From Formed to Informed Opinions

From Formedto Informed Opinions

RHETORIC IFall 2009

Bruce ClaryInstructor

Nothing is so firmly believedas what we least know.

– Michel de Montaigne

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Nothing is so firmly believedas what we least know.

– Michel de Montaigne

RHETORIC IFall 2009


To become educated is to movefrom cocksure ignorance to thoughtful uncertainty.

– Unknown

First, Some Definitions

RHETORIC IFall 2009



RHETORIC IFall 2009


• Opinion: a conclusion or a judgment that, although it is open to question, seems true or probable to you


RHETORIC IFall 2009


• Opinion: a conclusion or a judgment that, although it is open to question, seems true or probable to you

• Fact: a thing that is indisputably true; the truth about events as opposed to interpretation

Examples of Facts

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Topeka is the capital of Kansas.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama posted a copy of his birth certificate online as a response to opponents who claimed that he was not a “natural born citizen” and, thus, ineligible to be President of the United States.

Examples of Opinions

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Of all the 50 states, Kansas may bethe most backward.

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963,

by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The birth certificate that Barack Obama produced to verify that he was born in Hawaii in 1961 – and thus a qualified candidate for President of the United States – is a forgery.

Your Turn

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Your Turn

RHETORIC IFall 2009


In groups of three, generate a short list of facts.

Then develop a claim about each fact that is based upon interpretation, thus adding the element of uncertainty.

Where Do Our OpinionsCome From?

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Received (inherited) opinions

Involuntary opinions

Adapted opinions

Linked opinions

And... (what we’re after)...

RHETORIC IFall 2009


And... (what we’re after)...

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Informed opinions

How do we get there?

RHETORIC IFall 2009


How do we get there?

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Critical Thinking

The Three Essential Attitudes

RHETORIC IFall 2009



RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. A willingness to recognize that our own belief or position is an opinion that could be mistaken.


RHETORIC IFall 2009



2. A willingness to acknowledge the possibility that another’s opinion could be correct.


RHETORIC IFall 2009



2. A willingness to acknowledge the possibility that another’s opinion could be correct.

3. A willingness to do the hard work necessary to acquire and evaluate information/evidence.

RHETORIC IFall 2009


❝To say that [critical thinking] implies a skeptical state of mind is by no means to say that it implies a self-satisfied fault-finding state of mind. Quite the reverse: Because critical thinkers seek to draw intelligent conclusions, they are sufficiently open-minded that they can adopt a skeptical attitude toward their own ideas, toward their own assumptions, and toward the evidence they themselves tentatively offer, as well as toward the assumptions and evidence offered by others.❞

–Barnet & Bedau, p. 3-4

RHETORIC IFall 2009


❝ The heart of critical thinking is a willingness to face objections to one’s own beliefs, a willingness to adopt a skeptical attitude not only toward authority and toward views opposed to our own but also toward common sense – that is, toward the views that seem obviously right to us.❞

–Barnet & Bedau, p. 3-4

Two Models of Critical Thinking

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Stock Issues

2. Elements of Thought

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages

Is what we’re talking about relevant?

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages


What’s the real cause of the problem?

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages



Is this really that big of a deal?

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages




Is the proposed answer realistic?

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages





Will it really solve the problem?

Stock Issues Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Topicality

2. Inherency

3. Significance

4. Workability

5. Solvency

6. Disadvantages





Will it really solve the problem?

What unintended effects might occur?

Elements of Thought Model

RHETORIC IFall 2009



RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,


RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,we think for a purposewithin a point of viewbased on assumptionsleading to implications and consequences.


RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,we think for a purposewithin a point of viewbased on assumptionsleading to implications and consequences.We use data, facts, and experiencesto make inferences and judgmentsbased on concepts and theoriesto answer a question or solve a problem.


RHETORIC IFall 2009



RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,


RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,we think for a ____________within a ________________based on _______________leading to ______________ and consequences.


RHETORIC IFall 2009


Whenever we think,we think for a ____________within a ________________based on _______________leading to ______________ and consequences.We use ______, facts, and experiencesto make _____________ and judgmentsbased on ___________ and theoriesto answer a ____________ or solve a problem.

Consider also…

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Consider also…

RHETORIC IFall 2009


1. Checklist for Critical Thinking (p. 14)

Consider also…

RHETORIC IFall 2009



2. Checklist for Examining Assumptions (p. 19)

Consider also…

RHETORIC IFall 2009



2. Checklist for Examining Assumptions (p. 19)

3. Checklist for Evaluating Letters of Response (p. 22)

Keep your eyes on the prize

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Keep your eyes on the prize

RHETORIC IFall 2009


Moving from cocksure ignoranceto thoughtful uncertainty.

Education

From Formed to Informed Opinions