critical thinking in everyday life

Critical Thinking In Everyday Critical Thinking In Everyday LifeLife

General Guidelines:General Guidelines:1.1. Read (or listen) carefully.Read (or listen) carefully.2.2. Look for hidden assumptions.Look for hidden assumptions.3.3. Identify the real issue.Identify the real issue.4.4. Use visual aids.Use visual aids.5.5. Understand all the options.Understand all the options.6.6. Watch for fine print and missing Watch for fine print and missing information.information.7.7. Are other conclusions possible?Are other conclusions possible?

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General Guidelines.General Guidelines.1.1. Read (or listen) carefully.Read (or listen) carefully.2.2. Look for hidden assumptions.Look for hidden assumptions.3.3. Identify the real issue.Identify the real issue.4.4. Use visual aids.Use visual aids.5.5. Understand all the options.Understand all the options.6.6. Watch for fine print and missing Watch for fine print and missing information.information.7.7. Are other conclusions possible?Are other conclusions possible?

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Example 1Example 1Shall there be an amendment to the Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution to prohibit the Colorado constitution to prohibit the state of Colorado and any of its political state of Colorado and any of its political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing subdivisions from adopting or enforcing any law or policy which provides that any law or policy which provides that homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation, conduct or relationships orientation, conduct or relationships constitutes or entitles a person to claim constitutes or entitles a person to claim any minority or protected status, quota any minority or protected status, quota preferences, or discrimination?preferences, or discrimination?

Shall there be an amendmentShall there be an amendment to to the Colorado constitution the Colorado constitution toto prohibitprohibit the state of Colorado and the state of Colorado and any of its political subdivisions from any of its political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing any lawadopting or enforcing any law or or policy policy which provides that which provides that homosexualhomosexual, lesbian, or bisexual , lesbian, or bisexual orientation, conduct or orientation, conduct or relationshipsrelationships constitutes or constitutes or entitleentitles s a person to claim any minority or a person to claim any minority or protected status, quota protected status, quota preferences, or discriminationpreferences, or discrimination??

•YesYes = vote = vote againstagainst gay rights gay rights

•NoNo = vote = vote forfor gay rights gay rights



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Example 2Example 2

We should build more prisons We should build more prisons because incarcerating more because incarcerating more criminals will reduce the crime rate.criminals will reduce the crime rate.

Hidden AssumptionsHidden Assumptions::• If we build more prisons, more If we build more prisons, more

criminals can be put in them.criminals can be put in them.• If we put more criminals in prisons, If we put more criminals in prisons,

then the crime rate will be reduced.then the crime rate will be reduced.• Reducing the crime rate is a “good Reducing the crime rate is a “good

thing.”thing.”



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Example 3Example 3With last Saturday’s sellout crowd at With last Saturday’s sellout crowd at the Moonlight Amphitheater, it is clear the Moonlight Amphitheater, it is clear that the parking problem has become that the parking problem has become hopeless. Concert goers parked along hopeless. Concert goers parked along residential streets up to a mile away residential streets up to a mile away from the amphitheater, badly from the amphitheater, badly overcrowding sidewalks, blocking overcrowding sidewalks, blocking driveways, and disrupting traffic. In driveways, and disrupting traffic. In light of this parking problem, future light of this parking problem, future rock concerts should be canceled.rock concerts should be canceled.



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Example 4Example 4A single person who can be claimed as a A single person who can be claimed as a

dependent on another person’s tax return dependent on another person’s tax return and is either 65 or older or blind must file and is either 65 or older or blind must file a return ifa return if

i) earned income was more than $5350 i) earned income was more than $5350 ($6400 if 65 or older and blind) or($6400 if 65 or older and blind) or

ii) unearned income was more than $1750 ii) unearned income was more than $1750 ($2800 if 65 or older and blind) or($2800 if 65 or older and blind) or

iii) gross income was more than the total of iii) gross income was more than the total of earned income (up to $4300) or $700, earned income (up to $4300) or $700, whichever is greater plus $1050 ($2100 if whichever is greater plus $1050 ($2100 if 65 or over and blind)65 or over and blind)

Chase is 15, and claimed as a Chase is 15, and claimed as a dependent on his parent’s tax return. dependent on his parent’s tax return. He has an earned income of $6500. He has an earned income of $6500. Does this policy apply to Chase? Does this policy apply to Chase? Must he file a return?Must he file a return?

Chase is 15, and claimed as a Chase is 15, and claimed as a dependent on his parent’s tax return. dependent on his parent’s tax return. He has an earned income of $6500. He has an earned income of $6500. Does this policy apply to Chase? Does this policy apply to Chase? Must he file a return?Must he file a return?

Over 65 ? Over 65 ? (no) (no) blind ? blind ? (no)(no)

So – does not apply to ChaseSo – does not apply to Chase

Carmen is single, 24, blind, claimed as Carmen is single, 24, blind, claimed as a dependent on her parent’s return. a dependent on her parent’s return. Her earned income is $6500, and her Her earned income is $6500, and her unearned income is $750. Must she unearned income is $750. Must she file a return?file a return?

Carmen is single, 24, blind, claimed as Carmen is single, 24, blind, claimed as a dependent on her parent’s return. a dependent on her parent’s return. Her earned income is $6500, and her Her earned income is $6500, and her unearned income is $750. Must she unearned income is $750. Must she file a return?file a return?

