In the modern world, we are surrounded by information that comes from various sources. Of course, thanks to critical thinking, we can notice inconsistencies and separate facts from their interpretation. All this is key not only for study but also for work and everyday life. So, how can we develop critical thinking?
Expand Your Horizons
It is impossible to think deeply without a sufficient amount of knowledge about the surrounding world. The greater basis you have, the easier it is to compare something. Therefore, before evaluating the problem, consider it from all sides and understand what is behind it.
First and foremost, keep up to date in different areas.
- Read popular science, detective, and autobiography books.
- Watch documentaries and lectures – there are plenty of them on educational portals and YouTube channels.
- Watch people and observe their behavior – this will help explain their motivation and create a strategy for various life situations.
- Talk to people and ask for their viewpoints and experience – this will allow you to develop a certain position on any issue.
Another useful exercise is to reflect on the actions of the movie or book characters. Come up with alternative scenarios that could change their lives dramatically. What would the plot be like if they didn’t meet someone or didn’t go somewhere?
The same can be done with your life – think of non-standard scenarios; these alternatives help develop creativity as well. In fact, such themes are often used by teachers as essay topics.
However, if nothing comes to your mind, there’s no need to stress over it. You can always turn to WritePaper in the case of writer’s block. Thanks to experienced authors, your tasks will be completed on time, and lack of inspiration won’t ruin your academic performance.
Never Hesitate to Ask Questions
Curiosity and open-mindedness are the foundation of critical thinking, and one of the easiest ways to get new insights is to ask smart questions. You can ask not only your friends or acquaintances but yourself as well.
For instance, challenge yourself to come up with 30 questions about some movie, book, event, subject, or a specific topic. Such an exercise is super handy when it comes to considering the issue from different angles and clarifying the details. According to many educators, it is the students’ questions that make it possible to assess their level of knowledge.
Plus, such skill is extra suitable for paper writing as many essays suggest entering into a dialogue with oneself. Of course, we must admit that this form of homework can hardly be called easy to complete. But it provokes the thinking process, and its results can be amazing both for a professor and a student.
Read and Analyze
Critical thinking develops thanks to the constant studying of information. Once you finish reading, research the piece, following the next scheme.
- What does the author want to show? Who is the main audience?
- Which problem is described in the text? Are there ways of solving it?
- What is the author’s point of view on the problem? What arguments are used?
- Is there a specific line between facts given in the text and their interpretations?
- Is there any hidden meaning in the piece?
Reach Alternative Sources of Information
To think critically, we need to turn to various, sometimes even contradictory, opinions on the topic. So, when studying a specific theme, refer to different sources, compare the data received, and think whether it’s consistent and logical enough.
Teachers always draw our attention to the fact that reliable information is the one received from verified official sources. Such data can be used in coursework, and paper writers know it better than anyone else. After all, these are the trusted sources they turn to, helping students with all types of work, from argumentative and expository essays to book reviews.
Come Up With Solutions
Critical thinking is closely related to foreseeing factors, options, solutions, and so on. The next step is to choose the most effective and optimal of them all.
Learn to predict the consequences of your actions. When analyzing something important, weigh the pros and cons and assess the likely outcome. Then, think about how to minimize the risk of failure and get the results you want faster.
Play Chess
Perhaps, many of us became interested in this game after the premiere of “The Queen’s Gambit,” and this is not surprising. Surely, chess is the best game when it comes to noticing the cause-and-effect relationships and predicting the results of every move.
In Conclusion
It’s hard to imagine a successful student or an employee without critical thinking skills as they are irreplaceable these days. To upgrade them, try to broaden your outlook as much as possible, learning about various topics and phenomena.
Other efficient methods include asking questions, analyzing texts, and coming up with different scenarios. Of course, the whole process will take some time, but later, all these habits will become part of your routine.
