SPEECH AND ARGUMENTATION A useful definition of the type of critical thinking

you need to develop at university level is

In order to display critical thinking, students need

to develop skills in
❖​ interpreting: understanding the
significance of data and to clarify its
meaning
❖​ analysing: breaking information down and
recombining it in different ways
❖​ reasoning: creating an argument through
logical steps
❖​ evaluating: judging the worth, credibility or
strength of accounts.

Why is critical thinking important at university?

❖​ In general, students who develop critical
thinking skills are more able to
DEFINING CRITICAL THINKING ➢​ achieve better marks
●​ Critical thinking has been defined in many ➢​ become less dependent on
different ways. teachers and textbooks
●​ Very broad definitions include ’thinking ➢​ create knowledge
which has a purpose’ or ‘reflective ➢​ evaluate, challenge and change
judgement’. the structures in society
○​ However, these definitions are
often too general to be useful to Displaying critical thinking in reading and
students. writing

Exercise 1 READING
Read through the following statements and tick Three important purposes of reading critically are
those that you think may come from critical ●​ to provide evidence to back up or
thinkers. challenge a point of view
1.​ “I hate talk shows where people just state ●​ to evaluate the validity and importance of
their opinions but never give any reasons a text/ position
at all” ●​ to develop reflective thought and a
2.​ “No matter how complex a problem, you tolerance for ambiguity
can bet there will be a simple solution”
3.​ “Just because information is in a textbook, STRATEGIES FOR READING CRITICALLY
doesn’t necessarily mean it can be
Ask Questions For Example
trusted” about
4.​ “My views are probably shaped by the
social and economic groups I belong to” your purpose ●​ why?
5.​ “I hate it when teachers discuss problems
the context of the text ●​ why written?
instead of just giving the information”
●​ where?
6.​ “Selling an idea is like selling cars, you ●​ when?
say whatever works” ●​ who?
7.​ “I like to think about whether someone’s ●​ how relevant?
views reflects the experience of all groups
of people” the structure of the ●​ Do the parts fit
text together
8.​ “I question the authority of evidence
logically?
before I accept it” ●​ Is there a clear
 ●​ comment (if possible from both a positive
argument?
and negative perspective) on the section
the arguments ●​ are they fair? ●​ draw on other sources to back up your
●​ do they leave comments
out ●​ come to a conclusion on the overall worth/
perspectives of validity etc of the original text
certain groups?

the evidence used ●​ Is evidence Key instruction words for critical reviews
given to include
support the ●​ Critically analyse/ evaluate…
point of view? ●​ Comment on the argument that...
●​ is the evidence ●​ Review the film ‘ ‘
from an
●​ Write a critical review of the article ‘ ‘
authority in this
field? ●​ Critique ...
●​ is the evidence
evaluated from Implicit types of critical writing
different ●​ At undergraduate level, critical writing
perspectives? typically refers to the genre of the
persuasive essay in which a logical
the language used ●​ Is the language
coloured to argument [ to a stated position/ issue ] is
present some developed and presented.
things as
●​ more positive
than others? Critical thinking is a process that challenges an
●​ Are claims individual to use reflective, reasonable, rational
attributed thinking to gather, interpret and evaluate
clearly to information in order to derive a judgment.
specific
sources? The cognitive process of critical thinking brings to
light and questions ‘accepted’ views and
assumptions and can offer alternative
WRITING perspectives
Written assignments may call for Critical thinking
either explicitly or implicitly. Examples of assignment questions with more
●​ Explicit types of critical writing are or less critical responses
generally known as critical reviews.
○​ These assignments directly ask
you to evaluate some aspects of
■​ a literary text or artwork
■​ a research article
■​ an argument or
interpretation of an issue,
text or artwork.

STRATEGIES FOR WRITING CRITICAL

REVIEWS
While it will be necessary to summarise the ideas
of the original text, you will also need to
●​ select sections of the text (e.g. thesis/
methodology/ conclusion)which are open
to question
 Example of using evidence critically within an
essay
●​ Essay Thesis: The rapid rise of Islam can
be explained through the dualism of
religion and force

