Standards, Elements, and Traits of Critical Thinking

Question 1

Trait: Recognize that you do not know everything

Answer 1

Intellectual Humility

Question 2

Trait: Challenge popular belief, confront ideas with fairness, even if painful

Answer 2

Intellectual Courage

Question 3

Trait: Understand the perspectives of others

Answer 3

Intellectual Empathy

Question 4

Trait: Holding yourself to the same standard you hold others to

Answer 4

Intellectual Ingetrity

Question 5

Trait: Working through complexities despite frustrations

Answer 5

Intellectual Perseverance

Question 6

Trait: Arriving at your own conclusion through rational thinking

Answer 6

Confidence in Reason

Question 7

Trait: Think for yourself while keeping to the standards of reasoning

Answer 7

Intellectual Autonomy

Question 8

Function of the mind: Thinking

Answer 8

creates meaning, informs us of what is going on

Question 9

Function of the mind: Feeling

Answer 9

monitors meanings created by thinking, informs us on how to respond emotionally

Question 10

Function of the mind: Wanting/Motivation

Answer 10

allocates energy into action, tells us what is/is not worth seeking

Question 11

Element: Thinking has some comprehensive focus or orientation

Answer 11

point of view

Question 12

Element: when humans think about the world, they do not do so randomly but, rather, in line with their goals, desires, needs, and values

Answer 12

purpose

Question 13

Element: when we think about the world in line with our goals, desires, needs, and values, we often face questions we must answer, problems we must solve, and issues we must resolve

Answer 13

question

Question 14

Element: using whatever we take for granted as true to figure out something else

Answer 14

assumptions

Question 15

element: what follows from the reasoned position

Answer 15

implications/consequences

Question 16

element: data, facts, etc

Answer 16

information

Question 17

element: the general categories or ideas by which we interpret, classify, or group the information we use in our thinking

Answer 17

concepts

Question 18

element: taking something (that we believe we know) and figuring out something else on the basis of it

Answer 18

inference/conclusion

Question 19

what are the different kinds of implications?

Answer 19

possible, probable, necessary

Question 20

standard: easily understood, unambiguous

Answer 20

clarity

Question 21

standard: represent something as it actually is

Answer 21

accuracy

Question 22

standard: specific, exact

Answer 22

precision

Question 23

standard: pertains to the problem being solved

Answer 23

relevant

Question 24

standard: identify and address deeper complexities within the problem

Answer 24

depth

Question 25

standard: consider the issue and all relevant viewpoints

Answer 25

breadth

Question 26

standard: thoughts and the order they’re organized in are mutually supportive and make sense

Answer 26

logic

Question 27

standard: the most important information relevant to the issue

Answer 27

significance

Question 28

standard: thinking that satisfies all of the standards

Answer 28

fairness