Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualizing, applying, analysing, synthesising, and/or evaluating information gathered from or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Examples from daily life • Bk burning after exams and its justifications • Ashley Madison website to be banned and its justifications • Vegetarian ad on dog and calf

An introduction to the AQ

Overview of lecture • ‘A’ level AQ qns and Requirements • An Approach to an AQ -Analysis of keywords -Possible Stands and Introduction -Selection of Relevant Arguments -Explanation -Evaluation -Evidence -Link -Conclusion

Examples of AQ qns Single Passage • In this article, Michael Gordon writes about some of the roles and functions music plays in modern life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with his views? Illustrate your answer by referring to the ways in which you and your society regard music. (2012) • In this article, O’Sullivan describes some current issues around the subject of food. How applicable do you find her observations to yourself and your own society? (2010)

Examples of AQ qns Double Passage • With which of the two authors are you most in sympathy? Explain the reasons for your choice. How relevant are the views raised by both authors to Singapore society? (2003) • A thinks that an understanding of history is essential, whereas B thinks that history has no value. How important is an understanding of history for you and your society, and how far has your views been challenged or confirmed by these two passages. (2008)

Assessment Requirements • Requirements (R)* • Addresses all parts of the question • Provides a balanced treatment by examining ideas/issues from different viewpoints • Explanation (Ex) • Explains and elaborates on the ideas that are selected from the passage & own arguments

Assessment Requirements • Evaluation (Ev) • Provides very convincing judgments/ conclusions about the ideas • Supports with personal insights/examples • Coherence (C) • Good paragraphing/organisation • Arguments make sense and flow well • Appropriate Linking Devices used

Examiners’ Comments • Many produced vigorous, articulate and well structured responses. • Many produced lively and well-structured responses, with an attention-grabbing introduction. • Strong answers featured a variety of discourse markers to delineate and connect paragraphs, and a succinct conclusion. • Weaker scripts, on the other hand, failed to include one or more of these.

Rubrics

Structure of your AQ 1 para • Introduction with stand • 1st relevant arg • Brief Explanation • Evaluation +/ Application • 2nd relevant arg • Brief Explanation • Evaluation +/ Application • 3rd relevant arg • Brief Explanation • Evaluation +/ Application • Conclusion 1 para 1 para 1 para 1 para

Read the passage and consider this question The passage examines our preoccupation with busyness and suggests the need to indulge in idleness to maintain an ideal life. To what extent do you agree with the writer’s views? Support your answer with observations and examples drawn from your society.

1. Analyse key words To what extent do you agree with the writer’s views? Support your answer with observations and examples drawn from your society. R1 :Stand indicating where you would slant towards in introduction R2 :Select arguments from writer[at least 3 but depends on qn] R3 :Your reasons for largely agreeing or largely disagreeing with the selected arguments based on what you know of your society R4 :Your supporting examples/evidence

Possible Stands To what extent do you agree or disagree with his views? • While his views are largely valid, some are not sound. • While his views are largely valid, some are without adequate justifications/ basis. • Most of his arguments seem plausible/ convincing on the surface but upon deeper analysis, they reveal some flaws. • Many of his views on …are rather optimistic and need to be carefully examined. • I largely disagree with his views as they are very optimistic and some views lack proper justifications especially when applied to my society, Singapore.

Introduction - Examiner’s Comment • Many candidates are now providing an introductory paragraph featuring a succinct overview of the passage and sketching out the issues which will be addressed in the main body of the answer.

Writing the Introduction • Briefly discuss the main ideas of writer/s • Balanced stand indicating extent of agreement with specific ideas [optional] • Reasons: Salient Similarities/ Differences between context and your society, resulting in different outcomes • Reiteration of Stand

Example of an Intro Main Idea In this passage, Tim Kreider illustrates how the preoccupation with work has become more and more prevalent in today’s society. He suggests that there should be a balance between work and idleness to maintain an ideal life. His views might hold true in an American society, but not necessarily in Singapore, where competition has driven this small country with minimal physical resources to work tirelessly to rise to be a strong economic power in her region. As such, Kreider is applicable only to a certain extent in such a globally competitive nation like Singapore. Balanced Stand Reasons Restate Stand

How to select arguments? VERY IMPORTANT • Points can usually be found from the summary • Select the arguments that answer the question • One argument per paragraph! Do not select specific examples! Selection and reference to writer’s arguments According to (writer’s surname) in Passage A/B… Or The writer (surname) argues in lines x to x that …

How to Explain? • Read other parts of the passage/answers to the short questions for a complete understanding of the issue • Clearly & fully convey the author’s argument • E.g. “By this, the writer means/implies/suggests that…” • Explain briefly what this argument is about • Include the author’s attitude (if detectable) Not a mere quote!

