Stages of Critical Thinking
Complete the matrix by identifying the six stages of critical thinking, describing how to move from each stage to the next, and listing obstacles you may face as you move to the next stage of critical thinking.
|Stages of Critical Thinking |How to Move to the Next Stage |Obstacles to Moving to the Next Stage |
|EXAMPLE: |Examine my thinking to identify problems |Deceiving myself about the effectiveness of|
| |that affect my thinking. |my thinking |
|The Unreflective Thinker | | |
|The Challenged Thinker |Examines the role of thinking to asses |Improving thinking skills by weighing the |
| |critical thinking strengths and weaknesses |pros and cons that poor and critical |
| |in areas of rationalization, concepts, |thinking can cause |
| |clarity, and decision-making. | |
|The Beginning Thinker |Analyze thinking pattern and recognize | Avoids challenges because of intellectual |
| |mistake to begin to develop a systematic |arrogance, rationalization, and |
| |way to solve problems. |self-deception. |
|The Practicing Thinker |Develops intellectual persistence and | Lazy thinker; they do not want to put the |
| |develops a realistic systematic plan for |extra effort in to improving thinking |
| |commanding one’s thinking and problem |skills. |
| |solving. Critical thinkers are open to | |
| |criticism as they improve thinking | |
|The Advanced Thinker |The critical thinker is comfortable with |Practicing the material so much that you |
| |practicing critical thinking skills in a |are no longer retaining information. |
| |systematic way; develops intellectual | |
| |integrity, empathy, and fair-mindedness. | |
|The Master Thinker |Skilled at the concept of critical |Lazy thinker in a subtle form. |
| |thinking. |Does not want to push critical thinking to |
| | |the maximum to yield exemplary solutions to|
| | |problems, and not just average resolutions.|
Write a 150- to 200-word explanation of your current stage of critical-thinking development and explain why you placed yourself at that stage.
I believe that I am a beginning thinker. I analyze situations and observe people enough to make and observation, but I have not yet developed a systematic way to solve problems or think critically. I am very judgmental of viewpoints and opinions.
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