This document discusses moving from opinions formed without critical thinking to informed opinions. It begins with definitions distinguishing facts from opinions. It then discusses where opinions come from and how critical thinking using tools like considering all perspectives, assumptions, evidence, and implications can help form informed opinions. The goal is moving from absolute beliefs to thoughtful consideration of uncertainties.

1. From Formed
to Informed Opinions
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2. Nothing is so firmly believed
as what we least know.
– Michel de Montaigne
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3. Nothing is so firmly believed
as what we least know.
– Michel de Montaigne
To become educated is to move
from cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty.
– Unknown
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4. First, Some Definitions
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5. First, Some Definitions
• Opinion: a conclusion or a judgment that, although it is
open to question, seems true or probable to you
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6. First, Some Definitions
• Opinion: a conclusion or a judgment that, although it is
open to question, seems true or probable to you
• Fact: a thing that is indisputably true; the truth about
events as opposed to interpretation
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Fall 2009 Instructor

7. Examples of Facts
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8. Topeka is the capital of Kansas.

9. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in
Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963.

10. During the 2008
presidential campaign,
Barack Obama posted a
copy of his birth
certificate online as a
response to opponents
who claimed that he was
not a “natural born
citizen” and, thus,
ineligible to be President
of the United States.

11. Examples of Opinions
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12. Of all the 50 states, Kansas may be
the most backward.

13. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in
Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963,
by Lee Harvey Oswald.

14. The birth certificate that
Barack Obama
produced to verify that
he was born in Hawaii in
1961 – and thus a
qualified candidate for
President of the United
States – is a forgery.

15. Your Turn
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16. Your Turn
In groups of three, generate a short list of facts.
Then develop a claim about each fact that is
based upon interpretation, thus adding the
element of uncertainty.
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17. Where Do Our Opinions
Come From?
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18. Received (inherited) opinions

19. Involuntary opinions

20. Adapted opinions

21. Linked opinions

22. And... (what we’re after)...
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23. And... (what we’re after)...
Informed opinions
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24. How do we get there?
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25. How do we get there?
Critical Thinking
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26. The Three Essential Attitudes
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27. The Three Essential Attitudes
1. A willingness to recognize that our own belief
or position is an opinion that could be
mistaken.
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28. The Three Essential Attitudes
1. A willingness to recognize that our own belief
or position is an opinion that could be
mistaken.
2. A willingness to acknowledge the possibility
that another’s opinion could be correct.
RHETORIC I Bruce Clary
Fall 2009 Instructor

29. The Three Essential Attitudes
1. A willingness to recognize that our own belief
or position is an opinion that could be
mistaken.
2. A willingness to acknowledge the possibility
that another’s opinion could be correct.
3. A willingness to do the hard work necessary
to acquire and evaluate information/evidence.
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Fall 2009 Instructor

30. ❝To say that [critical thinking] implies a skeptical state of mind
is by no means to say that it implies a self-satisfied fault-
finding state of mind. Quite the reverse: Because critical
thinkers seek to draw intelligent conclusions, they are
sufficiently open-minded that they can adopt a skeptical
attitude toward their own ideas, toward their own
assumptions, and toward the evidence they themselves
tentatively offer, as well as toward the assumptions and
evidence offered by others.❞
–Barnet & Bedau, p. 3-4
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31. ❝ The heart of critical thinking is a willingness to face
objections to one’s own beliefs, a willingness to adopt
a skeptical attitude not only toward authority and toward
views opposed to our own but also toward common
sense – that is, toward the views that seem obviously
right to us.❞
–Barnet & Bedau, p. 3-4
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32. Two Models of Critical Thinking
1. Stock Issues
2. Elements of Thought
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33. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality
2. Inherency
3. Significance
4. Workability
5. Solvency
6. Disadvantages
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34. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency
3. Significance
4. Workability
5. Solvency
6. Disadvantages
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Fall 2009 Instructor

35. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency What’s the real cause of the problem?
3. Significance
4. Workability
5. Solvency
6. Disadvantages
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Fall 2009 Instructor

36. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency What’s the real cause of the problem?
3. Significance Is this really that big of a deal?
4. Workability
5. Solvency
6. Disadvantages
RHETORIC I Bruce Clary
Fall 2009 Instructor

37. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency What’s the real cause of the problem?
3. Significance Is this really that big of a deal?
4. Workability Is the proposed answer realistic?
5. Solvency
6. Disadvantages
RHETORIC I Bruce Clary
Fall 2009 Instructor

38. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency What’s the real cause of the problem?
3. Significance Is this really that big of a deal?
4. Workability Is the proposed answer realistic?
5. Solvency Will it really solve the problem?
6. Disadvantages
RHETORIC I Bruce Clary
Fall 2009 Instructor

39. Stock Issues Model
1. Topicality Is what we’re talking about relevant?
2. Inherency What’s the real cause of the problem?
3. Significance Is this really that big of a deal?
4. Workability Is the proposed answer realistic?
5. Solvency Will it really solve the problem?
6. Disadvantages What unintended effects might occur?
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Fall 2009 Instructor

40. Elements of Thought Model
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41. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
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42. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
we think for a purpose
within a point of view
based on assumptions
leading to implications and consequences.
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43. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
we think for a purpose
within a point of view
based on assumptions
leading to implications and consequences.
We use data, facts, and experiences
to make inferences and judgments
based on concepts and theories
to answer a question or solve a problem.
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Fall 2009 Instructor

44. Elements of Thought Model
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45. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
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46. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
we think for a ____________
within a ________________
based on _______________
leading to ______________ and consequences.
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Fall 2009 Instructor

47. Elements of Thought Model
Whenever we think,
we think for a ____________
within a ________________
based on _______________
leading to ______________ and consequences.
We use ______, facts, and experiences
to make _____________ and judgments
based on ___________ and theories
to answer a ____________ or solve a problem.
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Fall 2009 Instructor

48. Consider also…
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49. Consider also…
1. Checklist for Critical Thinking (p. 14)
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50. Consider also…
1. Checklist for Critical Thinking (p. 14)
2. Checklist for Examining Assumptions (p. 19)
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51. Consider also…
1. Checklist for Critical Thinking (p. 14)
2. Checklist for Examining Assumptions (p. 19)
3. Checklist for Evaluating Letters of Response (p. 22)
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Fall 2009 Instructor

52. Keep your eyes on the prize
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53. Keep your eyes on the prize
Moving from cocksure ignorance
to thoughtful uncertainty.
RHETORIC I Bruce Clary
Fall 2009 Instructor