a passive learner: read texts multiple times, annotate your texts, use various critical reading strategies to examine your texts.
Question assumptions: Critical thinking involves questioning assumptions and challenging preconceived notions. Start by questioning your own assumptions and the assumptions of others. Ask yourself, "What evidence supports this claim?" or "What assumptions am I making?"
Evaluate evidence: Critical thinking involves evaluating evidence and arguments. Seek to determine whether the ideas, arguments, and findings represent the entire picture and be open to finding that they do not. Look for evidence that supports or contradicts a claim, and consider the quality of the evidence. Is it reliable? Is it based on sound research?
Consider different perspectives: Critical thinking requires considering different perspectives and viewpoints. Try to understand the perspectives of others, even if you don't agree with them. Consider the implications of different perspectives for the problem or issue at hand.
Think creatively: Critical thinking involves thinking creatively and coming up with new ideas and approaches. Practice brainstorming and generating multiple solutions to a problem.
Practice reflection: Critical thinking requires reflection and self-evaluation. Reflect on the justification of your own assumptions, beliefs, and values. Take time to reflect on your own thinking and the quality of your decisions. Ask yourself, "What could I have done differently?" or "What did I learn from this experience?"
Seek feedback: Finally, seek feedback from others on your critical thinking skills. Ask for constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.

Several courses in the Texas Core Curriculum attempt to teach and ultimately assess critical thinking for use in personal and professional life. However, due to the nature of critical thinking as an internal process is problematic for evaluation, but its benefits to self and society make its attainment at any level worth the effort.

Critical thinking can be assessed in assignments that require students to complete analyses of text, data, or issues. Assessments of how sources are evaluated by the student during the research process, and how sources are used in essays are also valuable.

Writers should:

Clearly state and comprehensively describe the issue/problem to be considered critically
Demonstrate Information is taken from source(s) with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis.
Question viewpoints of experts thoroughly
Analyze own and others' assumptions and carefully evaluate the relevance of contexts when presenting a position.
Draw conclusions and related outcomes (consequences and implications) that are logical and reflect informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.

Value

Employers value critical thinking because it is an essential skill for success in the workplace. Overall, employers desire critical thinking because it enables employees to solve problems, make informed decisions, think creatively, communicate effectively, and adapt to changing circumstances. These are all essential skills for success in today's rapidly changing business environment.

Problem-solving: Critical thinking is crucial for problem-solving. It enables employees to analyze a problem, identify potential solutions, and choose the best course of action.
Decision-making: In addition to problem-solving, critical thinking is also important for decision-making. It allows employees to consider all relevant factors and make informed decisions.
Innovation: Critical thinking fosters innovation by encouraging employees to think creatively and outside the box. It enables them to come up with new ideas and approaches to old problems.
Effective communication: Critical thinking is essential for effective communication. It enables employees to express their ideas clearly and logically, and to understand the ideas of others.
Adaptability: Critical thinking is important for adaptability. It enables employees to assess new situations and adjust their thinking and approach accordingly.