ARGUMENT ELEMENT

The caliphs saw the Open debate in

jihad as their religious relation
duty. Yet, the mass to area 1 (jihad)
GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR CRITICAL of Arabs had to be
motivated to spread
WRITING
Islam for they would
●​ Read critically (e.g. check validity of be
references used in source text) the soldiers of this
●​ Be fair. Take into account accepted holy war.
standards of judgment used in the
particular discipline or field. Pinder-Wilson argues present argument
that Bedouin tribes from
●​ Use evidence taken from sources which
were actuated as perspective 1
are considered authoritative in the field much by a desire for
●​ Consider viewpoints from a range of booty as by zeal for
perspectives (e.g. male and female, spreading the faith.
different socio-economic and ethnic
groups) Lewis points out that present argument
initially conquests from
●​ Use inclusive language (e.g. non-gender
were an expansion of perspective 2
specific, non-absolute terms such as the Arab nation,
‘often’ and ‘could’ rather than ‘always’ and driven by the pressure
‘is’) of over-population on
the peninsula.
USING EVIDENCE CRITICALLY
Yet, over-population evaluate perspective
●​ Critical writing is only valued if it is based cannot explain the 2
on authoritative evidence. It is particularly instigation of the (with evidence)
important to take a critical approach to the second campaign in
evidence you use to answer the question the early eighth
in an essay. The following table century. The countries
demonstrates how evidence might be captured in the first
tide of conquests
presented and critically evaluated within
would have easily
an argument of an essay provided enough new
land for the Arabs and
by the end of the
seventeenth century
extensive migration
had occurred relieving
the pressure upon the
peninsula.

Lewis does however present additional

identify the role of argument from
religion as an perspective 2
important
factor in the later tide
of conquest. He
 It is possible to give your marker evidence that
argues that Islam
became you are aware of different perspectives in subtle,
a symbol of Arab unity yet powerful, ways. It is important to remember
and victory where that critical writing does not necessarily have to
none had existed challenge an entire perspective or try to set up an
before. The Islamic entirely different perspective.
faith was inspiring
great nationalistic
pride Text 1 is an example of critical writing where the
and the success of the writer has demonstrated critical thinking by
conquests endowed opening up the possibility that an argument or
the Muslim forces evidence may be limited.
with prestige,
encouraging more Exercise 3
Muslims to join the
Identify the language used to display evidence of
cause.
critical thinking in Texts 2 and 3
In contrast, Donner evaluate argument
sees religion as from perspective 2/ Text 1 Essay question:
playing a much more present perspective ●​ Compare and contrast indigenous and
fundamental role from western traditions of learning
the outset. He argues
that the success of
Arab militarism lay in Another difference between indigenous traditions
the organisational of learning and the western academic tradition is
breakthrough that in the area of access to knowledge. In the
Islam indigenous traditions, access to various kinds of
had achieved. It was knowledge is limited according to gender and
religion that united the according to whether elders judge you as
tribesmen into a
responsible to use the knowledge wisely. In the
state which could be
effectively organised Western Academic Tradition, access is, at least
as a fighting force. theoretically, open to everybody.
Once the tribesmen
were recruited they Text 2 Essay question:
were settled in ●​ In what ways has Australia developed a
garrison
positive relationship with Indonesia?
towns on the fringes
of the desert, where
they could be more The Australian government argues that it has
easily controlled. developed a good relationship with Indonesia
over the last twenty-five years. It argues that its
Essentially, it was present position policies have led to improved political, economic
religion that had
and military cooperation between the two
allowed Mohammed
to countries, to the benefit of both. However, the
integrate fragmented critical issue is which sections of Australian
Arabia into an easily society have cultivated these relations and with
controlled political which sections of Indonesian society and who has
unit with the same actually benefited.
military and political
objectives.
Text 3 Essay question
●​ “The professional role and status of
pharmacists is under threat” Discuss
Displaying critical thinking in indirect and
subtle ways While these factors have led to a fear that the
professional role and status of pharmacists may
be under threat, this view does not take into
account the importance of consumers’ support problem solving may also require industry or
for pharmacy. Evidence for strong public job-specific technical skills.
appreciation for the role of the pharmacist can be ●​ For example, a registered nurse will need
found in John Varnish’s study on the public’s active listening and communication skills
perceptions of pharmacy as a profession. when interacting with patients but will also
Although some problems exist in making need effective technical knowledge related
generalisations from this study, it presents strong to diseases and medications. In many
evidence that pharmacy is seen by consumers to cases, a nurse will need to know when to
fulfil the criteria necessary for an occupation to be consult a doctor regarding a patient’s
seen as a profession medical needs as part of the solution.

Problem-Solving Skills: Definitions and Examples

Problem-solving skills examples
When employers talk about problem-solving ●​ To solve a problem effectively, you will
skills, they are often referring to the ability to likely use a few different skills.
handle difficult or unexpected situations in the
workplace as well as complex business Here are a few examples of skills you may use
challenges. when solving a problem:

