Download SOCIAL STUDIES

SOCIAL STUDIES
Unit 1: Thinking Critically
Unit Overview
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Critical Thinking
Perception
Thought Patterns
Problem Solving
Facts Vs. Opinions
Propaganda and Bias
Reasoned Judgment
Critical Thinking
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People think in different ways
Definition
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Thinking clearly and with a
purpose in mind
Why is thinking critically
important?
Understand why you think and
act the way you do.
More knowledgeable about
your friends, family, and world
around you.
Perception
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“Perception is Reality”- True or False
Definition
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The process of taking in information from the
environment through the senses
Perception and Experience are part of the
learning process
How do the five senses relate to
perception?
Thought Patterns
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How do we think?
Perceptions are the beginning
Perceptions lead to thoughts
Thoughts lead to actions (plural)
Thought Pattern- Definition
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Connection of related thoughts leading to an action
Example on Page 7
Actions- doing or not doing something
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Mental or physical
Connection Process
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Conceptualization
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Reaction
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Brain tries to connect our perceptions with past
experiences
Evaluation of your action in thought process
If reaction was good, then your brain tells
you to repeat what you did before.
Why is all this Important?
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Understanding your thought patterns will
lead to:
Improved critical thinking
Better understanding of why you think and
act the way you do
Better understanding of other peoples
thoughts and actions
Improve you problem solving abilities
Problem Solving I
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Before you can solve a problem you must?
Know exactly what the problem is.
Express the problem clearly
Identify the main Issues
Compare and Contrast
Determine Relevance
Create Good Questions
Clarify the Problem
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Are you part of the problem?
You must be honest with yourself
Experiment 1-D
Andy’s Problem is what?
Identify Central Issues
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Identifying Societal Issues
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Identifying Personal Issues
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Can be easier to identify
Must have an honest evaluation of self
May need help to get to bottom of these issues
Look at Cartoon on pg. 15
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What are the central issues for each person?
Making Comparisons
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How can you use comparisons to solve
problems?
Look at how other people with similar
problems have handled the situation.
Compare Vs Contrast
What are some examples of how / when
you have used comparisons to help solve
one of your problems?
What is Relevant?
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Relevant- Thoughts that are linked together
Irrelevant- Thoughts that have nothing in
common
Relevance may not always be obvious
Example: Pg 18 the Maple Seed
Questions that Matter
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Most Problems have more than one
solution
Good Questions lead us to many possible
answers
Open-ended Questions
Closed-ended Questions
Questions lead to Answers
Problem Solving II
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What are the First two steps in the Problem
Solving Equation?
Step 1: Identify and clearly state the
problem
Step 2: Judge Information
Judging Information
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2nd step in the problem solving process
How does one judge information?
One must ask
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Is the information a fact or an opinion
Is the information Consistent
Be able to recognize assumptions
Distinguish False from Accurate Images
Recognize Propaganda, and bias
Fact vs. Opinion
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What is a Fact?
Fact- is a statement that can be proven
What is an Opinion?
Opinion- not necessarily based on evidence and it
can’t be proven right or wrong
What is an inference?
Inference- an educated guess based on available
evidence from past experiences
Experiment 1-I on page 24
Inferences
Check for Consistency
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What does it mean to be consistent?
Actions must be consistent with your words
What do we call inconsistent people
You can never solve problems if you are an
inconsistent person
Experiment 1-J on page 26
Assuming Things
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What is assuming?
Taking things for granted
Why do we assume?
Because of hidden beliefs about someone or
something
Assumptions are not put into words
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They are implied
What assumptions have you made?
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Were they right or wrong?
True of False
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What are stereotypes?
Oversimplified view, usually negative, of a person
or a group of people
What are some examples of stereotypes?
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Good and Bad
What are clichés?
Old fashion, worn-out phrase.
What are some examples of clichés?
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Good and Bad
Propaganda, and Bias
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What is propaganda?
Medium used to sway your opinion or
beliefs
What is Bias?
Predisposition based on beliefs
What is an Ideology?
A whole set of beliefs about a topic
Propaganda
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Experiment 1-M on page 32
TV Ads and Propaganda
Problem Solving III
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What are the three steps in the problem
solving equation?
Step 1: Identify and Clarify the Problem
Step 2: Judge Information
Step 3: Draw Conclusions and Solve the
Problem
Problem Solving III
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What must one do to solve a problem?
One must:
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Know cause and effect relationships
predict consequences
Identify Alternatives
Demonstrate Reasoned Judgment
Draw and Test Conclusions
Cause and Effect
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How can understanding cause and effect help you
solve problems?
Solve problems faster by identifying the direct
cause/ causes of the problem
Sometimes can be hard to identify
Some problems have multiple causes
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Multiple causation
Important to be honest, it is easy to blame others
for your problems
Experiment 1-N
Consequences
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In order to draw conclusions you must be able to
predict consequences
What is Induction?
A pattern of thinking in which past experiences
lead to conclusions about the present
By using induction and cause and effect
relationships from our past we can better predict
the consequences of our actions
IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE:
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Past cause and effect relationships must be consistent
Alternatives
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Two kinds of thinking
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Linear and Lateral
Both can be helpful in solving problems
Induction and analogies are examples of
linear thinking
Brainstorming and thinking outside the box
are examples of Lateral thinking
Linear Thinking Examples
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Linear thinking uses common sense
It is thinking of a way to get to point B from
point A in a logical sequence
Analogy Quiz
Lateral Thinking Examples
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A man was walking along a railway track when he
spotted an express train speeding towards him.
To avoid it, he jumped off the track, but before he
jumped he ran ten feet towards the train. Why?
“How much will one cost?” asked the customer in
the hardware store. “Twenty cents,” replied the
clerk. “And how much will twelve cost?” “Forty
Cents.” “Okay. I’ll take one hundred and twelve.”
“Fine. That will be sixty cents.” What is the
customer buying?
Reasoned Judgment
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How do you show reasoned Judgment?
When you use critical thinking skills you
show reasoned judgment
Reasoning guided your decisions
Cause and Effect helps your reasoning
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By understanding relationships
True Analogies vs. False Analogies
What are examples of both
Draw and Test Conclusions
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How do you draw and test conclusions?
Lateral and Linear thinking to get to your possible solutions
Then use deduction to test your solutions
Deduction- a pattern of thinking in which two related statements,
called premises, lead to a conclusion
What is a syllogism?
A form of deduction that helps show good reasoning or faulty
reasoning.
A syllogism must have three characteristics
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Premises must be true
Logical connection between the two premises
Conclusion must be true
Experiment 1-R
THE HUMAN KNOT
A group of six to 12 people forms a circle. Each person
puts the right hand into the center of the circle and
clasps hands with one other person who is not standing
next to him or her. Then everyone puts their left
hand into the circle and clasps hands, again making
sure that person is not standing next to them. They
should be holding two different people’s hands. The
goal is to untangle the knot without letting go of anyone’s
hand.
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“Perception is Reality”