{"id":18277,"date":"2025-08-11T09:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T23:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/?p=18277"},"modified":"2025-08-05T13:18:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T03:18:30","slug":"critical-thinking-why-having-an-opinion-isnt-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/2025\/08\/11\/critical-thinking-why-having-an-opinion-isnt-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical Thinking: Why having an opinion isn\u2019t enough"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019re in a tutorial. Someone makes a bold claim. You agree\u2014but why? Is it backed by evidence or assumption-based?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Critical thinking isn\u2019t just about being critical. It\u2019s about synthesising ideas, questioning evidence, reflecting on assumptions and applying concepts in different contexts. It\u2019s also the foundation of building strong academic arguments.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Apply critical thinking in practice<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Critical thinking helps you become a better student, a stronger communicator and a more confident contributor in group discussions. Use it to:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Build an academic argument<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Identify assumptions, weigh evidence and structure your thinking logically.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Contribute to group discussions<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Listen actively, ask thoughtful questions and challenge ideas respectfully.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Understand course content<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<span data-contrast=\"auto\">Connect complex concepts, ask questions and spot gaps in your understanding.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Build critical thinking habits<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Critical thinking takes practice. Start by asking simple questions during class, while reading or working on assignments:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s the assumption here?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What would someone who disagrees say?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How does this connect to what I already know?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The more you ask, the more natural it becomes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Try it out<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Next time you\u2019re reading a journal article or scholarly paper, pause and ask: \u2018<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s the assumption here?<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019 See how it elevates your thinking.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Take it further<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Explore more <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.griffith.edu.au\/library\/study\/study-skills\/think-critically\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">resources on critical thinking<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.griffith.edu.au\/library\/contact\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">contact the Library<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> for support.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16880 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/04\/The-Library-here-to-help-logo-_-Transparent-150x150.png\" alt=\"red circle. Writing says &quot;The Library here to help&quot;\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/04\/The-Library-here-to-help-logo-_-Transparent-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/04\/The-Library-here-to-help-logo-_-Transparent-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/04\/The-Library-here-to-help-logo-_-Transparent-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2024\/04\/The-Library-here-to-help-logo-_-Transparent.png 985w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re in a tutorial. Someone makes a bold claim. You agree\u2014but why? Is it backed by evidence or assumption-based?\u00a0 Critical thinking isn\u2019t just about being critical. It\u2019s about synthesising ideas, questioning evidence, reflecting on assumptions and applying concepts in different contexts. It\u2019s also the foundation of building strong academic arguments.\u00a0 Apply critical thinking in practice\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/2025\/08\/11\/critical-thinking-why-having-an-opinion-isnt-enough\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Critical Thinking: Why having an opinion isn\u2019t enough&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":152,"featured_media":18278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[205],"class_list":["post-18277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-students","tag-library-tips"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Michelle DuBroy","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/36\/2025\/08\/womanlaptopgreentop.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/152"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18277\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/testblogs.griffith.edu.au\/library\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}