CRWT -
- Cognitive Shortcut Bias- stubbornly stick to a
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CRITICAL Reviewer
THINKER:
1. Observation- first innate critical thinking skills
that people learn as a child. You perceive your
environment to be more aware of the world
around us. Mental notes of relevant details.
2. Curiosity- keep an open mind and propels you to
gain deeper knowledge. Fundamental to being a
lifelong learner.
3. Objectivity- ability to distinguish facts from
opinions, logic from emotions and reality to
wishful thinking. Being aware of your own
weaknesses, knowing how to separate
subjectivity from objectivity. 1st step to become
analytical thinker
4. Introspection- state of being aware of your own
manner of thinking and train of thoughts.
Knowing when to shift thoughts or to stop
altogether. Stay alert and attentive
5. Analytical thinking- on their way to becoming
critical thinkers. Ability to analyze information
is key when looking at anything. Evaluate.
6. Identifying biases- verifying the sources of their
information and looking for alternative sources.
7. Determining relevance- look at its relevance to
the topic and the arguments that are planning to
raise. Don’t be distracted by reputation of
source, complexity of data and popularity.
8. Inference- ability to extrapolate meaning from
data and discover potential outcomes when
assessing a scenario.
9. Compassion and Empathy- to have concern for
others and to value the welfare of other people.
10. Humility- wilingness to acknowledge one’s
shortcomings and see one’s positive attributes in
an accurate way. It makes us aware of our own
assets and flaws. Open to other viepoints.
11. Willing to challenge the status quo- you
acknowledge that everything can change and has
to be changed when deemed necessary.
12. Open-mindedness- avoid launching into a
frenzied argument or taking sides- they want to
hear all perspectives. Open mind and embrace
other opinions and viewa
13. Awareness of common thinking errors:
- Circular Reasoning- premise of an argument or
conclusion is used as support for the argument
itself.
-
favored view or argument when other more
effective possibilities or explanations exist.
- Confusing Correlation- asserting that when two
things happen together, one causes the other
assumption isn’t justified.
a) Disqualifying positives- dismiss any positive
experiences
b) Shoulds and musts- think about things in terms
of should, musts and ‘oughts.
c) Black and white thinking- everything is seen as
good or bad
d) Emotional reasoning- believe it to be true
e) Labelling- assigns label to yourself- ‘I am
stupid’
f) Catasrophising- blow things out of proportion
g) Over generalisation-
h) Mind Reading- predicting the future or jumping
to conclusions
i) Personalization- blame yourself for something
that was not your fault.
14. Effective Communication- when the 7c’s of effective
communications are observes both in oral and written
forms.
15. Creative thinking- reject standardized formats for
problem solving. They think outside the box and dare to
defy standards when deemed more beneficial.
16. Active Listening- precursor to assertiveness as one
has to participate in the discussion first before asserting
opinions.
7C’S
Clarity- Clear
Conciseness- Stick to the point & keep it brief
Concreteness- clear picture/vivid facts
Correctness- error-free communication
Completeness- everything need to inform
Coherence- logical. Relevant to main topic.
Courtesy- friendly, open and honest.
HINDRANCES FOR CRITICAL THINKER:
1. Egocentric Thinking- Self-centered/ Self-
interest. Focus only on what interest you.
2. Groupthink- kung ano ginawa ng marami, ganon
na rin gagawin mo/ mostly para hindi maoutcast.
3. Drone Mentality- afraid of getting out of
comfort zone. Hindi nakikinig sa sinasabi ng iba
kasi ayaw nga umalis sa comfort zone.
4. Social Conditioning- cancel culture.
5. Biased Experiences- unable to be fair
6. Time pressure
7. Intolerance and arrogance- unwilling to listen to
other’s opinion.
The Nature of Critical Thinking:
- Objective and not subjective
- Understands the connections between ideas
- Reflects
_ Rational
- Logical
- Active Listener
- Rejects information unless proven
- Systematic rather than instinct
- Quality over quantity
Critical thinking- to constantly try to solve problems and
seek solutions. The key here is consistency and
adherence to the mindset of a true critical thinker.
Skills Needed in Critical Thinking:
- Objectively and critically think about a topic or subject
matter or topic.
- Accurately identify what arguments are raise in a
particular issue.
- Carefully evaluate the different points of view
presented to understand how valid and concrete they are
- Understand all implications of every argument
- Come up with a structured reasoning that supports any
argument that you want to raise.
Ascertaining your goals:
- Decide what you are aiming to achieve and then make
a decision based on a range of possibilities.
- The discipline to successfully adopt the attitude and
mindset of a critical thinker should always start with
yourself.
- The more we understand ourselves, the faster we can
develop critical thinking.
The benefit of foresight:
Foresight- ability to predict future actions, which enables
a person to proactively create solutions to impending
problems.
-It requires inference using existing information gathered
through systematic research, keen observation and
careful analysis. In a way, we can say that this is the
ability to make tentative conclusions and plan logical
arguments ahead of time.
Summary:
- Critical thinking aims to come up with the most
favorable results in any situation.
- Critical thinking entails an objective self-evaluation of
strengths, weaknesses, preferences and expected
outcomes
- Critical thinking requires the development and use of
foresight.
- Decisions made with critical thinking require
assessment of projected outcomes after application.
- Critical thinking does not stop at the application of
decisions and their evaluation.
- Changes are also implemented if there is still room for
improvement. For a critical thinker, no solution is
permanent as problems constantly change.
Critical Thinking and Critical Reading:
Reading Critically- Verifying and Validating the text
Thinking Critically- Evaluating the Evidence
Critical Thinking by a Critical Reader:
Rationality- rely on reason rather than emotion
Self Awareness- recognize own assumptions, prejudices,
biases or P.O.V
Honesty- recognize emotional impulses, selfish motives,
nefarious purposes, or other modes of self-deception.
Open-mindedness- remain open for alternative
interpretations.
Discipline- resist manipulation and irrational appeals.
Judgement- recognize the relevance and/or merit of
alternative assumptions and perspectives.

Logic (Reasoning)- study of the criteria used in

evaluating inferences or arguments.
Inference (Judgement/ conclusion)- process of reasoning
in which a new belief is formed on the basis of or in
virtue of evidence or proof supposedly provided by other
beliefs.
Argument (Standpoint)- collection of statements or
propositions, some of which are intended to provide
support or evidence in favor of one of the others.
Statement/Proposition- something that can either be true
or false. Declarative sentence or part of a sentence.
Premises of an argument (Assumption)- statements or
propositions in it that are intended to provide the support
or evidence.
Conclusion of an argument- is that statement or
proposition for which the premises are intended to
provide support (the point the argument is trying to
make)
Deductive- general to specific
Inductive- Specific to general/ based on observation/
rules or policies.
Fallacies- Errors in reasoning.
Begging the question- ex. Customer is always right
Ignorance Fallacy- ignore statement because of what we
believe
Wishful Thinking Fallacy- Manifesting
Ad Hominen Fallacy- abusive fallacy/ sarcasm. Direct to
the person. Ex. Bago ka magcomment, graduate ka
muna.
Opinion- something that believes to be true
Fact- something that is true.