Over 65 ? Over 65 ? (no) (no) blind ?blind ? (yes)(yes)

Her earned income is more than $5350 Her earned income is more than $5350 – so she must file a return.– so she must file a return.

Serena is 68, single, blind, claimed as a Serena is 68, single, blind, claimed as a dependent on her son’s return. Her dependent on her son’s return. Her gross income is $2500, earned gross income is $2500, earned income is $550. Must she file a income is $550. Must she file a return?return?

Serena is 68, single, blind, claimed as a Serena is 68, single, blind, claimed as a dependent on her son’s return. Her dependent on her son’s return. Her gross income is $2500, earned gross income is $2500, earned income is $550. Must she file a income is $550. Must she file a return?return?

Over 65 ? Over 65 ? (yes) (yes) blind ?blind ? (yes)(yes)

Gross income < $700+$2100 = $2800, Gross income < $700+$2100 = $2800, She does not need to file a return.She does not need to file a return.



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Example 5Example 5You are planning a trip six months in You are planning a trip six months in

advance and discover you have two advance and discover you have two ticket options:ticket options:

A fare of $1100, but 25% is A fare of $1100, but 25% is nonrefundable if you change or nonrefundable if you change or cancel the ticket.cancel the ticket.

A fully refundable ticket is available A fully refundable ticket is available for $1900.for $1900.

•Ticket ATicket A– GO: $1100GO: $1100– Cancel: $275Cancel: $275

•Ticket BTicket B– GO: $1900GO: $1900– Cancel: $0Cancel: $0



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Example 6Example 6

““I’ve enclosed $1.50 (that’s 1I’ve enclosed $1.50 (that’s 1¢¢ for for 12 CDs plus $1.49 for enrollment 12 CDs plus $1.49 for enrollment charge). I agree to buy 6 CDs at charge). I agree to buy 6 CDs at regular Club prices within the next regular Club prices within the next two years.two years.

A shipping/handling charge is added to each shipment. A shipping/handling charge is added to each shipment. Applicable sales tax added to each order.Applicable sales tax added to each order.



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The development of nuclear weapons changed the The development of nuclear weapons changed the way world leaders think about potential conflicts. A way world leaders think about potential conflicts. A single nuclear weapon can kill millions of people, single nuclear weapon can kill millions of people, and the arsenals of the United States and the Soviet and the arsenals of the United States and the Soviet Union contained enough power to kill everyone on Union contained enough power to kill everyone on Earth many times over. This potential for Earth many times over. This potential for catastrophic damage led to the idea of nuclear catastrophic damage led to the idea of nuclear deterrence, which held that the United States and deterrence, which held that the United States and the Soviet Union would be deterred from direct the Soviet Union would be deterred from direct warfare by the fear of nuclear war. For the more warfare by the fear of nuclear war. For the more than 45 years of the Cold War, the United States and than 45 years of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union never did fight directly. This was the Soviet Union never did fight directly. This was one of the longest periods in human history during one of the longest periods in human history during which two major enemies avoided direct war. We which two major enemies avoided direct war. We can only conclude that nuclear deterrence can only conclude that nuclear deterrence prevented war between the United States and the prevented war between the United States and the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

PracticePractice

Although the plane crashed in Although the plane crashed in Nevada, the survivors were buried Nevada, the survivors were buried in California.in California.

Sue prefers the Red Shuttle because Sue prefers the Red Shuttle because it gets her to the airport in an it gets her to the airport in an hour and a half, while the Blue hour and a half, while the Blue Shuttle takes 80 minutes.Shuttle takes 80 minutes.

PracticePractice

We should stop renting and buy a We should stop renting and buy a house now because interest rates house now because interest rates are so low.are so low.

Hidden assumptions?Hidden assumptions?

PracticePractice

I need a special computer for a I need a special computer for a project I will be working on for the project I will be working on for the next 3 months. After that, I will next 3 months. After that, I will no longer need the computer. I no longer need the computer. I can lease the computer for can lease the computer for $350/month, or I can buy it for $350/month, or I can buy it for $2100. If I resell it after 3 $2100. If I resell it after 3 months, I can expect to get months, I can expect to get $1200.$1200.

•LeaseLease3x$3503x$350

=$1050=$1050

•PurchasePurchase$2100 – resale $2100 – resale

($1200) ($1200) = =

$900$900

PracticePractice

You own a small business and need You own a small business and need to be in Houston on Monday for a to be in Houston on Monday for a meeting. You could fly to the meeting. You could fly to the meeting Monday morning and meeting Monday morning and return Monday evening on a ticket return Monday evening on a ticket priced at $750. However, if you priced at $750. However, if you include a Saturday night stay in include a Saturday night stay in your trip, the ticket will be only your trip, the ticket will be only $335.$335.

PracticePractice

A hotel will cost $105/nightA hotel will cost $105/night

You estimate that meals away from You estimate that meals away from home will cost home will cost ≈ ≈ $55 per day.$55 per day.

•MondayMonday$750$750

•SaturdaySaturday $335$3352x $105 2x $105 2x $552x $55

= = $655$655

PracticePractice

The athletic program is given more The athletic program is given more money than any academic money than any academic department, so this university department, so this university must value athletics over must value athletics over academics. Also, the football academics. Also, the football coach is the highest paid coach is the highest paid university employee.university employee.

Homework for WednesdayHomework for Wednesday

Pages 75-79Pages 75-79#12, 19, 24, 34, 47#12, 19, 24, 34, 47

critical thinking in everyday life

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