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• Source: Nadine Häusler, University of Lausanne (Switzerland)
Source: November 2020 • Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Sometimes the “Harper’s Index” features pairs of statistics. It is up to you to decide what the pair, seen together, suggests. Select a couple of the pairs below and write down questions you may have, or possible explanations that tell why the pair might be significant. Consider what the statistic suggests beyond what is written. What you write should be your own opinion , without consulting any internet resources or others.
Type your response below each set:
in 2020: 3,000,000 : 107,000,000 | • Source: • Source: |
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One of the most familiar types of criticism we encounter is a movie review, a short description of a film and the reviewer’s opinion about it. When you watch a movie on Netflix, for example, you can see the number of stars (1-5) given by those who have watched and rated the movie. Professional reviewers usually try to give a formal, balanced account of a movie, meaning they usually provide a summary and point out some positive and negative points about a film. Amateur critics, however, can write whatever they like – all positive, all negative, or a combination.
Amateur film critiques can be found in many places; the movie review site, IMDB , is one of the most popular, with a user-generated rating feature. Another popular site is Rotten Tomatoes, which uses a unique ‘tomato meter’ to rate movies: a green tomato means fresh while red means rotten. You can also view the individual ratings given by critics. It has more than 50,000 movies in its database. And finally, another good source of movie reviews is Metacritic , which offers a collection of reviews from various sources.
Let’s look at this review by professional movie critic Roger Ebert ( https://www.rogerebert.com/
In “Top Gun: Maverick,” a sequel to “ Top Gun, ” an admiral refers to navy aviator Pete Mitchell (Tom Cruise)—call sign “ Maverick ”—as “the fastest man alive.” Truth be told, our fearless and ever-handsome action hero earns both appraisals and applause. Indeed, Cruise’s consistent commitment to Hollywood showmanship deserves the same level of respect usually reserved for the fully-method actors such as Daniel Day-Lewis . Even if you somehow overlook the fact that Cruise is one of our most gifted and versatile dramatic and comedic actors with movies like “ Mission Impossible , ” “ Born on the Fourth of July ,” “ Magnolia ,” “ Tropic Thunder ,” and “ Collateral ” on his CV, you will never forget why you show up to a Tom Cruise movie.
Director Joseph Kosinski allows the leading actor to be exactly what he is—a star—while upping the emotional and dramatic stakes of the first Top Gun (1986) with a healthy dose of nostalgia. In this Top Gun sequel, we find Maverick in a role on the fringes of the US Navy, working as a test pilot. You won’t be surprised that soon enough, he gets called on a one-last-job type of mission as a teacher to a group of recent training graduates. Their assignment is just as obscure and politically cuckoo as it was in the first movie. There is an unnamed enemy—let’s called it Russia because it’s probably Russia—some targets that need to be destroyed, a flight plan that sounds nuts, and a scheme that will require all successful Top Gun recruits to fly at dangerously low altitudes. But can it be done?
In a different package, all the proud fist-shaking seen in “Top Gun: Maverick” could have been borderline insufferable, but fortunately Kosinski seems to understand exactly what kind of movie he is asked to navigate. In his hands, the tone of “Maverick” strikes a fine balance between good-humored vanity and half-serious self-deprecation, complete with plenty of emotional moments that catch one off-guard.
In some sense, what this movie takes most seriously are concepts like friendship, loyalty, romance, and okay, bromance. Still, the action sequences are likewise the breathtaking stars of “Maverick.” Reportedly, all the flying scenes were shot in actual U.S. Navy F/A-18s, for which the cast had to be trained. Equally worthy of that big screen is the emotional strokes of “Maverick” that pack an unexpected punch. Sure, you might be prepared for a second sky-dance with “Maverick,” but perhaps not one that might require a tissue or two in its final stretch.
Available in theaters May 27th, 2022
Analyze the film review above. Does the reviewer give the movie a strongly positive or negative review? A mildly positive or negative review? A balanced review? How can you tell? Support your opinion by identifying words, phases, and/or comparisons that directly or indirectly are positive, negative, or neutral.
Select a movie to review. Choose one you either love or hate. (If it evokes emotions, it’s usually easier to review.) You may choose any movie, but for this assignment, don’t choose a film that might upset your target audience – your instructor and classmates. A movie review can be long or short. Usually a simple outline of the plot and a sentence or two about the general setting in which it takes place will be sufficient, then add your opinion and analysis. The opinion section should be the main focus of your review. Don’t get too detailed. Your instructor will determine the word limit of this assignment.
Do a web search to find information about the film: is it based on real-life events or is it fiction?