How do I evaluate?

Socratic Questioning

1ST Selected Argument and explanation Busyness is self-imposed due to aspirations ‘It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed…because of their own ambition or drive’ (lines 7-10). Explanation According to the writer in lines 7-9, people choose to be busy due to their aspiration to do well in life.

Questions to aid Evaluation Busyness is self-imposed due to ambition • How does being busy help people in my society to fulfil their ambitions? • Are there examples from my society to prove the above? • Why do people in my society choose to be busy?/ Is it really because of ambition? • What are the PESC [political/economic/social/cultural] conditions that are similar to the passage’s context or that differ? • Is there evidence to prove that there are other reasons than ambition to account for our busyness?

[Explanation+ Evaluation + evidence +link] Agree According to the writer in lines 7-9, people choose to be busy due to their aspiration to do well in life. I largely agree with Kreider in this respect because ambition is linked to success and economic survival. Most people would pile on the amount of work and hours put in so that they can gain more rewards and promotion at work. This is also applicable to my society. In Singapore’s success-driven and competitive society, where people continually ratchet up expectations for occupational and professional success, we worship the mantra of “work hard, play hard.” Very often, work is self-imposed and we willingly do more to stand out from the crowd (or maybe even to keep ourselves from falling behind). Moreover, the meritocratic system in Singapore has instilled in us a belief that a person has to work hard to earn his reward. Someone who is idle and not working is thus seen as not contributing to an organisation. This prevalent mindset encourages people to impose busyness on themselves in order to appear useful to their bosses. A report from the Boston Consulting Group in 2012 found that more than one in every six Singapore households have disposable private wealth of over US$1 million.This is the Singapore version of the American dream which drives most Singaporeans to work hard. Therefore, as with the people in the writer’s society, Singaporeans are themselves responsible for their hectic life.

EX: What is the writer saying or arguing about? According to the writer in lines 7-9, people choose to be busy due to their aspiration to do well in life.

Stand +Evaluation I largely agree with Kreider in this respect because ambition is linked to success and economic survival. Most people would pile on the amount of work and hours put in so that they can gain more rewards and promotion at work. This is also applicable to my society. In Singapore’s success-driven and competitive society, where people continually ratchet up expectations for occupational and professional success, we worship the mantra of “work hard, play hard.” Very often, work is self-imposed and we willingly do more to stand out from the crowd (or maybe even to keep ourselves from falling behind). • What is my opinion? • EV: Reasons • How? • EV: Why? Economic & Soc. • EV: How?

Evaluation Moreover, the meritocratic system in Singapore has instilled in us a belief that a person has to work hard to earn his reward. Someone who is idle and not working is thus seen as not contributing to an organisation. This prevalent mindset encourages people to impose busyness on themselves in order to appear useful to their bosses. • Signpost : ‘Moreover’ • EV: Why? Social • EV: How? • EV: How? • Result= busyness

Evidence A report from the Boston Consulting Group in 2012, found that more than one in every six Singapore households have disposable private wealth of over US$1 million. This is the Singapore version of the American dream which drives most Singaporeans to work hard. • Statistics • EV: Point of evidence • EV: Why busy? Economic/Materialism

L: Link Therefore, as with the people in the writer’s society, Singaporeans are themselves responsible for their hectic life. • Signpost: ‘therefore’ Link back to topic sentence • Responsible = self-imposed busyness

