Critical thinking

Reasonable reflective thinking focused on deciding what to believe or do. 

Source: http://www.criticalthinking.net/definition.html

A Critical Thinker

1. Is open-minded + considers alternatives2. Is curious, well-informed, + judges credibility of sources accurately3. Can accurately identify parts + quality of an argument, including support4. Asks appropriate clarifying questions5. Develops + defends a reasonable position regarding a belief or an action well6. Is cautious in developing conclusions from logical reasoning7. Identifies + acknowledges own bias

Understand Bias and Use It

First – recognize that you have bias Second – often the About section on a

source’s website will contain the author’s agenda or purpose that reveals a perspective.

Many biased sources have excellent factual data, but since they interpret it to their advantage, the analysis MAY be skewed.

We’ve come to regard bias as something very negative but it can be useful to revealing a source’s weakness or strength.

EXAMPLES “National News Media

in America is biased to the left politically.” Assertion by Hannity, O”’Reilly, etc…

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/02/24/Juan-Williams-Left-Media-Will-Shut-You-Down-Stab-Yo-And-Kill-You-Fire-You-For-Disagreeing

Essential Questions What is identity?

Cultural identity? What are our

responsibilities to others based on this identity?

What role does society play in crafting identity?

How does current events and society influence our perspectives?

What are our responsibilities to society and how can culture play a role in these responsibilities?

What is the current system of governmental ideology in America?

Is this system any more valid than other systems?

AYN RAND“Free will means the choice to think or not.“

Three quests for finding meaning when analyzing a

piece of literature:1) the historical quest2) the quest for the author’s meaning3) the personal quest

Use these three quests to address the essential questions and themes. Historical events that occurred in Ayn Rand’s formative years greatly shaped her perspectives.

Activity Think about the role of society and historical

events on an author’s perspective. Explore the possible effects of these events or

movements on Rand and have at least two ideas of how this event could have affected her.

1) Bloody Sunday/tsar Nicholas II2) The preliminary government of 1917 after the

abdication of the throne 3) The Bolshevik revolution of 1917 4) The transformation into communism during

1917–1918

Essential questions Must attempt to answer so our lives achieve meaning +

purpose

Three underlying strategies:

“Reflection, Reasons, Alternatives”

1. Be Reflective, stop and think, instead of making snap judgments, or accepting the first idea that comes to mind, or automatically accepting whatever is presented in the media or by anyone.

2. Ask questions like “How do you know?”, "What are your Reasons?" and “Is that a good source of information?”

3. Emphasize alertness for Alternative hypotheses, conclusions, explanations, sources of evidence, points of view, plans, etc.

Speaking Out

Like Rand, V’s society experienced hardships that intimidated the populace into remaining silent in the face of tyranny.

These events caused the fictional V to speak out just as Ayn Rand’s book Anthem is a way for her to speak out against tyrannical governmental systems.

Often Too Late to Prevent This…

Stalin starts program of agricultural collectivization that forces farmers to give up private land and livestock, and join state owned, factory-like collective farms.

The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic. - Joseph Stalin

What happens when you refuse a dictator

 

Many Ukrainians (known for independence) refuse to join

the collective farms.

Stalin decides to “liquidate them as a class”

People dragged from homes, packed into freight trains, shipped to Siberia. Left without food or shelter.

Result? 1,000,000 Ukrainian peasants seized - 850,000 deported to Siberia - most

perished.

Meanwhile – back in the Ukraine…

Military blockades erected around Ukrainian villages preventing transport of food into villages + the hungry from leaving. 

Brigades of young activists from other Soviet regions brought in to confiscate hidden grain, + eventually all food from peasants’ homes. 

Stalin states of Ukraine that he will “teach a lesson through famine” and deal a “crushing blow” to the Ukraine.

The End… 1933: Ukrainians

died at the rate of 25,000 a day, more than half - children.  

Up to 10 million

starve to death.  Stalin denies to world famine occurring in Ukraine, + prevents international aid from entering the country.

At what point does a people

give up resistance

under a dictator?

Speaking Out…

One man did not commit the Holodomor

Combined Effort- Silent, ordinary citizens (millions)- Active, obedient military (thousands)- Weak, ambitious politicians

(hundreds) - Motivated, ambitious dictator (one)

Celebrated by Time Magazine as “The most important man in the

world” February 5, 1945

Stalin joined Allies in 1941 –

abandoning Hitler after Germany invaded

Soviet Union

Ché Guevara – Chairman Mao

Why do Americans glorify people they know nothing about, and demonize people they know nothing about?

Ché Quotes “To send men to the firing squad, judicial

proof is unnecessary … This is a revolution!” “In fact, if Christ himself stood in my way, I,

like Nietzsche, would not hesitate to squish him like a worm.”

“Crazy with fury I will stain my rifle red while slaughtering any enemy that falls in my hands! My nostrils dilate while savoring the acrid odor of gunpowder and blood. With the deaths of my enemies I prepare my being for the sacred fight and join the triumphant proletariat with a bestial howl!”

Bottom Line Connect author’s history to literary situation.

Connect lesson (theme or general truth about life) offered by story to real life.

Connect theme to own circumstance or self.

So, we discover connections between us and literature – us and others’ lives and times.

Question: Why do people ignore history’s lessons?

ANSWER:

While reenactments of “evil deeds” are occurring, no one believes it can really be as bad as a distant horror that happened a long time ago in a land far, far away.

ANSWER:

People don’t read history + if they do, they don’t think critically about it.