The Elements of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking underlies academic performance and success. It also encompasses how thoroughly we
evaluate information and how we act based on our understanding. Critical thinking is at the heart of
everyday living.
Critical thinking is defined as thorough thinking, and it involves six core elements: Communication,
analysis, problem-solving, evaluation, synthesis, and reflection.
Element #1: Communication in critical thinking
Communication in critical thinking means defining the main idea or problem in your own words. It
helps to provide several supporting details and examples. You will need to present the details and
examples logically and clearly.
Step 1: Please read the following hypothetical scenario, which is titled Deer Overpopulation.
Scenario: Deer Overpopulation
Three teenagers were seriously injured in a car accident when swerving to avoid a deer in on a two-lane road near a
small, rural town in Florida. The residents of the town have seen more and more deer enter the town’s populated areas
over recent years. Local law enforcement has been called numerous times this year to remove the animals from
backyards and neighborhood streets, and one deer even caused considerable damage as it entered a restaurant in town.
The mayor has been charged by the city leaders to keep the town residents safe. Local crops have even been damaged
by the animals. Some long time residents have requested that the hunting season and catch limits be extended in order
to reduce the deer population. One city leader even proposed that the city purchase electronic devices to deter the deer
from entering populated areas. Health concerns have recently been elevated as three deer carcasses were found at the
edge of town and local law enforcement suspect that the animals had been poisoned.
Step 2: In the space below, define the problem in your own words.
Step 3: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Communication element in critical thinking.
Performance
Element
Exemplary
(4)
Communication Identifies the
main idea or
Define problem problem with
in your own
numerous
words.
supporting
details and
examples
which are
organized
logically and
coherently
Proficient
(3)
Identifies the
main idea or
problem with
some
supporting
details and
examples in an
organized
manner
Developing
(2)
Identifies the
main idea or
problem with
few details or
examples in a
somewhat
organized
manner
Emerging
(1)
Identifies the
main idea or
problem poorly
with few or no
details or states
the main idea
or problem
verbatim from
the text.
Not Present
(0)
Does not
identify the
main idea or
problem
Score
4 3 2 1 0
    
N/A 
Comments:
Element #2: Analysis
Analysis in critical thinking means comparing and contrasting available solutions to the problem.
Analysis applies logic and evidence to make decisions while addressing any potential consequences from
that decision. Also, applying analysis to critical thinking requires you to accurately identify facts and
relevant information.
Ask yourself: Are relevant facts presented?
Are the facts consistent with each other?
Are the facts presented in a misleading way?
Are examples presented that support the facts?
Do the examples that are presented make sense given the facts?
Step 1: Based on the Deer Overpopulation Scenario, apply the Analysis element of critical thinking. In
other words, compare and contrast available solutions to the problem that were addressed in the scenario.
If none of the solutions presented seem logical to you, add other possible solutions. Also, accurately
identify any relevant information that was presented in the scenario against facts and logic.
Step 2: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Analysis element in critical thinking.
Performance
Element
Analysis
Compare &
contrast the
available
solutions.
Exemplary
(4)
Proficient
(3)
Developing
(2)
Emerging
(1)
Uses specific
inductive or
deductive
reasoning to
make
inferences
regarding
premises;
addresses
implications
and
consequences;
identifies facts
and relevant
information
correctly
Uses logical
reasoning to
make
inferences
regarding
solutions;
addresses
implications
and
consequences;
Identifies facts
and relevant
information
correctly
Uses
superficial
reasoning to
make
inferences
regarding
solutions;
Shows some
confusion
regarding
facts, opinions,
and relevant,
evidence,
data, or
information
Makes
unexplained,
unsupported,
or
unreasonable
inferences
regarding
solutions;
makes multiple
errors in
distinguishing
fact from fiction
or in selecting
relevant
evidence
Not Present
(0)
Does not
analyze
multiple
solutions
Score
4 3 2 1 0
    
N/A 
Comments:
Element #3: Problem-Solving
Problem-solving in critical thinking means selecting a solution and defending your decision. It also
includes using facts and evidence from your analysis section to defend your solution.
Step 1: Based on the Deer Overpopulation Scenario, apply the Problem-Solving element of critical
thinking. In other words, select the best solution from the solutions you generated in your Analysis
section. Then, use facts and evidence to defend your solution.
Step 2: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Problem-Solving element in critical
thinking.
Performance
Element
ProblemSolving
Select & defend
your final
solution.
Exemplary
(4)
Proficient
(3)
Developing
(2)
Emerging
(1)
Thoroughly
identifies and
addresses key
aspects of the
problem and
insightfully
uses facts and
relevant
evidence from
analysis to
support and
defend
potentially
valid solutions
Identifies and
addresses key
aspects of the
problem and
uses facts and
relevant
evidence from
analysis to
develop
potentially
valid
conclusions or
solutions
Identifies and
addresses
some aspects
of the
problem;
develops
possible
conclusions or
solutions using
some
inappropriate
opinions and
irrelevant
information
from analysis
Identifies and
addresses only
one aspect of
the problem
but develops
untestable
hypothesis; or
develops invalid
conclusions or
solutions based
on opinion or
irrelevant
information
Not Present
(0)
Does not
select and
defend a
solution
Score
4 3 2 1 0
    