Find some information about the director and his/her/their style.
Look for information about the cast, the budget, the filming location, and where the idea for the film’s story came from. In other words, why did the producers want to make the movie?
Be sure to keep notes on where you find each piece of information – its source. Most of the facts about movies are considered common knowledge, so they don’t have to be included in your review.
Avoid reading other reviews. They might influence your opinion, and that kind of information needs to be cited in a review.
When you are watching the film make notes of important scenes or details, symbolism, or the performances of the characters. You may want to analyze these in detail later. Again, keep notes on the source of the information you find.
Don’t give away the ending! Remember, reviews help readers decide whether or not to watch the movie. No spoilers!
Write an introduction where you include all the basic information so that the film can be easily identified. Note the name, the director, main cast, and the characters in the story, along with the year it was made. Briefly provide the main idea of the film.
Write the main body. Analyze the story, the acting, and the director’s style. Discuss anything you would have done differently, a technique that was successful, or dialogue that was important. In other words, here is where you convey your opinion and the reasons for it. You may choose to analyze in detail one scene from the film that made an impression on you, or you may focus on an actor’s performance, or the film’s setting, music, light, character development, or dialogu
Make a conclusion. Search for several reviews of the film. Include how the film was rated by others. You will need to include information about where you found the information. Then, give your own opinion and your recommendation. You can end with a reason the audience might enjoy it or a reason you do not recommend it. Include a summary of the reasons you recommend or do not recommend it.
[Source: https://academichelp.net/academic-assignments/review/write-film-review.html]
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10 Top Critical Thinking Skills (and how to improve them).(2022). Indeed.com: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/critical-thinking-skills
Difference between criticize, criticism, critique, critic, and critical. Espresso English : https://www.espressoenglish.net/difference-between-criticize-criticism-critique-critic-and-critical/
Hansen, R.S. (n.d.). Ways in which college is different from high school. My CollegeSuccessStory.com .
Ideas to Action. Critical Thinking Inventories. University of Louisville: https:// louisville.edu/ideastoaction/about/criticalthinking/what
Saunders, J. (n.d.). “Why Are Critical Thinking Skills Necessary for Academics?,” Demand Media.
Stratford, M. (n.d. ) What are the key ideas for critical thinking skills? Demand Media .
Van Zyl, M.A., Bays, C.L., & Gilchrist, C. (2013). Assessing teaching critical thinking with validated critical thinking inventories: The learning critical thinking inventory (LCTI) and the teaching critical thinking inventory (TCTI). Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across The Discipline , 28(3), 40-50.
What is Critical Thinking? (n.d.). Skills You Need : https://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-thinking.html
Write a Film Review. Academic Help: Write Better : https://academichelp.net/academic-assignments/review/write-film-review.html
Critical Reading, Writing, and Thinking Copyright © 2022 by Zhenjie Weng, Josh Burlile, Karen Macbeth is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Apr 2, 2024
There have been rumblings in different online teacher groups recently about replacing novels with short stories and informational articles in middle and high school English classrooms. I have to admit I was shocked when I first read the comments because I am a book lover at heart, but since then, I’ve considered that there are several pros and cons to this approach.
Short stories and other smaller texts can provide a briefer timeline to complete tasks, and this process is helpful when there is already SO MUCH curriculum to cover. Short stories and related activities can also be more engaging for our students because of the exposure to diverse voices and themes! Using short stories and lessons provides students with amazing choices to meet their needs and preferences!
On the other hand, incorporating mainly short stories and other shorter passages means students’ already-pressed attention spans (as a result of social media influences and pervasive sources of technology) are reinforced. Plus, students miss out on the more complex stories within longer pieces of fiction that are, dare I say, life-altering! A novel can provide opportunities for sustained reading and layers for analysis that shorter pieces of literature like short stories and related texts cannot offer.
Ultimately, no matter where you find yourself on the issue, I think we can all agree that short stories and their counterparts can be vital, effective, and helpful in the modern classroom!
Continue reading for 19 Short Stories and Questions For Critical Thinking!!
Need help with Test Prep ? Check out this FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities to help students achieve success on standardized tests!
Table of Contents
You don’t need to remove all novels to be able to include short stories and smaller passages like vignettes, articles, and narratives; there’s a time and place for all genres! But if you’re thinking about ways to include more short stories and fun activities, check out this list of 19 varied short stories and critical thinking questions as well as suggestions for teaching them in middle school and high school.
“The Most Dangerous Game” is one of my absolute favorite short stories and overall plots to teach! This suspenseful short story by Richard Connell follows the harrowing ordeal of Sanger Rainsford, a skilled hunter who becomes the prey of a deranged aristocrat named General Zaroff. Stranded on Zaroff’s secluded island, Rainsford must outwit the cunning general in a deadly game of survival, where the stakes are life and death.
SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHING:
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS:
If you want to teach plot elements and plot analysis , check out this lesson bundle for the story , which includes comprehension quizzes and a variety of activities!
Ambrose Bierce’s story is a gripping tale set during the American Civil War, where a Southern civilian named Peyton Farquhar faces execution by hanging after attempting to sabotage a Union railroad bridge. As Farquhar falls through the trapdoor, time seems to stretch, and he experiences a surreal moment, only to realize his grim reality.
Integrating historical texts with other short stories and passages like “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” will make history come more alive and relevant for our students!
Ensure students’ understanding of the story with this set of reading questions that are perfect for state test prep, too !
This chilling tale from Edgar Allan Poe is set in a secluded abbey where Prince Prospero and his wealthy guests attempt to escape a deadly plague known as the Red Death. Despite their isolation efforts, the guests are confronted with their own mortality as a mysterious figure in a blood-red mask appears.
If you have not read any short stories and poems from Poe, this story is a perfect journey into the horror genre!
Check out this EASY-TO-TEACH bundle , you can practice with your students, so they will feel more confident analyzing higher-level language in “The Masque of the Red Death!”
Another chilling tale from Poe is the classic story “The Cask of Amontillado.” This one is set during Carnival in an unnamed Italian city. The plot centers on a man seeking revenge on a ‘friend’ he believes has insulted him. If your students are anything like mine, they will relish the ending particularly!
This is just one more of Poe’s short stories and tales that will capture the mind of every reader!
Check out this Short Story Activity & Quiz Bundle for Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” which contains questions and answers modeled after various reading standardized tests as well as pre-quiz reading comprehension questions, graphic organizers, and a writing activity to get students thinking critically about this classic short story involving REVENGE!
Want 7 more teaching ideas for one of Poe’s epic short stories and questions to go with it? Click below!
This story by Jack London describes the treacherous journey of a man through the harsh Yukon wilderness during extreme cold. Despite warnings and the company of a loyal dog, the man’s arrogance and underestimation of nature’s power lead to a tragic end.
Short stories and ideas related to survival in nature are still relevant today! Who knows when you might get lost on a hike or crashland in no man’s land?
Grab these engaging short stories and activities to make teaching this Jack London story stress-free!
Told from the point of view of a young man at his former lover’s wedding, the narrator retells their story. Like most of O. Henry’s short stories and texts, this one has a twist that involves the titular cactus plant.
The ending will end in a bit of fun for your students!
This resource packed with questions and answers, graphic organizers, and writing activities is sure to get your students thinking about this love story driven by misconceptions.
This tale of friendship and betrayal focuses on the reunion of two old friends after twenty years apart on a New York City street corner. As they reminisce, something is revealed that demonstrates the reality of their bond as well as the choices they’ve made in life.
If you have not read O. Henry’s short stories and incorporated character analysis yet, this is your chance! The story is not long and can be completed in one to two class periods!
Examine the links between loyalty and duty with this set of resources designed specifically for this O. Henry story.
“The Lottery” is the quintessential short story for middle school or high school English! Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” tells the story of an annual ritual that takes place in a seemingly idyllic town. When the townsfolk gather for the lottery drawing, a shocking turn of events demonstrates the dark side of human nature and their ties to (outdated) traditions.
Give yours elf a breath of fresh air with this NO PREP curriculum that integrates test prep within the teaching of literature by using Shirley Jackson’s quintessential story!
This Ray Bradbury story follows a lone walker in a futuristic society in which everyone else is consumed by technology, particularly the television. One evening, the walker encounters a police car that questions his unusual behavior and the end is quite unexpected! (Most of Bradbury’s short stories and texts connect to the future and technology in some way!)
With this resource about Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian,” you can just print and teach the lesson and activities with EASE!
This 1905 story by O. Henry relays a tale about a couple struggling to make ends meet. Throughout the story, they both figure out gifts to buy one another for Christmas and realize what love truly means!
This tale is a great addition to your short stories and questions unit around the winter holidays! Save yourself time at that time of the year with this lesson bundle .
“The Monkey’s Paw” is a classic horror story about the White family who come into possession of a mystical monkey’s paw that grants three wishes. Despite warnings, they use it and then face devastating consequences as a result.
Examine W.W. Jacobs’ classic story with this set of questions and answers along with rigorous reading and writing activities . While it is ideal for a spooky season, the story is valuable for its ability to hook readers any time of year!
