questions to ask yourself when studying

1. What process must I follow when critically analyzing a text?
The key to academic success is to engage ACTIVELY with the learning
content. Use the Socratic questions below to help you get into the habit of
thinking critically about all issues of life and at this point in your life,
especially your studies.
Socratic questioning is at the heart of critical thinking and draw from R.W.
Paul's six types of Socratic questions:
Apply these questions to all your interaction with your learning. That is what
ACTIVE learning is all about.
1. Questions
for
clarification
• Why are you saying that?
• What exactly does this mean?
• What do we already know about this?
• Can you give me an example?
• Are you saying ... or ... ?
2. Questions
that probe
assumptions
• What else could we assume?
• You seem to be assuming ... ?
• How did you choose those assumptions?
• Please explain why/how ... ?
• How can you verify or disprove that assumption?
• What would happen if ... ?
• Do you agree or disagree with ... ?
3. Questions
that probe
reasons and
evidence
• Why is that happening?
• How do you know this?
• Show me ... ?
• Can you give me an example of that?
• What do you think causes ... ?
• What is the nature of this?
• Are these reasons good enough?
• How can I be sure of what you are saying?
• Why is ... happening?
• What evidence is there to support what you are saying?
• On what authority are you basing your argument?

2. 4. Questions
about
viewpoints
and
perspectives
• What would be an alternative?
• What is another way to look at it?
• Would you explain why it is necessary or beneficial, and who benefits?
• Why is the best?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of...?
• How are...and ...similar?
• What is a counterargument for...?
• Can this approach be justified?
• What other alternative ways of looking are there?
• Why it is ... necessary?
• Who benefits from this?
5. Questions
that probe
implications
and
consequences
• What generalizations can you make?
• What are the consequences of that assumption?
• What are you implying?
• How does...affect...?
• How would our results be affected if neglected?
• Then what would happen?
• What are the consequences of that assumption?
• How could….be used to….?
• What are the implications of…?
• How does….fit with what we learned before?
• Why is…..important?
• Why this approach is considered the best?
• How does...tie in with what we learned before?
• How would our results be affected if neglected diffusion?"
6. Questions
about the
question
• What was the point of this question?
• Why do you think I asked this question?
• What does...mean?
• How does...apply to everyday life?
• "Why do you think …….. is important?"
http://www.umich.edu/~essen/html/probsolv/strategy/cthinking.htm
Downloaded November 2008