To become a critical thinker is to think consciously, deliberately, and skilfully, to take charge of ideas that run our lives, and transform ourselves. In essence, critical thinking starts us moving away from egocentric drives, stereotypes, and unexamined ideas from others. In effect, we start remaking our minds productively. Following the dictates of, how to ask critical thinking questions, stimulates us to rethink over. Questions stimulate thought. Thinking is driven by questions, not answers, unless the answer generates further questions. Formulating and pursuing questions helps us to think and learn.
How to ask critical thinking questions primes us up to ask live questions that lead to further questions and knowledge.
1. Carry On And Ascertain Whether To Ask Questions Of Fact, Preference Or Judgement
Categorising our questions in this manner helps us to figure out the kind of reasoning required to answer it. Questions of fact have one right answer or an established way of finding an answer. For example, what is the boiling point of water?
Aside from, a question like “what is your favorite type of food? is a question of preference, since it admits as many answers as there are human preferences.
Along with, questions of judgment require reasoning, and have more than one defensible answer. They are questions that lend themselves to debate, and have well-reasoned or poorly-reasoned answers. The aim of reasoning through questions of judgment is to seek the best possible answer, given the range of possibilities. This often requires us thinking within multiple systems or multi-logically, to offer legitimate reasons and evidence, in support of a view. An example of this type of question is should capital punishment be abolished?
2. Chalk Up By Asking Questions Based On Universal Standards Of Thought
As we ask questions specifically targeting intellectual standards, we upgrade our thinking. Of note with, how to ask critical thinking questions allows of ideas lifting our effectiveness. These questions focus on clarity in thinking. Can you elaborate on what you are saying? Is there an example or illustration of your point of view, that you can give me? I hear you say “y.” I hope I’m correct?
Sharpening Precision
Besides, here are questions that sharpen the precision of our thinking. Can you reveal more details about that? It will be nice if you can become more specific? Please specify your allegations more fully?
Lifting Accuracy
Else, questions that lift accuracy in our thinking help us to verify that our ideas represent things as they really are. Is there a way to check if it is true? How can we verify these alleged facts? Are these data trustworthy given the questionable source from which they come?
Questions Centering On Relevance
Along with, questions centered on relevance help us to ensure that all considerations used in addressing a task, question or problem are relevant to it. Can you show me how what you said bears on the problem? What is the connection between your question and the question we are focusing on? Can you explain?
Enhancing Depth
Furthermore, questions that enhance the depth of our thinking help us to probe beneath the surface to deeper issues. Is this question simple or complex; easy or difficult to answer? What hallmarks this as a complex problem? How are we dealing with the inherent complexity in the problem or question?
Focusing On Breadth
Plus, questions that focus on breath in our thinking help us to reason insightfully within more than one point of view or frame of reference. What points of view feature relevant to this issue? Have I ignored any relevant point of view? What opposing viewpoints am I failing to consider, to avoid changing my view? Am I entertaining opposing viewpoints in good faith, or only enough to find faults in them? Though I have examined the question from an ethical point of view, what is the economic, liberal, and conservative point of view?
3. Clean Off By Directing Your Questions To Elements Of Thought
To focus on the elements or parts of thinking helps us to discipline our questions constructively. From here, how to ask critical thinking questions adds up to notions leading to solutions. Further with, questions that focus on purpose in our thinking enable us to understand the agenda behind it since all thoughts reflect an agenda. What are you trying to accomplish by that saying? My central aim in this line of thought, what is it? This meeting, what is its purpose? What is the purpose of this chapter? Our relationship, what is its purpose? College, what is my purpose for being there?
Priming For Information
More, questions that focus on information prime us to understand the background facts, data, experiences that supports or informs them. Your comments, on what information are you basing them? What experience are you rooting your conviction on? Is it possible your experience is distorted? This information, is it accurate? Have we left out any important information?
