thinking critically

Learning is not just acquiring facts. Students learn to think critically and to understand and evaluate what they are asked to learn. Intellectual learning is a primary focus in educational settings. This encompasses six different skill levels, each more complex than the last.

  • Knowledge. Can you recall the facts?
  • Comprehension. Do you understand the facts and what they mean?
  • Application. Can you apply the facts in a new situation?
  • Analysis. Can you break down the information and figure out how it is organized and fits together? Can you examine it methodically?
  • Synthesis. Can you put together the parts that you’ve learned to create something new?
  • Evaluation. Can you make sound judgments about the value of the ideas or information?

College courses often focus on your ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate information. Fortunately, these are skills you can learn. Below is a method with which to approach a task that requires you to think critically about something you are learning. These questions can help you recognize, analyze, and assess the material you’re studying. Ask yourself:

  • What is the purpose or goal of the material?
  • What problem or question is at issue?
  • What is the author’s frame of reference or point of view?
  • What assumptions has the author made?
  • What central concepts and ideas are at work in the material?
  • What principles or theories does the author use?
  • What evidence, reasons, or data has the author advanced to support their case? Are they sufficient? Are they persuasive?
  • What claims has the author made and what conclusions has the author drawn?
  • What inferences, reasoning, or lines of thought has the author used?
  • What are the implications and consequences of the material?

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ischool blog econ 201