Student's Question of the Week
Q: What is involved in the process of reasoning?
A: Dr. Richard Paul of Sonoma State University's Center for Critical Thinking has explained reasoning as having different elements, all of which form one whole, but each of which can be considered individually when thinking through an issue, a question or a problem.
Related intimately with the elements of reasoning are the standards by which the quality of reasoning is ensured to be high, the traits of mind that thinkers develop through engaging in the process, as well as the abilities exercised for a purpose with specific types of content.
To see a diagram with brief explanations of these, go to this link in the Critical Thinking Skills part of Gyrus. There is also a link to the SSU Critical Thinking website. They offer a very wide ranging list of topics in their excellent conferences each summer at Sonoma State University.
Sources:
Ferrer, Mark, Doug Hector, Lee Anne Kryder, Gerry Lewin, George Michaels, Stan Nicholson, Jerry Pike, and Shirley Ronkowski. Gyrus: Rapid Online Course Development System. FIPSE grant: 1999-2001.
Paul, Richard. "The Elements of Reasoning." 12th International Conference on Critical Thinking and Educational Reform. Sonoma State University. Aug. 1992.