This classic story with a killer plot twist is about a woman who kills her husband and gets away with murder thanks to cooking a leg of lamb!
Spice up your middle school English or high school English class with this short stories and activities bundle for Dahl’s famous story!
Poe’s classic psychological thriller is narrated by an unnamed protagonist who insists on their sanity while recounting how they murdered an old man. The narrator is haunted by the sound of the victim’s beating heart, which ultimately drives him to confess to the crime despite not originally being a suspect.
This Short Story Comprehension Bundle offers quick (and effective!) ways to assess students’ learning and understanding of the story. It’s easy to use and will no doubt save you time too!
Emotional short stories and their counterparts have a place as well in English classrooms! This short story by James Hurst about two brothers is a heartbreaking must-read. Through flashbacks, the unnamed narrator tells the life story of his younger sickly brother William Armstrong, who is nicknamed Doodle. And the end…well, you’ll see.
This flexible resource features critical thinking questions and answers as well as writing and reading activities for students to explore Hurst’s heartbreaking story.
This science fiction story by Ray Bradbury was first published as “The World the Children Made” and it is quite fitting as a title! The story focuses on a futuristic world in which a video screen can be controlled and it turns out to be more than simple virtual reality! By the story’s conclusion, the world the children made is the downfall of their parents.
Ray Bradbury’s classic short stories and similar passages are the BEST to teach in middle and high school English! With so much to dive into, they are sure to be a hit with your students. Grab this set of activities to extend your students’ engagement with rigorous reading and writing activities about “The Veldt.”
A woman who longs for a life of luxury and elegance beyond her means faces consequences when she loses a borrowed necklace. Guy de Maupassant’s story ends with a twist that has the reader question the value of material possessions.
Focus on the standards with this Short Story Lesson Bundle for “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant!
Need help with implementing activities for “The Necklace?” See below!
Guy de Maupassant’s late-19th-century story is all about REVENGE. A mother is obsessed with creating a plan to avenge her son’s murder and she then puts the plan into action with a morbid outcome.
Add these activities for this lesser-known work to your short story plans. It’s sure to keep things fresh for your short stories and activities unit!
This heartfelt story by Langston Hughes tells the story of Luella, an older woman in the neighborhood, who is nearly robbed by a young man named Roger. In response to Roger, Luella brings him back to her home and treats him with an abundance of kindness, which has a profound effect on Roger.
This tale is at the top of the list for the BEST short stories and passages for upper middle and younger high school students!
Click to check out all of the details for this BUNDLE with differentiated options , which includes a Test Prep Quiz (with varied options), Venn Diagrams, Graphic Organizers, and Writing Responses!!
This short story by Neil Gaiman is creepy and fun in the best ways possible! The narrator is taking care of his girlfriend’s little brother and walking him to bed when the child asks for a story. Instead of the narrator sharing a story, the boy shares about the Click Clacks who drink their prey and leave behind rattling bodies. The end is too good to be missed!
Short stories and plots like those in “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” will most certainly engage even your most struggling learners!
This “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” Quiz Pack for middle and high school students uses the Common Core standards and contains questions and answers modeled after various state standardized tests! Make teaching this amazing short story by Neil Gaiman SIMPLE & EASY!
While I would never advocate replacing all novels with short stories and smaller texts, there is still something to be said about spending quality time with short stories and excerpts.
Including short stories and standards-based activities is an ideal option to improve reading comprehension and develop skills, especially in middle and high school English classes!
This Short Stories and Test Prep Questions ULTIMATE BUNDLE with Lessons, Quizzes, and Activities uses the Common Core standards with reading comprehension QUESTIONS and ANSWERS for 18 short stories such as “The Most Dangerous Game,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “After Twenty Years,” “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Veldt,” “The Lottery,” “The Pedestrian,” etc. modeled after various state reading exams.
Make teaching short stories and activities SIMPLE & EASY!
Just PRINT & TEACH with engaging short stories and lessons!!
Need more fun ideas for teaching short stories and corresponding activities? Check out my store Kristin Menke-Integrated ELA Test Prep !
I primarily focus on integrating multiple disciplines and subjects. The goal is to make teaching simplified and effective!
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Critical thinking is a skill that students develop gradually as they progress in school. While the skill becomes more important in higher grades, some students find it difficult to understand the concept of critical thinking .
The reason critical thinking can be difficult to grasp is because it requires students to set aside assumptions and beliefs to learn to think without bias or judgment.
Critical thinking involves suspending your beliefs to explore and question topics from a "blank page" point of view. It also involves the ability to distinguish fact from opinion when exploring a topic.
These exercises are designed to help develop critical thinking skills.
This exercise provides an opportunity to think outside your normal way of thinking.
Pretend that you have been assigned the task of conducting a tour for aliens who are visiting the earth and observing human life. You're riding along in a blimp, viewing the landscape below, and you float over a professional baseball stadium. One of the aliens looks down and is very confused by what he sees. You explain that there is a game going on and he asks several important questions.
If you try to answer these questions fully, it will quickly become apparent that we carry around certain assumptions and values. We support a certain team, for instance, because it makes us feel like we're a part of a community. This sense of community is a value that matters to some people more than others.
Furthermore, when trying to explain team sports to an alien, you have to explain the value we place on winning and losing.
When you think like an alien tour guide, you are forced to take a deeper look at the things we do and things we value. Sometimes they don't sound logical from the outside looking in.
Do you think you know the difference between fact and opinion? It's not always easy to discern. When you visit websites, do you believe everything you read? The abundance of available information makes it more important than ever for students to develop critical thinking skills. Additionally, it's an important reminder that you must use trustworthy sources in your school work.
If you don't learn the difference between fact and opinion, you may end up reading and watching things that continue to reinforce beliefs and assumptions you already own.
For this exercise, read each statement and try to determine whether it sounds like a fact or an opinion. This can be completed alone or with a study partner .
You will probably find some of the statements easy to judge but other statements difficult. If you can effectively debate the truthfulness of a statement with your partner, then it's most likely an opinion.
Getting started at uni, study skills, referencing.
For educators.
In this example paragraph, note how the writer has structured their paragraph to support their contention stated in their topic sentence.
Click on the buttons to explore through each part of the paragraph.
Emotional Intelligence (EI) tools may not be reliably applicable across-cultural and multicultural contexts. Fineman (2004) suggested that it is difficult to know how different cultures, ethnicities, and genders look at the role of emotions and their expression. "What constitutes emotional intelligent action in one cultural or sub-cultural setting may not be seen so in another" (Fineman, 2006a, p. 681). There was a distinct lack of cross-cultural/multicultural sensitivity in the work published by the creators of the most widely used instruments for measuring EI (Fineman, 2004). Nonetheless, purveyors of EI have often been willing to apply EI tools cross-culturally, assuming successful transferability of models and instruments. Because EI was developed in context (Matthews et al., 2006) and was thus undoubtedly culturally bound, some wariness among HRD professionals would be appropriate when considering applying EI tools or principles cross-culturally or in multicultural contexts. (Adapted from Fambrough & Hart 2008:752-753.) Fambrough M and Hart R (2008) 'Emotions in leadership development: a critique of emotional intelligence', Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(5):752-753, doi:10.1177/1523422308323542.
Elements of the paragraphs will be outlined at the beginning and end of each section in [ ].
[topic-start]Emotional Intelligence (EI) tools may not be reliably applicable across-cultural and multicultural contexts.[topic-end] [analysis-start]Fineman (2004) suggested that it is difficult to know how different cultures, ethnicities, and genders look at the role of emotions and their expression. "What constitutes emotional intelligent action in one cultural or sub-cultural setting may not be seen so in another" (Fineman, 2006a, p. 681).[analysis-end] [evaluation-start]There was a distinct lack of cross-cultural/multicultural sensitivity in the work published by the creators of the most widely used instruments for measuring EI (Fineman, 2004). Nonetheless, purveyors of EI have often been willing to apply EI tools cross-culturally, assuming successful transferability of models and instruments.[evaluation-end] [synthesise-start]Because EI was developed in context (Matthews et al., 2006) and was thus undoubtedly culturally bound, some wariness among HRD professionals would be appropriate when considering applying EI tools or principles cross-culturally or in multicultural contexts.[synthesise-end]
(Adapted from Fambrough & Hart 2008:752-753.) Fambrough, M & Hart, R 2008, ‘Emotions in leadership development: a critique of emotional intelligence’, Advances in Developing Human Resources, vol. 10, no. 5, October, Sage Publishing
Topic: The word or sentence, which states the main subject of the work
Analysis: Uses evidence from credible sources
Evaluation: Includes writer’s analysis and reasoning
Synthesis: Synthesises elements to support recommendation
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In this article, I’m going to tackle critical thinking; what it is, what it involves, and some practical activities to develop it in EFL classes.
Critical thinking is one of the main purposes of education. Teachers should prepare their students to think critically from the first day of school. Critical thinking helps students to lead successful, fulfilling lives and become engaged citizens.
