2. Building
Blocks
of
Cri0cal
Thinking
Fact:
something
which
can
be
demonstrated
to
be
true
3. Building
Blocks
of
Cri0cal
Thinking
Fact:
something
which
can
be
demonstrated
to
be
true
Asser$on:
something
that
is
held
to
be
true,
but
which
has
not
been,
or
cannot
be,
actually
demonstrated
to
be
true
4. Building
Blocks
of
Cri0cal
Thinking
Fact:
something
which
can
be
demonstrated
to
be
true
Asser$on:
something
that
is
held
to
be
true,
but
which
has
not
been,
or
cannot
be,
actually
demonstrated
to
be
true
Opinion:
something
that
is
believed
to
be
true
by
the
speaker,
but
which
may
or
may
not
be
shared
by
others
5. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
Theory
A
theory
is
our
best
a9empt
to
explain
something
in
the
natural
world,
based
on
what
we
currently
know.
“A
theory
is
an
explana$on”
“A
theory
is
an
explana>on,
based
on
our
current
understanding
of
the
natural
world”
6. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
Theory
A
theory
is
our
best
a9empt
to
explain
something
in
the
natural
world,
based
on
what
we
currently
know.
“A
theory
is
an
explana$on”
“A
theory
is
an
explana>on,
based
on
our
current
understanding
of
the
natural
world”
A
theory
is
not
fixed
and
unchanging:
it
can
con>nue
to
evolve
and
improve,
as
we
discover
new
facts
about
the
natural
world.
7. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
Compe$ng
theories
ODen
several
different
theories
may
try
to
explain
the
same
aspects
of
the
natural
world
–
compe0ng
theories
So
how
can
we
judge
how
good
a
theory
is?
The
value
and
usefulness
of
a
theory
is
measured
only
by
how
well
it
corresponds
with
reality.
8. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
How
good
is
a
theory?
There
are
two
essen>al
requirements
for
a
viable
theory:
• A
good
theory
is
supported
by
evidence,
from
our
current
knowledge
of
the
natural
world
9. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
How
good
is
a
theory?
There
are
two
essen>al
requirements
for
a
viable
theory:
• A
good
theory
is
supported
by
evidence,
from
our
current
knowledge
of
the
natural
world
• A
good
theory
must
make
testable
(“falsifiable”)
predic$ons.
A
hypothesis
is
a
predic>on,
based
on
a
theory,
which
can
be
verified
as
being
either
correct
or
incorrect.
10. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
How
good
is
a
theory?
The
value
and
usefulness
of
a
theory
are
measured
only
by
how
well
the
theory
corresponds
with
reality:
hypotheses
(predic>ons)
based
on
a
good
theory
will
consistently
be
proved
correct.
If
a
theory
makes
a
hypothesis
that
is
incorrect,
then
• Either
the
theory
must
change
and
evolve,
in
order
to
correspond
be9er
with
reality
• Or,
if
the
theory
cannot
change
in
this
way,
it
must
be
discarded,
and
a
new
explana>on
must
be
found.
11. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
The
nature
and
importance
of
evidence
Opinions
Facts
Asser0ons
Theory
May
support
the
hypothesis,
and
rule
out
(disprove)
other
hypotheses
Testable
Hypothesis
(predic$on)
Evidence
May
lead
to
a
new
and
revised
hypothesis,
which
can
be
tested
again
May
disprove
the
hypothesis,
so
that
the
theory
needs
to
be
revised
or
discarded
May
be
inconclusive,
so
that
no
firm
conclusions
can
be
made
12. Essen0al
Concepts
in
Cri0cal
Thinking
An
argument
is
a
set
of
logical
statements,
leading
to
a
fair
conclusion,
with
reasons
offered
to
support
the
conclusion.
A
conclusion
is
a
reasoned
inference
or
deduc>on
that
follows
from
the
logic
of
the
argument.
Evidence
is
the
proof
(facts,
experimental
results,
observa>ons)
that
supports
the
argument.
It
is
a
skill
to
present
your
own
arguments
in
a
persuasive
and
logical
way,
and
to
hear
and
take
on
board
the
arguments
of
others