N/A 
Comments:
Element #4: Evaluation
Evaluation in critical thinking means identifying weaknesses to the solution you chose in your
Problem-Solving section. To identify weaknesses, you will need to address any hidden assumptions
that were made that may not be credible. You may also need to question the sources that reported the
problem; in other words, were the facts from a credible source? You will also need to identify any other
problems that may arise from the solution you selected.
Step 1: Based on the Deer Overpopulation Scenario, apply the Evaluation element of critical thinking. In
other words, critically evaluate the weaknesses to the solution you chose in the Problem-Solving section.
Also, identify any issues in the scenario that may be based on assumptions as opposed to facts. You will
need to evaluate the extent to which the source of the information presented in the scenario was credible.
Step 2: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Evaluation element in critical thinking.
Performance
Element
Evaluation
Identify
weaknesses in
your final
solution.
Exemplary
(4)
Proficient
(3)
Developing
(2)
Emerging
(1)
Not Present
(0)
Score
Insightfully
interprets data
or
information;
identifies
obvious as
well as hidden
assumptions,
establishes
credibility of
sources on
points other
than authority
alone, avoids
fallacies in
reasoning;
distinguishes
appropriate
arguments
from
extraneous
elements;
provides
sufficient
logical support
Accurately
interprets data
or
information;
identifies
obvious
assumptions,
establishes
credibility of
sources on
points other
than authority
alone, avoids
fallacies in
reasoning;
distinguishes
appropriate
arguments
from
extraneous
elements;
provides
sufficient
logical support
Makes some
errors in data
or information
interpretation;
makes
arguments
using weak
evidence;
provides
superficial
support for
conclusions or
solutions
Interprets
data or
information
incorrectly;
Supports
conclusions or
solutions
without
evidence or
logic; uses data,
information, or
evidence
skewed by
invalid
assumptions;
uses poor
sources of
information;
uses fallacious
arguments
Does not
evaluate data,
information,
or evidence
related to final
solution.
4 3 2 1 0
    
N/A 
Comments:
Element #5: Synthesis
Synthesis in critical thinking means suggesting ways to improve and strengthen the solution you
chose. This will require relating concepts and ideas from multiple and credible sources to enhance the
solution you chose. The synthesis element also requires that you recognize missing information that
would need to be researched and answered to strengthen the solution you chose.
Step 1: Based on the Deer Overpopulation Scenario, apply the Synthesis element of critical thinking. In
other words, explain ways to improve and strengthen the solution you chose in the Problem-Solving
section. Also, explain ways to improve any weaknesses you identified in the Evaluation section by
integrating new information that would enhance the solution you chose.
Step 2: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Synthesis element in critical thinking.
Performance
Element
Synthesis
Exemplary
(4)
Insightfully
relates
Suggest ways to
concepts and
improve/strengthen ideas from
your final solution.
multiple
sources; uses
new
information to
enhance final
solution;
recognizes
missing
information;
correctly
identifies
potential
effects of new
information.
Proficient
(3)
Developing
(2)
Emerging
(1)
Accurately
relates
concepts and
ideas from
multiple
sources; uses
new
information
to enhance
final solution;
correctly
identifies
potential
effects of new
information.
Inaccurately or
incompletely
relates
concepts and
ideas from
multiple
sources;
shallow
determination
of effect of
new
information
on final
solution
Poorly
integrates
information
from more
than one
source to
support final
solution;
Incorrectly
predicts the
effect of new
information on
final solution
Not
Present
(0)
Does not
identify new
information
for final
solution
Score
4 3 2 1
0
   

N/A 
Comments:
Element #6: Reflection
Reflection in critical thinking means thinking about your own thought process as you worked through
the scenario. In other words, you need to ponder what you learned from the process of applying the six
elements of critical thinking to a scenario. Reflection also encourages you to identify what you might do
differently next time to improve your critical thinking process.
Step 1: Based on your experiences working through the Deer Overpopulation Scenario, apply the
Reflection element of critical thinking by answering the following questions:




What
What
What
What
did you learn from this process?
were you strengths and weaknesses in your own thinking during this process?
personal assumptions influenced your thinking during this process?
would you do differently next time to improve your thinking process?
Step 2: How did you do? Use the rubric below to assess your Reflection element in critical thinking.
Performance
Element
Reflection
Reflect on your
own thought
process.
“What did you
learn from this
process?”
“What would
you do
differently next
time to
improve?”
Exemplary
(4)
Proficient
(3)
Developing
(2)
Identifies
strengths and
weaknesses in
own thinking:
recognizes
personal
assumptions,
values and
perspectives,
compares to
others’, and
evaluates
them in the
context of
alternate
points of view
Identifies
strengths and
weaknesses in
own thinking:
recognizes
personal
assumptions,
values and
perspectives,
compares to
others’, and
evaluates
them in the
context of
alternate
points of view
Identifies
some personal
assumptions,
values, and
perspectives;
recognizes
some
assumptions,
values and
perspectives
of others;
shallow
comparisons
of alternate
points of view
Emerging
(1)
Not Present
(0)
Identifies
Does not
some personal reflect on own
assumptions,
thinking
values, and
perspectives;
does not
consider
alternate points
of view
Score
4 3 2 1 0
    
N/A 
Comments: