Developing as a Critical Thinker
Kristine Divine
HUM/111
May 4, 2014
Maggie Dominguez
Developing as a Critical Thinker
Assignment Directions

Complete Part 1-3 of the template. Use complete sentences when necessary and remember to use correct citations when paraphrasing and quoting the article, textbook, or any sources to avoid plagiarism.

If you use any source other than the Elder & Paul (1996, Winter) article listed in Part 1, you need a reference page. Please see the Associate Level Writing Handbook for assistance.

Part 1: A Stage Theory of Critical Thinking

Complete the matrix below by using the article in the Week One Electronic Reserve Readings Link #2: Elder, L., & Paul, R. (1996, Winter). Critical thinking: A stage theory of critical thinking… Journal of Developmental Education, 20(2), 34-36.

Stages of Critical Thinking

(Elder & Paul, 1996)
Description of Self-Assessment
(This is the requirement to move forward.)
2 Potential Obstacles
(Try to select 2 different ones from the previous stage if possible.)

Stage One:
The Unreflective Thinker
Elder and Paul (1996) state that I have to be aware of how important thinking is in my life and how problems in my thinking cause significant problems in my life.
1. Self-deception
2. Natural egocentrism (Elder & Paul, 1996)
Stage Two:
The Challenged Thinker
I have to be willing to take active steps to take command of my thinking and commit myself to developing my critical thinking abilities.
1. Intellectual arrogance
2.Rationalzation
Stage Three:
The Beginning Thinker
I am beginning to recognize the mistakes I am making in my thinking and looking at what I am doing on a day-to-day basis to take command of my thinking.
1.Arrogance
2.Egocentric defensiveness
Stage Four:
The Practicing Thinker
I am beginning to notice my native egocentric defensiveness, arrogance and rationalizing powers functioning my day-to-day activities.
1.intellectual arrogance
2. rationalization
Stage Five:
The Advanced Thinker
I am recognizing the areas of significant ignorance and developing the ability to develop new fundamental habits of thought based on deep values on which I have committed to myself.
1.self-deception
2.egocentric defensiveness
Stage Six:
The Master Thinker
I have integrated my thoughts, feelings, emotions and actions so that I can fundamentally be in charge of how I think, feel and act.
1.rationalization
2.intellectual arrogance

Part 2: Personal Stage Assessment
Write a 150- to 200-word explanation of what stage you believe you are in according to Elder and Paul’s (1996) stage theory of critical thinking. Explain why you placed yourself in this stage.

After reading the 6 different stages of critical thinking, the stage I would place myself in would be the Beginning thinker. I feel that I placed myself in that stage because I do start with a lot of problems every day and for the most part I do solve them but the bigger problems that I face seem harder to get answers to because I am either afraid to face the answers