Introduction to critical thinking

Being able to think and act critically is an important and necessary skill for your academic success as well as your future employment. Critical thinking is highly valued by employers in many careers, from law to teaching to business. Seeing the reasoning behind arguments and to find flaws and strengths in other people's ideas helps you succeed in the modern world.

Why think critically?

Critical thinking can be defined as:

"being thoughtful, asking questions, not simply accepting as true, everything your read/hear".
– Williams cited by the University of Hull

It is not about being negative or trying to find something wrong.

Critical thinking is about asking good questions, identifying bias, challenging ideas, finding credible evidence, reflecting on your own learning and transferring these skills to your professional practice.

Critical thinking is like an onion … as you peel off one layer (begin to analyse the argument), there is another layer (more questions), and another layer (deeper questions) … and on … and on.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is a key skill for higher education studies. It is necessary for every aspect of your study, including:

• reading
• listening
• note-making
• writing
• presentations
• professional practice

At university in Australia, lecturers expect you to do more than just describe a theory or concept in your assessment tasks. You are expected to show higher level thinking and reasoning: to analyse, evaluate or judge a concept, and apply a concept or theory to a practical situation. You may be asked to compare and contrast theories, to find flaws or gaps in evidence, look for new evidence or reflect on your own learning.