Critical Thinking Rubric

5. Master Thinker

• Risks trying to answer intractable, perplexing, and complicated questions
• Reinterprets the history of thought in the relevant area
• Redefines the assumptions and premises from which all valid reasoning must proceed in the relevant area
• Creates an original synthesis of diverse perspectives
• Reaches conclusions that others acknowledge as foundational for all subsequent reasoning in the relevant area

4. Advanced Thinker

• Tackles questions that arise from profound cognitive dissonance
• Challenges conventional, received wisdom responsibly in search of new perspectives
• Reaches original conclusions through creative and imaginative lines of reasoning; draws vital distinctions and creates new categories
• Internalizes contrary positions; makes the arguments of opponents for them
• Actively cooperates or collaborates with others to test and expand the universe of knowledge

3. Practicing Thinker

• Seeks the most reasonable among the several reasonable answers possible
• Delays judgment until all of the relevant information is known and assessed; admits ignorance when necessary
• Constructs sound lines of reasoning based on a fair and accurate assessment of the evidence; examines his or her own presuppositions and assumptions
• Concedes points to those with opposing positions
• Believes all sides should recognize his or her attempt to be reasonable and fair

2. Beginning Thinker

• Seeks to justify his or her position rationally
• Accepts any information that supports his or her position, regardless of quality
• Presupposes the truth of the conclusion to be reached; employs logical fallacies
• Dismisses opposing points of view after only cursory examination
• Believes that, given the same evidence, all reasonable people should arrive at the same conclusions; those who disagree are unreasonable or worse

Egocentric Thinker

• Believes there is no single right answer to any question; each person must discover what’s right for him or her
• Relies on limited facts and information
• Offers personal opinions only; little or no evidence of reasoning
• Ignores contrary points of view
• Does not attempt to persuade others because all are entitled to their own opinion

Based, in part, on Paul & Elder (1999). Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking. Foundation for Critical Thinking.