Organizations rely on people who can assess 1.​ Research

both kinds of situations and calmly identify ●​ Researching is an essential skill
solutions. Problem-solving skills are traits that related to problem solving.
enable you to do that. While problem solving skills ●​ As a problem solver, you need to
are valued by employers, they are also highly be able to identify the cause of the
useful in other areas of life like relationship issue and understand it fully.
building and day-to-day decision making. ●​ You can begin to gather more
information about a problem by
WHAT ARE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS brainstorming with other team
●​ Problem-solving skills help you determine members, consulting more
the source of a problem and find an experienced colleagues or
effective solution. acquiring knowledge through
●​ Although problem solving is often online research or courses.
identified as its own separate skill, there
are other related skills that contribute to 2.​ Analysis
this ability. ●​ The first step to solving any
problem to analyze the situation.
SOME KEY PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS ●​ Your analytical skills will help you
INCLUDE: understand problems and
​ Active listening effectively develop solutions. You
​ Analysis will also need analytical skills
​ Research during research to help distinguish
between effective and ineffective
​ Creativity
solutions.
​ Communication
​ Dependability 3.​ Decision-making
​ Decision making ●​ Ultimately, you will need to make a
​ Team-building decision about how to solve
problems that arise.
Problem-solving skills are important in every ●​ At times—and with industry
career at every level. As a result, effective experience)—you may be able to
make a decision quickly.
 ●​ Solid research and analytical skills
can help those who have less Seek out opportunities to problem solve:
experience in their field. ●​ By putting yourself into new situations, you
●​ There may also be times when it is are more likely to be exposed to
appropriate to take some time to opportunities to problem solve.
craft a solution or escalate the ○​ You may find there are
issue to someone more capable of opportunities to volunteer for new
solving it. projects in your current role, on
another team or outside the
4.​ Communication workplace for another
●​ When identifying possible organization.
solutions, you will need to know
how to communicate the problem Do practice problems:
to others. ●​ Practice and role-play can be useful tools
●​ You will also need to know what when learning to develop your
communication channels are the problem-solving skills.
most appropriate when seeking ○​ You can find professional practice
assistance. books for your industry and
●​ Once you find a solution, problem- solving scenarios online.
communicating it clearly will help ○​ Practice how you might solve
reduce any confusion and make those problems and determine if
implementing a solution easier. your potential solutions are viable.

5.​ Dependability For example, in customer service you might find a

●​ Dependability is one of the most scenario like, “How would you handle an angry
important skills for customer?” or “How do you respond when a
problem-solvers. Solving problems customer asks for a refund?”
in a timely manner is essential. ●​ Practicing how you might handle these or
○​ Employers highly value other scenarios common in your industry
individuals they can trust to can help you call upon solutions quickly
both identify and then when they arise on the job.
implement solutions as fast
and effectively as possible. Observe how others problem solve:
●​ You may have colleagues who are skilled
problem solvers.
How to improve your problem-solving skills ●​ Observing how those colleagues solve
●​ There are several methods you can use to problems can help you improve your own
improve your problem-solving skills. skills.
Whether you are searching for a job or ●​ If possible, ask one of your more
currently working, improving your experienced colleagues if you can
problem-solving skills and associated observe their techniques.
abilities will help make you a strong ●​ Asking relevant questions can be helpful
candidate and employee. in applying them in your own career.

Acquire more technical knowledge in your How to highlight problem-solving skills

field: ●​ Showcasing your problem-solving skills on
●​ Depending on your industry, it may be your resume and cover letter can help
easier to solve problems if you have employers quickly understand how you
strong working technical knowledge. might be of value to their team. You might
○​ You can more technical consider only showcasing
knowledge through additional problem-solving skills on your resume if it
coursework, training or practice.
 is particularly relevant in the position Your problem-solving skills will be a benefit to you
you’re applying for. in every step of your career. From resume to
○​ Customer service, engineering and application, interview to job duties, the ability to
management positions, for solve problems effectively as they arise will make
example, would be good you a valuable asset on the job and a highly
candidates for including sought after candidate.
problem-solving abilities.

Problem-solving skills for resume:

●​ On your resume, you can highlight your
problem-solving skills in several locations:
in the “skills” section, the “achievements”
section, and by giving specific examples of
problem solving in your “experience”
section.

In the skills section, you may want to list key

problem-solving skills that you possess, instead
of simply writing down the more generic term
“problem-solving.”
●​ For example, you could list specific
technical skills you possess that would
help you solve problems or soft skills
associated with problem solving, such as
your research abilities or decision-making
talents.

Remember, stories are powerful. Keep specific

examples in mind of times you solved a problem.
This is useful on your resume but will also help
you answer interview questions like, “Tell me
about a time you overcame an obstacle.”

Problem-solving skills for cover letter:

●​ Your cover letter is also an excellent
opportunity to elaborate on your
problem-solving skills. Here, you can give
a brief example of a time you solved a
problem successfully. Alternatively, you
might identify a challenge that this
potential employer is seeking to solve and
explain how you would address it.
○​ For example, if a job posting
mentions that the company is
looking for someone to help
improve their social media
presence, you can identify key
ways you might aid in increasing
awareness of the brand through
various social media platforms.