Jim Roth’s Website

CRITICAL THINKING IDEA GENERATORS

POINTS OF VIEW/PERSPECTIVES/ APPROACHES (Holes in the hedge):

--Religious --Ethical/moral --Political

--Legal --Financial --Current Affairs

--Social --Physical/biological/health –Cultural

--Psychological/emotional --Historical

SIX GOOD FRIENDS:

WHO? WHAT?, WHEN?, WHERE?, WHY?, HOW?

RHETORICAL STRUCTURE QUESTIONS:

Cause--effect: Process analysis:

--What caused it? --How does it work?

--What does it cause? --How do I do it?

--What could it cause?

--Who does it affect?

Persuasion: Description:

--Why should I support it? --What does it look like?

--Why should I oppose it?

Classification:

--To what group does it belong?

--What qualities does it share with other members of its group?

--How does it differ from other members of its group?

--What sub-groups make it up?

Comparison--contrast:

--What other thing(s) is it like?

--What other thing(s) is its opposite?

Definition:

--What is its definition?

--What terms must be understood to understand it?

Exemplification:

--What are examples of it?

Evaluation:

--Is it worth my time? Why or why not?