What Is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking (CT) is the process of testing and organizing ideas to see if they make sense.

If we are looking for ways to improve something, or create something new, it helps to check our assumptions, test our hypotheses, re-question our beliefs, and compare our conclusions. This process, the open-minded examination of questionable claims and ideas, is called critical thinking.

Critical thinking is a fundamental life skill. It:

• Sharpens your judgment,
• Promotes learning and success in school, and
• Improves your decision-making.

In recent years, researchers have learned that the acquisition of CT skills can be dramatically enhanced by the practice of diagramming arguments. A single semester course in mapping arguments provides gains in reasoning skills equal to those provided by an entire college education! (van Gelder, 2001).

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