In today’s world, critical thinking is:
Teachers should focus mainly to develop their students’ critical thinking to help them:
Using debates
Letter x Email
Broom x Vacuum cleaner
Telephone (landline) x Cell phone
Oven x Microwave
Sponge and soap x Dishwasher
Candle x Bulb
Book x Kindle
1. Ask the class who, in their own opinion, wins and why?
2. Ask students to pretend to be the item that they choose, try to list its advantages, and debate them with the other student.
3. Ask students to act out what they prepared in front of the class.
4. Ask the class to listen and take notes.
Using short stories
Ask students to read the following short story and answer the questions below:
Just before Christmas my father took me skiing at Mount Baker. He’d had to fight for the privilege of my company, because my mother was still angry with him for sneaking me into a nightclub during his last visit, to see Thelonious Monk.
When asking students such critical thinking questions, the teacher should:
3. Write a title on the board, divide the students into groups, and they sit together and make a story (each group will have a different story and then share it with the whole class).
4. Use a short story, ask students about their opinions of the characters, then discuss with the whole class whether they agree or disagree asking why?
5. Draw objects and ask them about them (compare and contrast).
6. Write an essay on a certain topic or respond to an email.
7. Suggest a suitable title for a story.
8. Transfer information to others
9. Brainstorm ideas using a mind map.
10. Summarize a text and give opinions.
11. Ask what-if questions (what if you were Oliver twist/Cinderella).
12. Ask students to complete a sentence.
13. Ask about the moral of a story.
14. Give students a problem related to their environment and ask them to do research about it and give some creative solutions for it.
15. Ask open-ended questions; questions that have many possible answers (e.g. should we spend more money developing earth or exploring space?). Divide the class into groups, each thinks of answers and then shares them.
16. Give a situation and encourage students (in groups) to analyze, evaluate, and make judgments.
17. Ask students to make an end to a story.
18. Ask students to criticize a certain situation.
19. List the advantages and disadvantages of a topic.
20. Introduce some situations using (what would you do in the following situation? what if we do not have …., what would happen if …?
21. Ask students: which is different: milk, water, soda, or juice? Why? Which one is better (in pairs and students pick different sides)
22. Imagine you are the president, the mayor, a leader, a doctor etc… What decisions would you take first?
Let’s brainstorm some ideas of how to promote critical thinking after reading a story, e.g. “Cinderella”.
23. Analyze characters: Do you like “Character”? Why?
24. Use what-if questions: What if Cinderella was ugly?
25. Introduce or remove a character then ask for the impact on the storyline.
26. Ask for another ending for the story.
27. Ask for their thoughts about what’s after the ending.
28. Change the setting and ask for the results.
29. Ask students to watch the movie after reading the story and then compare the characters and the storyline!
30. Ask students to look at a certain picture and describe their feelings about it.
31. Ask students to compare things.
32. Introduce a problem and ask students to give as many solutions as possible for it.
33. Ask students to gather information from conflicting resources.
34. Ask controversial questions.
35. Encourage Role Plays.
36. Ask students about their priority: education/health/entertainment and why?
37. Prediction.
38. Making inferences.
39. Drawing conclusions.
40. Differentiating between facts and opinions.
41. Writing blurbs to pictures or ads … etc.
42. Writing Commentaries.
43. Responding to emails, letters or SMS.
For setting students up for success in critical thinking activities teachers need to:
Here are some critical thinking skills that students need to learn:
Adapted from U.S. Department of State English Language Programs – Samar Aal
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Critical thinking activities encourage individuals to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to develop informed opinions and make reasoned decisions. Engaging in such exercises cultivates intellectual agility, fostering a deeper understanding of complex issues and honing problem-solving skills for navigating an increasingly intricate world. Through critical thinking, individuals empower themselves to challenge assumptions, uncover biases, and constructively contribute to discourse, thereby enriching both personal growth and societal progress.
Critical thinking serves as the cornerstone of effective problem-solving, enabling individuals to dissect challenges, explore diverse perspectives, and devise innovative solutions grounded in logic and evidence. For engaging problem solving activities, read our article problem solving activities that enhance student’s interest.
52 Critical Thinking Flashcards for Problem Solving
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is a 21st-century skill that enables a person to think rationally and logically in order to reach a plausible conclusion. A critical thinker assesses facts and figures and data objectively and determines what to believe and what not to believe. Critical thinking skills empower a person to decipher complex problems and make impartial and better decisions based on effective information.
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Critical thinking skills cultivate habits of mind such as strategic thinking, skepticism, discerning fallacy from the facts, asking good questions and probing deep into the issues to find the truth. Acquiring critical thinking skills was never as valuable as it is today because of the prevalence of the modern knowledge economy. Today, information and technology are the driving forces behind the global economy. To keep pace with ever-changing technology and new inventions, one has to be flexible enough to embrace changes swiftly.
