thought

Elements of Thinking, Reasoning, Questioning

Read this article on The Eight Elements of Thought:

http://www.criticalthinking.org/ctmodel/logic-model1.htm

Read this article on The Eight Elements of Reasoning:

http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/the-elements-of-reasoning-and-the-intellectual-standards/480

Read this article on The Questioning Toolkit:

http://fno.org/nov97/toolkit.html

Eight Elements of Thought and Reasoning

There are eight elements of thought in reasoning. We often use more than one element at the same time. For example, your Point of View includes Assumptions. Therefore, we can assume that these elements are two aspects of the same thing.

For your assignment this week, first begin by analyzing eight elements of thought and reasoning and re-organize them into four distinct categories by pairing elements together.

Next, briefly describe each new category you created and present your reasoning for each category. Include the characteristics of the original eight elements in your descriptions and the reasoning behind your pairings

Category:Point of view is …Assumptions are…Explanation…Example:

Below is an example of what one category may look like. You are free to pair any elements together if you can define their relationship to one another. Focus on the reasoning behind each pairing. That is what is most important in this exercise!

Example Category:

Category 1: How do I see it?

Point of View: The place from where I see things

Assumption: Information that is taken for granted; Preconceived notions

Explanation: I paired point of view and assumptions together in the same category because assumptions form your point of view. You cannot form a point of view without having assumptions first.

Example: My assumption is that short people are not good at basketball. My younger cousin is 5’ 3’’ and is terrible at the sport. Therefore, my point of view is that no short people can play basketball professionally.

Your completed assignment should be written primarily in first person and should be 500-750 words in length. If you use sources in your writing, be sure to identify them. If you use any direct language from a source, be sure to place those words in quotation marks.