D265 - WGU - Critical Thinking - Reason
and Evidence
PROPOSITIONS - ANSAre statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - ANSAre sentences that are not statements about matters of fact or
fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - ANSHave no internal logic structure, meaning whether they are true
or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false. They are simply true or false
on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses. The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ANSHave internal logic structure, meaning they are composed of
simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether their parts are true or
false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me right now. The cat ate the food,
but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either $3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - ANSAND, OR, EITHER, BUT, IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ANSTHEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT, HENCE, THUS,
ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT, WHEREFORE, AND AS A
RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - ANSBECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ANSArguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate the
conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - ANSArguments where the premises make the conclusion
probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - ANSArguments where the best
available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - ANSConcerns the structure of an argument
INFORMAL FALLACY - ANSConcerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANSBad Argument Structure
, Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a
news story? - ANSWhether the name of the author and the publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information source? -
ANSWho funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites, one of
that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics, while the other
does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more
credible? - ANSIt is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information
provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the only source
of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - ANSSkeptically, because the
source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - ANSThe principle of charity suggests we should try to understand
ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - ANSIt is morally right
to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial and thus
never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and sufficiently argued essay in
which the author contends that the human adoption of any new technology involves both
advantages and disadvantages to its adopters. Since Smith is a loyal technophile, Smith
accepts the author's claims about the advantages of technology but rejects the author's claims
about the disadvantages of technology. - ANSConfirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ANSthe tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's
existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ANSa systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the human
brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience and preferences.
HEURISTICS - ANSare practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts in judgment
and decision-making.
Which sentence reflects strong critical thinking? - ANS"In any event, our purpose is to better
understand the relevant issues so that we may make an informed decision on the topic."
and Evidence
PROPOSITIONS - ANSAre statements that can be true or false
NON-PROPOSITONS - ANSAre sentences that are not statements about matters of fact or
fiction. They do not make a claim that can be true or false.
SIMPLE PROPOSITIONS - ANSHave no internal logic structure, meaning whether they are true
or false does not depend on whether a part of them is true or false. They are simply true or false
on their own. (Example: Harry Potter wears glasses. The sky is blue.)
COMPLEX PROPOSITIONS - ANSHave internal logic structure, meaning they are composed of
simple propositions. Whether they are true or false depends on whether their parts are true or
false. (Example: The sky is blue, but it does not look blue to me right now. The cat ate the food,
but he did not like it. The GDP of Canada is either $3 trillion or $12 trillion.)
Words used to identify Independent Propositions - ANSAND, OR, EITHER, BUT, IF, THEN.
CONCLUSION INDICATORS - ANSTHEREFORE, SO, IT FOLLOWS THAT, HENCE, THUS,
ENTAILS THAT, WE MAY CONCLUDE THAT, IMPLIES THAT, WHEREFORE, AND AS A
RESULT.
PREMISE INDICATORS - ANSBECAUSE, FOR, GIVEN THAT, AS, SINCE, AS INDICATED BY.
DEDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS - ANSArguments where the premises guarantee or necessitate the
conclusion.
-mathematical arguments, logical arguments, arguments from definition.
INDUCTION ARGUMENTS - ANSArguments where the premises make the conclusion
probable.
-analogies, authority, causal inferences, extrapolations, etc.
INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION OR ABDUCTION - ANSArguments where the best
available explanation is chosen as the correct explanation.
FORMAL FALLACY - ANSConcerns the structure of an argument
INFORMAL FALLACY - ANSConcerns the informational content of an argument
A FORMAL FALLACY IS A TYPE OF - ANSBad Argument Structure
, Which piece of information would be the most helpful to know in assessing the credibility of a
news story? - ANSWhether the name of the author and the publication are identified
Which questions are most appropriate for evaluating the credibility of an information source? -
ANSWho funded it? & Does it try to get you to distrust other sources?
While researching a topic on the internet, a student encounters two different websites, one of
that looks more official than the other and includes tables, charts, and statistics, while the other
does not.
What is the line of reasoning this student should employ to determine which site is more
credible? - ANSIt is not feasible to determine which site is more credible from the information
provided.
In which way should an information source be approached if it is stating that it is the only source
of real information and that other sources cannot be trusted? - ANSSkeptically, because the
source may lack credibility.
PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - ANSThe principle of charity suggests we should try to understand
ideas before criticizing them.
Which of the following are reasons for applying the principle of charity? - ANSIt is morally right
to give others the benefit of the doubt.
It allows for a clearer understanding of the issue.
Smith is committed to the belief that technological advancement is always beneficial and thus
never detrimental to human life. Smith reads a carefully written and sufficiently argued essay in
which the author contends that the human adoption of any new technology involves both
advantages and disadvantages to its adopters. Since Smith is a loyal technophile, Smith
accepts the author's claims about the advantages of technology but rejects the author's claims
about the disadvantages of technology. - ANSConfirmation Bias
CONFIRMATION BIAS - ANSthe tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's
existing beliefs or theories.
COGNITIVE BIAS - ANSa systematic thought process caused by the tendency of the human
brain to simplify information processing through a filter of personal experience and preferences.
HEURISTICS - ANSare practical rules of thumb that manifest as mental shortcuts in judgment
and decision-making.
Which sentence reflects strong critical thinking? - ANS"In any event, our purpose is to better
understand the relevant issues so that we may make an informed decision on the topic."