Today critical thinking skills are one of the most sought-after skills by the companies. In fact, critical thinking skills are paramount not only for active learning and academic achievement but also for the professional career of the students. The lack of critical thinking skills catalyzes memorization of the topics without a deeper insight, egocentrism, closed-mindedness, reduced student interest in the classroom and not being able to make timely and better decisions.
Benefits of Critical Thinking Skills in Education
Certain strategies are more eloquent than others in teaching students how to think critically. Encouraging critical thinking in the class is indispensable for the learning and growth of the students. In this way, we can raise a generation of innovators and thinkers rather than followers. Some of the benefits offered by thinking critically in the classroom are given below:
Read our article: How to Foster Critical Thinking Skills in Students? Creative Strategies and Real-World Examples
Critical Thinking Lessons and Activities
We have compiled a list of 11 activities that will facilitate you to promote critical thinking abilities in the students. We have also covered problem solving activities that enhance student’s interest in our another article. Click here to read it.
Divide students into teams and introduce each team with a hypothetical challenging scenario. Allocate minimum resources and time to each team and ask them to reach a viable conclusion using those resources. The scenarios can include situations like stranded on an island or stuck in a forest. Students will come up with creative solutions to come out from the imaginary problematic situation they are encountering. Besides encouraging students to think critically, this activity will enhance teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills of the students.
Read our article: 10 Innovative Strategies for Promoting Critical Thinking in the Classroom
It is a very flexible game that allows students to think creatively. To start this activity, divide students into groups. Give each group a limited amount of resources such as pipe cleaners, blocks, and marshmallows etc. Every group is supposed to use these resources and construct a certain item such as building, tower or a bridge in a limited time. You can use a variety of materials in the classroom to challenge the students. This activity is helpful in promoting teamwork and creative skills among the students.
It is also one of the classics which can be used in the classroom to encourage critical thinking. Print pictures of objects, animals or concepts and start by telling a unique story about the printed picture. The next student is supposed to continue the story and pass the picture to the other student and so on.
In this activity, you can ask students to identify a real-world problem in their schools, community or city. After the problem is recognized, students should work in teams to come up with the best possible outcome of that problem.
Make groups of three or four in the class. Ask them to drop an egg from a certain height and think of creative ideas to save the egg from breaking. Students can come up with diverse ideas to conserve the egg like a soft-landing material or any other device. Remember that this activity can get chaotic, so select the area in the school that can be cleaned easily afterward and where there are no chances of damaging the school property.
In this activity, the teacher can act as a facilitator and spark an interesting conversation in the class on any given topic. Give a small introductory speech on an open-ended topic. The topic can be related to current affairs, technological development or a new discovery in the field of science. Encourage students to participate in the debate by expressing their views and ideas on the topic. Conclude the debate with a viable solution or fresh ideas generated during the activity through brainstorming.
This project-based learning activity is best for teaching in the engineering class. Divide students into groups. Present a problem to the students and ask them to build a model or simulate a product using computer animations or graphics that will solve the problem. After students are done with building models, each group is supposed to explain their proposed product to the rest of the class. The primary objective of this activity is to promote creative thinking and problem-solving skills among the students.
This activity can be used in computer science, engineering or any of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) classes. Introduce a variety of alternatives such as different formulas for solving the same problem, different computer codes, product designs or distinct explanations of the same topic.
Form groups in the class and ask them to select the best alternative. Each group will then explain its chosen alternative to the rest of the class with reasonable justification of its preference. During the process, the rest of the class can participate by asking questions from the group. This activity is very helpful in nurturing logical thinking and analytical skills among the students.
Present an article from a journal related to any topic that you are teaching. Ask the students to read the article critically and evaluate strengths and weaknesses in the article. Students can write about what they think about the article, any misleading statement or biases of the author and critique it by using their own judgments.
In this way, students can challenge the fallacies and rationality of judgments in the article. Hence, they can use their own thinking to come up with novel ideas pertaining to the topic.
In this activity, students will come up with their own questions. Make pairs or groups in the class and ask the students to discuss the questions together. The activity will be useful if the teacher gives students a topic on which the question should be based.
For example, if the teacher is teaching biology, the questions of the students can be based on reverse osmosis, human heart, respiratory system and so on. This activity drives student engagement and supports higher-order thinking skills among students.
