Commitment to Critical Thinking—High School

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Supporting Opinions

 

 

 

On my own, I actively seek information from a variety of sources and points of view and look at them objectively before making up my mind about important issues, both in and out of school.

I seek out information from a variety of sources before making up my mind about an important issue.

I am usually satisfied with what I already know about a topic and seldom make an effort to learn more.

I usually form opinions from my own experiences and feelings and I rarely look for information that may go against what I believe.

Forming Opinions

 

 

 

My opinions are tentative and based on what I know at the time. I am always seeking more information and I will change my mind when I feel the evidence supports it.

I wait until I have sufficient information to form an opinion.

Sometimes I change my mind when I learn new information about a topic.

I rarely change my mind about an issue, no matter what kind of information I learn.

Using Strategies

 

 

 

On my own, I use logic and the thinking strategies I have learned flexibly and proficiently, modifying the strategies when I need to and thinking of new ones.

On my own, I use the thinking strategies I have learned to form opinions about issues in and out of school.

Sometimes, if I am told to, I use the thinking strategies I have learned.

I hardly ever use the thinking strategies I have learned.

Persisting

 

 

 

I overcome challenges (e.g., bureaucratic roadblocks, complex databases, reluctant experts) in order to find out what I need to know about an issue.

I try to overcome challenges that keep me from finding out what I need to know about an issue.

I try once or twice to find the information I need.

I usually give up if I have difficulty finding the information I need.

Working Accurately

 

 

 

It is important to me that my work processes are efficient and my work is accurate and precise, whether the work is for school or some other purpose.

I am careful with my work and try to make it as accurate and precise as possible.

I try to be somewhat careful with my school work, but I do not really think very much about what I do outside of school.

I rarely think about how accurate my work is.

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