Critical Thinking Evaluation Checklist—High School

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Clarity Innovations

	Consistently	Sometimes	Rarely/ Never	Comments
Determining the Credibility of Sources: Student infers assumptions supporting information when determining the credibility of a source.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects bias.	¨	¨	¨
Student determines the expertise of an author.	¨	¨	¨
Student determines the credibility of qualitative and quantitative evidence.	¨	¨	¨
Responding to Persuasive Arguments: Student looks for sound reasoning in persuasive arguments.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects false dilemmas in arguments-- reducing complex issues with multiple options to either-or issues.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects begging the question in arguments—using a claim itself as evidence for the validity of the claim.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects poisoning the well in arguments—discounting any evidence that conflicts with their views.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects evading the issue in arguments—changing the subject to one that is less difficult to deal with.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects appeals to authority in arguments—claiming validity by referring to an authority’s position.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects arguing from ignorance in arguments—arguing that since a claim cannot be proven to be false, it must be true.	¨	¨	¨
Student detects straw man in arguments—portraying an opposing point of view inaccurately.	¨	¨	¨
Forming Opinions: Student uses thorough and sophisticated analysis of different kinds of information from wide variety of sources to form opinions.	¨	¨	¨
Communicating Opinions: Student explains opinion with sincere belief and commitment.	¨	¨	¨
Student presents various conflicting viewpoints explaining their benefits and drawbacks.	¨	¨	¨
Forming Opinions: Student uses thorough and sophisticated analysis of different kinds of information from wide variety of sources to form opinions.	¨	¨	¨