SOCIAL STUDIES

1. SOCIAL STUDIES Unit 1: Thinking Critically

2. Unit Overview • Critical Thinking • Perception • Thought Patterns • Problem Solving • Facts Vs. Opinions • Propaganda and Bias • Reasoned Judgment

3. Critical Thinking • People think in different ways • Definition • Thinking clearly and with a purpose in mind • Why is thinking critically important? • Understand why you think and act the way you do. • More knowledgeable about your friends, family, and world around you.

4. Perception • “Perception is Reality”- True or False • Definition • The process of taking in information from the environment through the senses • Perception and Experience are part of the learning process • How do the five senses relate to perception?

5. Thought Patterns • How do we think? • Perceptions are the beginning • Perceptions lead to thoughts • Thoughts lead to actions (plural) • Thought Pattern- Definition • Connection of related thoughts leading to an action • Example on Page 7 • Actions- doing or not doing something • Mental or physical

6. Connection Process • Conceptualization • Brain tries to connect our perceptions with past experiences • Reaction • Evaluation of your action in thought process • If reaction was good, then your brain tells you to repeat what you did before.

7. Why is all this Important? • Understanding your thought patterns will lead to: • Improved critical thinking • Better understanding of why you think and act the way you do • Better understanding of other peoples thoughts and actions • Improve you problem solving abilities

8. Problem Solving I • Before you can solve a problem you must? • Know exactly what the problem is. • Express the problem clearly • Identify the main Issues • Compare and Contrast • Determine Relevance • Create Good Questions

9. Clarify the Problem • Are you part of the problem? • You must be honest with yourself • Experiment 1-D • Andy’s Problem is what?

10. Identify Central Issues • Identifying Societal Issues • Can be easier to identify • Identifying Personal Issues • Must have an honest evaluation of self • May need help to get to bottom of these issues • Look at Cartoon on pg. 15 • What are the central issues for each person?

11. Making Comparisons • How can you use comparisons to solve problems? • Look at how other people with similar problems have handled the situation. • Compare Vs Contrast • What are some examples of how / when you have used comparisons to help solve one of your problems?

12. What is Relevant? • Relevant- Thoughts that are linked together • Irrelevant- Thoughts that have nothing in common • Relevance may not always be obvious • Example: Pg 18 the Maple Seed

13. Questions that Matter • Most Problems have more than one solution • Good Questions lead us to many possible answers • Open-ended Questions • Closed-ended Questions • Questions lead to Answers

14. Problem Solving II • What are the First two steps in the Problem Solving Equation? • Step 1: Identify and clearly state the problem • Step 2: Judge Information

15. Judging Information • 2nd step in the problem solving process • How does one judge information? • One must ask • Is the information a fact or an opinion • Is the information Consistent • Be able to recognize assumptions • Distinguish False from Accurate Images • Recognize Propaganda, and bias

16. Fact vs. Opinion • What is a Fact? • Fact- is a statement that can be proven • What is an Opinion? • Opinion- not necessarily based on evidence and it can’t be proven right or wrong • What is an inference? • Inference- an educated guess based on available evidence from past experiences • Experiment 1-I on page 24

17. Inferences

18. Check for Consistency • What does it mean to be consistent? • Actions must be consistent with your words • What do we call inconsistent people • You can never solve problems if you are an inconsistent person • Experiment 1-J on page 26

19. Assuming Things • What is assuming? • Taking things for granted • Why do we assume? • Because of hidden beliefs about someone or something • Assumptions are not put into words • They are implied • What assumptions have you made? • Were they right or wrong?

20. True of False • What are stereotypes? • Oversimplified view, usually negative, of a person or a group of people • What are some examples of stereotypes? • Good and Bad • What are clichés? • Old fashion, worn-out phrase. • What are some examples of clichés? • Good and Bad

21. Propaganda, and Bias • What is propaganda? • Medium used to sway your opinion or beliefs • What is Bias? • Predisposition based on beliefs • What is an Ideology? • A whole set of beliefs about a topic

22. Propaganda • Experiment 1-M on page 32 • TV Ads and Propaganda • Experiment 1-M on page 32 • TV Ads and Propaganda

23. Problem Solving III • What are the three steps in the problem solving equation? • Step 1: Identify and Clarify the Problem • Step 2: Judge Information • Step 3: Draw Conclusions and Solve the Problem

24. Problem Solving III • What must one do to solve a problem? • One must: • Know cause and effect relationships • predict consequences • Identify Alternatives • Demonstrate Reasoned Judgment • Draw and Test Conclusions

25. Cause and Effect • How can understanding cause and effect help you solve problems? • Solve problems faster by identifying the direct cause/ causes of the problem • Sometimes can be hard to identify • Some problems have multiple causes • Multiple causation • Important to be honest, it is easy to blame others for your problems • Experiment 1-N

26. Consequences • In order to draw conclusions you must be able to predict consequences • What is Induction? • A pattern of thinking in which past experiences lead to conclusions about the present • By using induction and cause and effect relationships from our past we can better predict the consequences of our actions • IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: • Past cause and effect relationships must be consistent

27. Alternatives • Two kinds of thinking • Linear and Lateral • Both can be helpful in solving problems • Induction and analogies are examples of linear thinking • Brainstorming and thinking outside the box are examples of Lateral thinking

28. Linear Thinking Examples • Linear thinking uses common sense • It is thinking of a way to get to point B from point A in a logical sequence • Analogy Quiz

29. Lateral Thinking Examples • A man was walking along a railway track when he spotted an express train speeding towards him. To avoid it, he jumped off the track, but before he jumped he ran ten feet towards the train. Why? • “How much will one cost?” asked the customer in the hardware store. “Twenty cents,” replied the clerk. “And how much will twelve cost?” “Forty Cents.” “Okay. I’ll take one hundred and twelve.” “Fine. That will be sixty cents.” What is the customer buying?

30. Reasoned Judgment • How do you show reasoned Judgment? • When you use critical thinking skills you show reasoned judgment • Reasoning guided your decisions • Cause and Effect helps your reasoning • By understanding relationships • True Analogies vs. False Analogies • What are examples of both

31. Draw and Test Conclusions • How do you draw and test conclusions? • Lateral and Linear thinking to get to your possible solutions • Then use deduction to test your solutions • Deduction- a pattern of thinking in which two related statements, called premises, lead to a conclusion • What is a syllogism? • A form of deduction that helps show good reasoning or faulty reasoning. • A syllogism must have three characteristics • Premises must be true • Logical connection between the two premises • Conclusion must be true • Experiment 1-R

32. THE HUMAN KNOT • A group of six to 12 people forms a circle. Each person puts the right hand into the center of the circle and clasps hands with one other person who is not standing next to him or her. Then everyone puts their left hand into the circle and clasps hands, again making sure that person is not standing next to them. They should be holding two different people’s hands. The goal is to untangle the knot without letting go of anyone’s hand.

33. “Perception is Reality”