<li>You seem to be assuming _____. Do I understand you correctly?</li>
<li>All of your reasoning depends on the idea that _____. Why have you based
your reasoning on _____ instead of _____?</li>
<li>You seem to be assuming _____. How do you justify taking that for granted?</li>
<li>Is that always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here?</li>
<li>Why would someone make that assumption? </li>
</ul>
<h3>Questions that probe reasons and evidence</h3>
<ul>
<li>What would be an example?</li>
<li>How do you know?</li>
<li>Why do you think that is true?</li>
<li>Do you have any evidence for that?</li>
<li>What difference does that make?</li>
<li>What are your reasons for saying that?</li>
<li>What other information do you need?</li>
<li>Could you explain your reasons to us?</li>
<li>Are these reasons adequate?</li>
<li>Why do you say that?</li>
<li>What led you to that belief?</li>
<li>How does that apply to this case?</li>
<li>What would change your mind?</li>
<li>But, is that good evidence for that belief?</li>
<li>Is there a reason to doubt that evidence?</li>
<li>Who is in a position to know that is true?</li>
<li>What would you say to someone who said that ____?</li>
<li>Can someone else give evidence to support that view?</li>
<li>By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion?</li>
<li>How could we find out if that is true? </li>
</ul>
<h3>Questions about Viewpoints or Perspectives </h3>
<ul>
<li>The term "imply" will require clarification when used with younger
students.</li>
<li>What are you implying by that?</li>
<li>When you say _____, are you implying _____?</li>
<li>But, if that happened, what else would happen as a result? Why?</li>
<li>What effect would that have?</li>
<li>Would that necessarily happen or only possibly/probably happen?</li>
<li>What is an alternative?</li>
<li>If _____ and _____ are the case, then what might also be true?</li>
<li>If we say that ____ is ethical, how about _____? </li>
</ul>
<h3>Questions that Probe Implications and Consequences </h3>
<ul>
<li>How can we find out?</li>
<li>What does this question assume?</li>
<li>Would _____ ask this question differently?</li>
<li>How could someone settle this question?</li>
<li>Can we break this question down at all?</li>
<li>Is this question clear? Do we understand it?</li>
<li>Is this question easy or hard to answer? Why?</li>
<li>Does this question ask us to evaluate something? What?</li>
<li>Do we all agree that this is the question?</li>
<li>To answer this question, what other questions must we answer first?</li>
<li>I'm not sure I understand how you are interpreting this question. Is this
the same as _____?</li>
<li>How would _____ state the issue?</li>
<li>Why is this issue important?</li>
<li>Is this the most important question, or is there an underlying question
that is really the issue? </li>
</ul>
<HR>
<FONTSIZE=1><I>Questions adapted from Paul, R. (1993). Critical Thinking: How To Prepare Students for a Rapidly Changing World: Foundation for Critical Thinking, Santa Rosa, CA. </I></FONT>