Cornell Notes

Topic Critical Thinking (Part 1)

Key Point Notes

Critical Thinking Although all of us are entitled to our

own opinion, some opinions are more
reasonable than others. Critical thinking
involves examining those views and
evaluating how reasonable they are.
Critical thinking and reading begin with
identifying the issue and then
understanding what position the writer
is taking and what arguments he or she
is using. Identifying the issue also
involves knowing what kind of issue it is.

Three Kinds Of issues of Fact

issues of value
Issues
issues of policy

Issues Of Fact Issues of fact our issues about things

that can be empirically or historically
verified. Examples of issues effect are, is
climate change really occurring? Is their
life in other planets?

Issues Of Value Issues of value are issues about an

evaluation of something or someone. It
usually involves some criteria or
standard examples of issues of value.
Are our gadgets, Bed for kids? Is a
certain school performing well?
 Cornell Notes
Topic Critical Thinking (Part 1)

Key Point Notes

Issues Of Policy Issues of policy are issues about what

should be done or what should be made
to happen. Examples of issues of policy
are whether should there be a death
penalty or not. Should Mars be
terraformed?

Claims Claims are positions taken by writers

about a certain issue.

Claims Of Fact Claims of fact are claims that can be

empirically or historically verified to be
factual or not. Examples of claims of
fact are climate change is really
happening. There is no life on other
planets

Claims Of Value Claims of value. These are claims based

on someone's judgment or evaluation.
Examples of claims of value are gadgets
are bad for kids. This school is doing well

Claims Of Policy claims of policy. These are claims about

what should be done or made to
happen. Examples of claims of policy
are the death penalty should be
reinstated. Mars should be terraformed.
 Cornell Notes
Topic Critical Thinking (Part 1)

Summary

Finding the problem is the first step in critical

reading and thinking. Understanding the problem's
kind is necessary for correctly identifying it. Critical
thinking entails assessing such beliefs and
determining how reasonable they are. Some
opinions are more reasonable than others. Issues of
Fact concern matters that can be corroborated
historically or experimentally. Issues of Value
include evaluating someone or something. Issues of
Policy are concerns about what ought to be done or
forced to occur. Claims are the stances that authors
take on a subject. Claims of fact are those whose
veracity can be determined experimentally or
historically. claims of value. These are assertions
that are based on someone's opinion or assessment.
policy claims These are recommendations for what
ought to be done or forced to occur.