Elements of Thought

Question 1

Purpose or goal

Answer 1

All reasoning has a PURPOSE.

• Take time to state your purpose clearly.
• Distinguish your purpose from related purposes.
• Check periodically to be sure you are still on target.
• Choose significant and realistic purposes.

Question 2

Question at issue or problem

Answer 2

All reasoning is an attempt to figure something out, to settle some QUESTION, to solve some problem.

• State the question at issue clearly and precisely.
• Express the question in several ways to clarify its meaning.
• Break the question into sub-questions.
• Distinguish questions that have definitive answers from those that are a matter of opinion or that require multiple viewpoints.

Question 3

Point of view or frame of reference

Answer 3

All reasoning is done from some POINT OF VIEW.

• Identify your point of view.
• Seek other points of view and identify their strengths as well as weaknesses.
• Strive to be fairminded in evaluating all points of view.

Question 4

Assumptions

Answer 4

All reasoning is based on ASSUMPTIONS.

• Clearly identify your assumptions and determine whether they are justifiable.
• Consider how your assumptions are shaping your point of view.

Question 5

Information and facts

Answer 5

All reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION and EVIDENCE.

• Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have.
• Search for information that opposes your position as well as information that supports it.
• Make sure that all information used is clear, accurate and relevant.
• Make sure you have gathered sufficient information.

Question 6

Interpretations and inferences leading to conclusions

Answer 6

All reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which we draw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to data.

• Infer only what the evidence implies.
• Check inferences for their consistency with each other.
• Identify assumptions underlying your inferences.

Question 7

Concepts

Answer 7

All reasoning is expressed through, and shaped by, CONCEPTS and IDEAS.

• Identify key concepts and explain them clearly.
• Consider alternative concepts or alternative definitions of concepts.
• Make sure you are using concepts with precision.

Question 8

Implications and consequences

Answer 8

All reasoning leads somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES.

• Trace the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning.
• Search for negative as well as positive implications.
• Consider all possible consequences.