Critical Thinking

Associate Level Material

Stages of Critical Thinking

Stages of Critical Thinking

Complete the matrix by identifying the six stages of critical thinking, describing how to move from each stage to the next, and listing obstacles you may face as you move to the next stage of critical thinking.

|Stages of critical thinking                 |How to move to the next stage               |Obstacles to moving to the next stage       |
|EXAMPLE:                                   |Examine my thinking to identify problems   |Deceiving myself about the effectiveness of|
|                                           |that affect my thinking.                   |my thinking                                 |
|The Unreflective Thinker                   |                                           |                                           |
|Challenged Thinker                         |When I realize the challenge of my         |Preparing the challenges of my thinking.   |
|                                           |problems.                                   |                                           |
|Beginning Thinker                           |I really should get in the habit of regular|Not always thinking critically             |
|                                           |thinking.                                   |                                           |
|Practice Thinker                           |Practice makes perfect                     |Practicing enough to become a critical     |
|                                           |                                           |thinker                                     |
|Advanced Thinker                           |Becoming comfortable with critical thinking|I start to feel overwhelmed                 |
|Master Thinker                             |Being able to think about all situations   |Overthinking the situation                 |


Write a 150- to 200-word explanation of your current stage of...