Page 123 - Keys To Community College Success

get analytical

ANALYZE A STATEMENT

Complete the following on paper or in digital format.
Consider the statement below; then analyze it by answering the questions that follow.
“There’s no point in pursuing a career area that you love
if it isn’t going to earn you a living.”

1. Is this statement fact or opinion? Why?
2. What examples can you think of that support or negate this statement?
3. What perspective(s) are guiding this statement?
4. What assumption(s) underlie the statement? What negative effects might result from accepting these assumptions
and therefore agreeing with the statement?
5. As a result of your critical thinking, what is your evaluation of this statement?

3. Do causes and effects link logically?
Look at the reasons given for why something happened (causes) and the explanation of
its consequences (effects, both positive and negative). For example, an article might detail
what causes young teens to use the Internet after school, and the effects that this has on
their family life. The cause-and-effect chain in the article should make sense to you.
An important caution: Analyze carefully to seek out key or “root” causes—the true
and significant causes of a problem or situation. For example, many factors may be
involved in why young teens spend large amounts of time on the Internet, including
availability of service, previous experience, and education level of parents, but on care-
ful examination one or two factors seem to be more significant than others.

4. Is the evidence biased? BIAS
Evidence with a bias is evidence that is slanted in a particular direction. Searching for a A preference or inclination,
bias involves looking for hidden perspectives or assumptions that lie within the material. especially one that prevents
A perspective can be broad (such as a generally optimistic or pessimistic view of
even-handed judgment.
life) or more focused (such as an attitude about whether students should commute or
live on campus). Perspectives are associated with assumptions. For example, the per- PERSPECTIVE
spective that people can maintain control over technology leads to assumptions such as A characteristic way of
“Parents can control children’s exposure to the Internet.” Having a particular experi- thinking about people,
ence with children and the Internet can build or reinforce a perspective. situations, events,
and ideas.
Assumptions often hide within questions and statements, blocking you from con-
sidering information in different ways. Take this classic puzzler as an example: “Which
came first, the chicken or the egg?” Thinking about this question, most people assume ASSUMPTION
that the egg is a chicken egg. If you think past that assumption and come up with a new A judgment, generalization,
idea—such as, the egg is a dinosaur egg—then the obvious answer is that the egg came or bias influenced by
first. Key 4.3 offers examples of how perspectives and assumptions can affect what you experience and values.
read or hear through the media.
Examining perspectives and assumptions helps you judge whether material is reliable.
The less bias you can identify, the more reliable the information.

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