For This Discussion, You Will Address The Following Prompts

For This Discussion You Will Address The Following Prompts Keep In M

For this discussion, you will address the following prompts. Keep in mind that the article or video you’ve chosen should not be about critical thinking, but should be about someone making a statement, claim, or argument related to Poverty & Income equality. One source should demonstrate good critical thinking skills and the other source should demonstrate the lack or absence of critical thinking skills. Personal examples should not be used.

1. Explain at least five elements of critical thinking that you found in the reading material.

2. Search the Internet, media, and find an example in which good critical thinking skills are being demonstrated by the author or speaker. Summarize the content and explain why you think it demonstrates good critical thinking skills.

3. Search the Internet, media, or and find an example in which the author or speaker lacks good critical thinking skills. Summarize the content and explain why you think it demonstrates the absence of good, critical thinking skills.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length, which should include a thorough response to each question. Due midnight Thursday April 22, 2020.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Critical thinking is an essential skill in evaluating arguments, claims, and information, especially in social issues such as poverty and income inequality. Analyzing sources for elements of good and poor critical thinking allows us to develop a deeper understanding of how arguments are constructed and their validity. This essay identifies five critical thinking elements, presents an example demonstrating good critical thinking, and contrasts it with an example lacking critical thinking in the context of poverty and income inequality.

Elements of Critical Thinking Found in the Reading Material

The reading material highlights several key elements of critical thinking that are vital in evaluating socio-economic claims. First, clarity ensures that the argument’s terms and propositions are understandable and unambiguous. Second, accuracy involves verifying facts and avoiding misinformation. Third, relevance emphasizes that the arguments and evidence directly pertain to the central issue, in this case, poverty and income inequality. Fourth, logical coherence involves ensuring that the reasoning follows a sound structure, avoiding fallacies. Fifth, fairness requires the consideration of multiple perspectives and avoiding bias or prejudiced assumptions. These elements collectively enable a comprehensive and rational analysis of claims related to poverty, fostering informed decision-making and advocacy efforts.

Example Demonstrating Good Critical Thinking

An exemplary demonstration of critical thinking can be observed in a TED Talk by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, where he discusses policies addressing income disparity. Kristof critically evaluates various proposals, weighing their benefits and shortcomings, considering empirical evidence, and acknowledging counterarguments. He emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions like early childhood education and progressive taxation while recognizing potential drawbacks. His analytical approach showcases elements such as clarity, accuracy, relevance, logical coherence, and fairness. Kristof’s reasoned analysis aids audiences in understanding complex issues and fosters informed discussions about solutions to income inequality, exemplifying effective critical thinking practices.

Example Demonstrating Lack of Critical Thinking

An example lacking critical thinking is a social media post claiming that poverty is solely due to personal laziness, with no consideration of structural factors. The author makes a sweeping generalization without citing evidence or considering broader socio-economic contexts, thus committing a logical fallacy. This post demonstrates a lack of accuracy, relevance, and fairness, as it ignores systemic barriers like access to education, discrimination, and economic policies. It also displays emotional bias, impeding rational analysis. Such simplistic and biased claims hinder effective understanding and solutions for poverty and income inequality, illustrating poor critical thinking skills in public discourse.

Conclusion

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in analyzing claims about poverty and income inequality. Recognizing elements like clarity, accuracy, relevance, logical coherence, and fairness enhances our ability to evaluate arguments critically. Comparing an example of good critical thinking with one lacking these elements illustrates their importance in fostering rational discourse and effective problem-solving related to social justice issues. Developing these skills is essential for engaging in informed debates and advocating for meaningful change.

References

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