Should the canteen sell a hot vegan meal?
Three people give three answers. The chef says it will not sell. A student says everyone wants it. A survey says 90 of 200 students would buy one.
You cannot just pick the loudest voice. You need steps that lead to a fair answer.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Critical thinking | weighing up information step by step before you decide what is true |
| Argument | a reason given to back up a view |
| Opinion | what someone believes, which may not be backed by fact |
| Objective | based on facts and not on feelings or favourites |
| Bias | an unfair lean towards one side |
| Evaluate | to judge how good or how true something is, using evidence |
| Conclusion | the answer you reach after weighing the evidence |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the five steps of critical thinking and use them on a data question.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Worked example: the vegan meal
| Step | What you do | In the canteen case |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Identify | Collect the relevant information and data, and the different arguments, views and opinions | The chef's view, the student's view, the survey, last term's sales |
| 2 Analyse | Look for bias and objectivity, and for links between facts | The chef wants less work. The survey counted only 200 of 900 students. |
| 3 Select | Choose the techniques and tools that fit | A short survey of more students, and a one-week trial |
| 4 Evaluate | Judge the findings and draw conclusions | Trial sold 60 meals a day, and 90 of 200 asked said yes: demand looks real |
| 5 Record | Write the conclusions down, in order | A one-page note with the question, the evidence and the decision |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Put the steps in order
Have a go
Put the steps in order
3 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.