Inferences
Aside from, questions that focus on inferences, drawing of conclusions, making of meanings, stimulate us to understand the inferences that shaped our thinking. How did you arrive at your conclusion? Can you explain your reasoning? Can we arrive at an alternative plausible conclusion? What is the best possible conclusion given the available facts?
Concepts In Thinking
Beyond, since all thoughts involve the application of concepts, questions that focus on concepts in thinking, help us to understand the concepts that define and shape it. What main idea am I using in my reasoning? Can you explain that idea? Are we using our concepts fairly or justifiably?
Spotlighting Assumptions
Apart from, as all thought rests upon other thoughts, which are taken for granted or assumed, questions that focus on assumptions in thinking facilitate our understanding of what it takes for granted. What exactly am I taking for granted here? Why am I assuming that? Is it wise to question my assumptions of my intimate other, friend, family members, country, profession?
Implications Of Thinking
Additionally, questions that focus on implication in thinking, start us understanding the implications and consequences that follow from it. What are you implying with your words? What is likely to happen if we do this against that? Are you implying that…?
Point Of View
In distinction to, questions that focus on point of view in thinking aid us to understand the point of view or frame of reference that places the questions in intellectual reckoning. From what point of view are you viewing this? Is there another point of view to consider? Given the situation, which of these possible viewpoints make the most sense?
Questions That Focus On Questions
Moreover, questions that focus on question in thinking, set us agoing, understanding the question that gave rise to it. I’m confused with your question. Can you explain it? Are there more pressing questions to focus on at this point, other than this? How is your question connected to the question we have been reasoning over?
4. Cobble It Together By Focusing Your Questions On Previous Questions
To reason well through complex problems, it is advisable to think backwards to questions you need to answer before you can answer the more complex problem. For instance, to answer the question what is racism? we need to first settle the question, what is race? To answer this question, we should be able to resolve the question, what are the aspects of a person that determines what race he or she belongs to? Formulating and pursuing prior questions bolsters our logic and facilitates our learning.
5. Spring Up Questions From Domains Of Thinking
Complex questions often spread across to more than one domain of thought. Out of, how to ask critical thinking questions argues down mediocrity. In this, we can use prior questions to explore the domains of thinking inherent in the question. A complex question can be characterised by an economic, biological, sociological, cultural, political, ethical, psychological, religious, and historical dimension. Focusing on each dimension of thinking inherent in the question, we can formulate questions that stimulate us into considering complexities we might otherwise miss. To illustrate with, put in view this complex question and some of the domains inherent in it. Also, note some of the questions underlying the domains. “How can we reduce the number of people who abuse illegal drugs?”
Domains And Prior Questions
Economic
Here feature the relevant questions. What is the nature of economic forces promoting drug use? How can the influence of money involved in drug use be minimised?
Political
Questions to ask arise. Are there viable drug abuse solutions that are politically unacceptable? What realistic solutions can the power structure accept? How and to what extent does the political system worsen the problem?
Social/Sociological
Hereabouts are questions to consider. Are there social structures and practices that support drug abuse? What role does gang membership play in drug abuse? Is there any way membership in a group contributes to the problem or insulates members from drug abuse?
Psychological
On hand are these questions. Childhood traumas, individual personality differences, and stress, how do they support drug abuse? Does human irrationality play any role in drug abuse?
Biological
On board spotlight these questions. Does genetics play a role in drug abuse? How does biological changes in the body resulting from drug abuse contribute to the problem?
Educational
This question headline on this spot. How are the roles of teachers supporting or diminishing the problem?
Religious
This standpoint features these questions. What role can religious institutions play in reducing drug abuse? Are they doing anything now to reduce the problem?
Cultural
These questions spring from this locale. Are there cultural beliefs supporting drug abuse? What are lessons to garner from cultures having low incidence of drug abuse?
Conclusion
Thinking arises from questions. In consequence, we think only as well as the questions we ask. To continue with, how to ask critical thinking questions, starts us focusing on purpose, clarity, fairness, significance. Again, it stimulates us to follow a disciplined path to think up rational answers and solutions.
