Database of the week

What is critical thinking?

According to Grolier's Encyclopedia Online, it is:

... a wide range of cognitive skills and intellectual dispositions an individual needs to evaluate claims and arguments in everyday situations, to discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases, to assess the reliability of information according to established intellectual standards, and to make decisions about what to believe and what to do.

The Opposing Viewpoints Database contains a way to not only research a topic for journal or newspaper articles, but also provides a thorough view of a topic including a glossary of key terms and thought provoking questions designed to inspire thinking and examination of the topic from both sides of an argument. Each of the critical thinking topics have a quiz to test knowledge of the subject and a bibliography to suggest useful books if more information is needed.