Silence is a great way to slow down thinking and promote deep reflection on any subject. Present a driving question to the students and divide them into groups. The students will discuss the question with their teammates and brainstorm their ideas on a big paper. After reflection and discussion, students can write their findings in silence. This is a great learning activity for students who are introverts and love to ruminate silently rather than thinking aloud.
Finally, for students with critical thinking, you can go to GS-JJ.co m to customize exclusive rewards, which not only enlivens the classroom, but also promotes the development and training of students for critical thinking.
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Thanks for the great article! Especially with the post-pandemic learning gap, these critical thinking skills are essential! It’s also important to teach them a growth mindset. If you are interested in that, please check out The Teachers’ Blog!
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Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.
Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.
Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.
However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.
People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:
Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:
Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?
Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.
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From personified problems to trying on hats, you can strengthen your critical thinking skills with these fun and versatile critical thinking exercises.
Writing and Critical Thinking Say the word "writing" and most people think of a completed publication. But say the word "writing" to writers, and they will likely think of the process of composing.
"Writing to Learn" is what Writing Across the Curriculum folks call writing's capacity to not just communicate thoughts and ideas, but to actually help structure our thinking. By giving students opportunities to work out their thinking in writing, they have a chance to struggle through difficult ideas and practice crucial habits of thought. Often, writing to learn activities are short, low ...
Today, information bombards us from all directions, and the ability to think critically has become a paramount skill. Beyond the rote memorization of facts, critical thinking exercises involve the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to make informed decisions.
Writing to Learn: Critical Thinking Activities for Any ClassroombyCenterfortheStudy and Teaching of Writing, The Ohio State University is licensed underaCreative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Question everything... Being critical is at the heart of academic writing, but what is it and how can you incorporate it into your work?
We exercise non-critical reading, when we are consulting texts looking for facts/information. When we need to get beyond facts/information and into analysis or interpretation (as we often do in academic writing), we need to be critical thinkers/readers.
4 - Critical Writing We talked about critical thinking and critical reading in the previous chapters. In this chapter, we will focus on critical writing; however, you will find that critical writing is inseparable from critical thinking and reading.
Critical Thinking: An Engine for Inquiry. 1. Critical thinking requires reflection about our own thought processes; in other words, it requires thinking about how we think. This may feel awkward, and maybe you've never explicitly reflected on your own thought process. As a way to begin, either writing on your own or talking with classmates or ...
In a world of fast-paced information and polarized viewpoints, critical thinking stands out as a non-negotiable skill for today's students. The Gilliam Writers Group understands this; each writing tutor on our faculty has crafted their own suite of exercises that aim not only to sharpen students' critical faculties but also to broaden their creative horizons.
Here's our second set of exercises to help enhance your critical thinking, with a focus on the skill of analysis.
Learn how to apply critical thinking skills to your reading, writing, and thinking processes in this introductory chapter.
This flexible resource features critical thinking questions and answers as well as writing and reading activities for students to explore Hurst's heartbreaking story.
Language Arts. Critical Thinking Activities to Improve Writing Skills encourages students to think, choose their words carefully, and produce concise, accurate, detailed, and sometimes persuasive writing. For higher grades, better test scores, and effective everyday communications, few skills are more important than clear, precise writing!
Critical Thinking Exercise 1: Tour Guide for an Alien. Read More. Enhance Reading & Writing with Critical Thinking. By Richard Nordquist. This exercise provides an opportunity to think outside your normal way of thinking. Pretend that you have been assigned the task of conducting a tour for aliens who are visiting the earth and observing human ...
How can learners own their learning with critical thinking activities they'll really love? We've got some ideas—here are some compelling critical thinking activities that you can do with your learners.
Critical writing example In this example paragraph, note how the writer has structured their paragraph to support their contention stated in their topic sentence.
However, we want critical writing exercises not only to improve critical thinking skills, but also to lead students to write better essays, where they have something to say, as they "identify issues and assumptions, recognise important relationships, make correct inferences, evaluate evidence or authority, and deduce conclusions" (Tsui ...
Using current events and critical-thinking strategies like FIRE writing helps create a learning space where thinking is the goal rather than a score on a multiple-choice assessment.
Effective written communication is an integral part of science education—learn some new ways to amalgamate writing and science lessons in order to strengthen students' writing and thinking skills.
40 Activities For Developing Critical Thinking in EFL Classes In this article, I'm going to tackle critical thinking; what it is, what it involves, and some practical activities to develop it in EFL classes.
Discover 11 activities that promote critical thinking in the classroom! These interactive exercises will challenge your students to think creatively, problem-solve, and develop their analytical skills. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or education enthusiast, click now to learn how to foster critical thinking and engage your learners.
Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.