This document introduces critical thinking and how to make a strong case for decisions through claims. It explains that a claim is a solid statement of belief that can generate discussion by taking a stance against the status quo. There are three types of claims: claims of fact about something that is, was or will be; claims of value about something being good or bad; and claims of policy about something that should or ought to be done. Examples are given to illustrate applying different types of claims to real-life situations. The document stresses that facts can change over time and critical thinking requires being open-minded.

1. Why Do I Need a New Way of Thinking?
Introducing
CRITICAL WHAT!?

2. Critical Thinking Can Change Your Life
There is always someone to disagree
Every day you have
to make decisions

3. How Do You Make a Good
Case for Your Decision?
IT IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

4. CLEARLY STATE A CLAIM
BUT WHAT IS A CLAIM?

5. WHAT IS A CLAIM?
IT IS A SOLID
STATEMENT OF
YOUR BELIEF

6. ALL OF THESE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE COLOR GREEN
THIS IS MY CLAIM. THIS IS MY SOLID STATEMENT OF BELIEF
CLAIM EXAMPLE:

7. SOMETIMES MANY PEOPLE WILL
DISAGREE.
IT DOESN’T MEAN YOUR CLAIM IS
ANY LESS VALID.
STAND BY YOUR CLAIM AND SHOW
PROOF WHY THIS IS YOUR
PERCEPTION
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

8. DEFINITIONS AND PURPOSE OF
CLAIMS
WHAT ARE THEY?
.

9. A CLAIM IS A STATEMENT
NOT A QUESTION
YOU WANT A STATEMENT TO CREATE TWO SIDES-FOR OR AGAINST WHAT YOU BELIEVE

10. A CLAIM IS AGAINST THE
STATUS QUO
TO GENERATE CONTROVERSY THE CLAIM HAS TO BE WORDED AGAINST WHAT PEOPLE
CURRENTLY BELIEVE -THE STATUS QUO

11. THE CLAIM IS THE FOCUS
OF THE ARGUMENT
NEVER LOSE FOCUS. YOU ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE THE AUDIENCE TO BELIEVE YOU

12. DEFINITIONS OF THE CLAIMS-TO BE CLEAR
A QUESTION STARTS A DISCUSSION BUT A STATEMENT
FORCES YOU TO PICK A SIDE

13. DEFINITIONS OF THE CLAIMS-TO BE CLEAR
EXAMPLE AGAINST STATUS QUO-
PROFESSOR MARTENEY IS NOT A SEX SYMBOL
(WE CLEARLY KNOW HE IS, SO THAT WOULD BE AGAINST
MOST STUDENTS BELIEF-THE STATUS QUO.)

14. » THE CLAIM IS THE FOCUS OF THE
ARGUMENT.
» IT IS THE CONCLUSION THAT THE
ARGUER IS TRYING TO CONVINCE
THE AUDIENCE TO BELIEVE.
DEFINITIONS OF THE CLAIMS-TO BE CLEAR

15. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CLAIM-
ALL OF THESE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE COLOR GREEN
THIS IS MY STILL CLAIM. THEY COULD ALSO BE VERSIONS OF THE COLOR YELLOW IF YOU
SAID THAT BUT MY CLAIM IS STILL TRUE.
CLAIM EXAMPLE:

16. THERE ARE ALSO 3 TYPES
of CLAIMS
3 TYPES TOO!!!!????? YUP!

17. CLAIM OF FACT-
SOMETHING IS,
WAS
or WILL BE
THAT’S A FACT JACK!

18. CLAIM OF VALUE-
SOMETHING is
GOOD, BAD,
DESIRABLE or
UNDESIRABLE
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE #3 ???

19. LET’S SEE IF THIS NEXT SLIDES HELPS EVEN MORE
THAT IS CORRECT.
#3 IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
OR OUGHT TO BE DONE.

20. APPLY CLAIMS TO SOMETHING YOU WANT:
CLAIM APPLICATION EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE OF CLAIMS BEING APPLIED TO REAL LIFE:
FACT: MY CURRENT LLAMA IS GETTING
TOO OLD TO RIDE ME TO SCHOOL
VALUE: IT IS GOOD TO GET
A NEW LLAMA YEARLY
POLICY: I REALLY
OUGHT TO
PURCHASE A NEW
LLAMA.

21. MORE FACTS
FACTS:
EVEN MORE FACTS
NEVER
THINK OF A FACT
AS A TRUTH

22. MORE FACTS
WHAT? HOW CAN FACTS CHANGE YOU ASK!? CHECK OUT THIS NEXT SLIDE.
FACTS:
EVEN
MORE
FACTS
REMEMBER THE FACTS WE KNOW
OF TODAY ARE NOT NECESSARILY
OUR FACTS OR REALITIES OF
TOMORROW.

23. IT WAS A FACT IN OLD EUROPE. NOT SO MUCH TODAY
REMEMBER WHEN THE WORLD
WAS FLAT?

24. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CLAIM-
ALL OF THESE ARE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE COLOR GREEN
THIS IS MY CLAIM.
MY CLAIM IS RIGHT AND I KNOW YOU WILL AGREE OR MEET ME HERE FOR ANOTHER SLIDE SHOW.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING DOGMATIC IN THE FUTURE.
CRITICAL THINKING IS CRITICAL TO BEING OPEN MINDED
LLAMA DRAWING BY SUMMER STILL-PICTURES FROM PPX and
IDEAS FOR POWER POINT STOLEN FROM PROFESSOR MARTENEY