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Welcome to a LART1100 tutorial on critical thinking: using the elements of reasoning as a basis for analyzing a text.*

The purpose of this tutorial is to show how the elements of reasoning can be used to analyze a text into its rational components. It is written from the perspective that we (at least in part) are rational beings. Consequently, it is assumed that all of our activities, including academic disciplines, texts and languages, are imbued with logic. Analyzing a text requires that we make this logic explicit by identifying its elements.

Directed thinking or reasoning must involve a frame of reference or perspective as it must start from somewhere. Second, it involves a purpose which can be related to a set of questions and/or problems to be explored,or to a thesis that the author wishes to defend. It must also include assumptions, as all ideas can not be considered at once. Taken together these may be considered starting points. Thinking also includes strictly conceptual elements in the form of concepts (definitions), principles (or hypotheses), and possibly theories. In additional to starting and conceptual elements, it will also contain empirical elements in the form of facts (empirical and historical) and examples. Finally, reasoning leads somewhere--to inferencesorconclusions (based on the processes of induction and deductive reasoning) and to implications or consequences which have to do with "reality." This material can be summarized as follows.

STARTING ELEMENTS What is the author's purpose? What problem(s) and/or question(s) does the author address? Or what thesis does the author attempt to defend? What is the authors point of view or frame of reference? What assumptions does the author make?
CONCEPTUAL ELEMENTS What are the author's key concepts (definitions)? What ideas or principles does the author clarify? What theories does the author present?	[REASONING PROCESSES (Deductive, Inductive, & Analogical)]	EMPIRICAL ELEMENTS What evidence/data/facts/information does the author present? What examples, does the author use?
ENDING ELEMENTS What inferences and conclusions does the author draw? What implications or consequences follow from the authors reasoning?

By clicking on definitions,examples,orexercises above you can start an interactive set of frames that define, demonstrate, and test these elements of reasoning. Clicking on definitions leads to a set of frames where you can click on a term and be given a definition of the term. It also will provide you with a two-dimensional model of the elements of thought. Clicking on example will provide you with examples of how the elements can be used to analyze a text--in this case a text from J. S. Mill. You can also find suggestions for how to apply them in your own writing. Finally, clicking on exercises will give you a chance to practice the skills with texts from Hobbes and Locke. Suggested answers will be provided.

The frames can be used most effectively by clicking back and forth between the definitions and the examples first, and then going to the exercises. Remember the top row of the window controls the bottom row. And in the bottom row, the left column controls the right column. Just click on the highlighted words to move around the tutorial.

Good luck in learning how truth is put into words--Dr. Farmen

When using frames, you may also use the RIGHT mouse button while in a frame to return to a previous frame.

*The above categories and definitions are based on the work of Richard Paul and Linda Elder. --used with permission.