Critical Thinking Competency

On a standardized test or in a written assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to analyze information, evaluate material, and use inference to draw conclusions, use deductive reasoning, and use inductive reasoning at a college level.

Critical Thinking:

Critical thinking is the process of actively and skillfully using a set of core skills–analysis, evaluation, inference, deductive reasoning, and inductive reasoning–to process and generate information and beliefs.

Rio Salado College: Critical Thinking Competency

Four-Point Rubric

4 = High level excellence in evidence of critical thinking ability and performance at the college level
3 = Demonstrable, competent, expected evidence of critical thinking ability and performance at the college level
2 = Minimally acceptable, inconsistent evidence of critical thinking ability and performance at the college level
1 = Poor, unacceptable evidence of critical thinking ability and performance at the college level

Analysis
4. Analyzes key information, questions, and problems clearly and precisely
3. Analyzes key information, questions, and problems competently
2. Analyzes some key information, questions, and problems competently
1. Is unable to analyze information, questions, and problems or does so superficially

Evaluation
4. Evaluates material with insight
3. Evaluates material competently
2. Evaluates material inconsistently
1. Is unable to evaluate material or does so superficially

Inference
4. Uses inference to reason carefully from clearly stated premises to important implications and consequences
3. Uses inference to reason competently from clearly stated premises to important implications and consequences
2. Uses inference to reason inconsistently from clearly stated premises to implications and consequences
1. Is unable to or infrequently uses inference to reason from clearly stated premises or recognize implications and consequences

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
4. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills consistently and with ease
3. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills competently
2. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills inconsistently and weakly
1. Is unable to or infrequently uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills

Analysis	4. Analyzes key information, questions, and problems clearly and precisely 3. Analyzes key information, questions, and problems competently 2. Analyzes some key information, questions, and problems competently 1. Is unable to analyze information, questions, and problems or does so superficially
Evaluation	4. Evaluates material with insight 3. Evaluates material competently 2. Evaluates material inconsistently 1. Is unable to evaluate material or does so superficially
Inference	4. Uses inference to reason carefully from clearly stated premises to important implications and consequences 3. Uses inference to reason competently from clearly stated premises to important implications and consequences 2. Uses inference to reason inconsistently from clearly stated premises to implications and consequences 1. Is unable to or infrequently uses inference to reason from clearly stated premises or recognize implications and consequences
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning	4. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills consistently and with ease 3. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills competently 2. Uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills inconsistently and weakly 1. Is unable to or infrequently uses deductive and/or inductive reasoning and problem-solving skills