The Critical Thinking Process

Lee McGaan

adapted in part from Stephen Toulmin. The Uses of Argument, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1958.

1. All scholarly activity, regardless of discipline, involves the same basic intellectual act, as shown below. The essence of critical thinking is recognizing the nature of what is claimed, how it is supported and “proved,” and the logic used to prove the claim (described in the warrant).

2. Disciplines vary

A. in their preferred / accepted warrants

B. in what counts as grounds/evidence, and

C. in their forms of expression for results.

Definitions

Claim

1. A statement affirming or denying something

2. The answer to the question "What are you trying to prove?" "What's your point?"

3. A claim can potentially be denied (in the context it’s made).

Grounds

1. Material that will convince audience/opponent.

2. Not likely to be disputed OR can be further supported.

3. Usually more concrete, often narrower (or a general truth).

4. An answer to the question, "How so?" "Why do you think so?" "Prove it!"

5. It is appropriate for the claim because it is relevant and strong.

Warrant

1. Links support/gr. to cl. Why the grounds is allowed to stand as proof of claim.

2. A principle of logic or reasoning.

3. A “recipe” or license, often a formal rule.

4. Generally unstated, an assumption that both speaker and audience accept.

5. The key is that a warrant can apply to many claims and grounds. It's not specific to just one situation.

last updated 2/2/2014