University of Phoenix Material
Stages of Critical Thinking
Part 1: Stages of Critical Thinking
Complete the matrix by identifying the four beginning stages of critical thinking as detailed in Critical Thinking.
Stages of critical thinking
Stage description
The Unreflective Thinker
Most people are at this stage. They are unaware of problems they may have in thinking. Many problems are caused by thinking and their ego plays a dominant role in their thinking.
The Challenged Thinker
When you become aware that there is a problem with your thinking, you move into this stage. These people are faced with problems in their thinking. Self-deception is a danger in this level. They recognize difficulty in improving thinking.
The Beginner Thinker
At this stage, they are actively trying to develop or improve in thinking, but they do not practice much. Values start to shift in this stage. They begin to take thinking seriously. This stage prepares the thinker for the next stages.
The Practicing Thinker
In this stage, the thinker commits to practice. They begin to design a plan for practice. At this stage, the also begin to internalize intellectual virtues. You need to guard yourself against discouragement at this stage.
Part 2: Your Thinking
Write a 75- to 150-word explanation of your current level of critical-thinking development, and explain why you placed yourself at that stage.
After completing all of the assignments for this week, I would place myself at the Challenged Thinker stage. I have chosen this level because, I am aware that there is a problem with my thinking. I also know that poor thinking skills can cause serious, even life threatening problems in life. I can give a good example of a life threatening decision. I know a teenager who was walking home from a basketball game with a group of friends. They were laughing and talking and not paying attention to traffic. He chose to run out in an intersection instead of waiting for the...