Balance: Limitations However, though many in my society choose to be busy to fulfil their ambitions, others may not be busy out of choice. The author fails to consider the demands of surviving in my society today. Given the greater competition for jobs from foreign talents and workers, people’s financial situations require them to maintain multiple jobs and work long hours. Employees are easily replaceable if they are unwilling to meet their bosses’ requests and expectations. Also, the rising cost of living and the nation’s limited safety net force people to meet their financial needs without significant state-support. This is seen in the cost of living in Singapore which has increased dramatically. From 2001 to 2012, Singapore skyrocketed from the 97th to the 9th most expensive city in the world. Hence although people in our society are busy, sometimes it is not by choice but by circumstance. [Evaluation+ evidence +link]

EV However, though many in my society choose to be busy to fulfil their ambitions, others may not be busy out of choice. The author fails to consider the demands of surviving in my society today. Given the greater competition for jobs from foreign talents and workers, people’s financial situations require them to maintain multiple jobs and work long hours. Employees are easily replaceable if they are unwilling to meet their bosses’ requests and expectations. Also, the rising cost of living and the nation’s limited safety net force people to meet their financial needs without significant state-support. • Signpost : However • EV: Balance ‘Many’ with ‘others’/ What is my opinion? • EV: Why? Economic/global trends • EV: How? • EV: Why? Economic & Social • EV: How?

Evidence The cost of living in Singapore has increased dramatically. From 2001 to 2012, Singapore skyrocketed from the 97th to the 9th most expensive city in the world. • Statistic to support point • about cost of living

L: Link Hence although people in our society are busy, sometimes it is not by choice but by circumstance. • Links back to topic sentence • Not self-imposed for the others who are not so lucky

SUMMARY OF Framework • SELECTED ARGUMENT FROM WRITER IN OWN WORDS • EXPLANATION • EVALUATION • EVIDENCE • LINK BACK TO YOUR ARG. & STAND

Examiners’ Comments – gd answers • Many references were made to various key factors that shaped or determined the fast-paced lifestyles of Singaporeans, citing among these; the absence of natural resources, a meritocratic system that supported competition for tangible rewards, a welfare-less state and rise of materialistic tendencies as reflected in the Singapore dream associated with the 5Cs - cash, credit cards, cars, condominiums, and country club memberships. Such an analysis of aspects of Singaporean society is exactly what the application question requires.

Examiners’ Comments- weak answers • Fairly trivial and limited examples were drawn from society by referring to only the lives of students, instead of examining other groups in society. Example: • Yes, Singapore society is also very hectic. Students like me are so busy that we do not even have time to eat or to sleep. I attend school from 7.30am till 6.30pm and still have to participate in CCA. By the time I reach home, it is already 11pm….

Examiner’s Comment on Conclusion • A number of candidates presented a simplistic or one-lined conclusion. The attempt to adopt such an abrupt way of ending missed out on portraying an overall picture about the implications of their stand on their society or the world.

Conclusion of AQ All in all, a balance must be struck between diligence and idleness. An excessive amount of either will yield harmful results to individuals and the society as a whole. Hence, we have to evaluate thoroughly the pros and cons of each to arrive at a sensible decision. Or In conclusion, not all the views of the author apply to Singapore as Singapore is different from America in many aspects. His views are relevant somewhere else, but not here in Singapore. Singaporeans can thus learn from his views, but should not blindly adopt themas we are a nation that aims to be perpetually competitive in the global community. Indeed we have no choice but to be so.

Checklist • Select arguments that you have something to elaborate on. • Rephrase the arguments in your own words and signal where they are taken from. • Pose questions to the claims/ reasons used by the author to stimulate ideas and to assess the writer’s arguments. • Justify and explain your opinions. • Give qualified rather than extreme statements. • Think about the strengths and weaknesses of the claims made by the writer to present a fair assessment. • Point out the limitations where possible to show some areas for alternative consideration. • Use specific examples and show how they support your point. Do not refer to examples that are specific to certain individuals and cannot be generalised. • If you are asked to talk about your personal experience, do so without becoming trivial and make it refreshingly convincing.

Checklist • Check that you have explicitly referred to your country for arguments and examples. • Make sure you have included PESC factors in your answer. • How does my society normally react to such situations, ideas and suggestions? • What else in my society can validate/challenge the writer’s argument?

I think therefore I am

Critical Thinking