English Language Development

Critical thinking is inherent in the capacities of literate individuals. It is stated most clearly in the
following:

Students comprehend as well as critique.

Students are engaged and open-minded—but discerning—readers and listeners. They

work diligently to understand precisely what an author or speaker is saying, but they also

question an author’s or speaker’s assumptions and premises and assess the veracity of

claims and the soundness of reasoning. (CDE 2013b, 6) (See also the introduction to this

ELA/ELD Framework.)

Critical thinking is also one of the learning and innovation skills (the “4Cs”) identified by the
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (See figure 10.2 in this chapter.) Figure 10.5 displays the definition
from the Partnership of 21st Century Skills of critical thinking, which, the Partnership argues, involves
problem solving.

Figure 10.5. Critical Thinking

Reason Effectively

• Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to
  the situation
  Use Systems Thinking


• Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall
  outcomes in complex systems
  Make Judgments and Decisions


• Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims, and beliefs


• Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view


• Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments


• Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis


• Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes
  Solve Problems


• Solve different kinds of non-familiar problems in both conventional and
  innovative ways


• Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and
  lead to better solutions

Source

Partnership for 21st Century Skills, The. 2009. P21 Framework Definitions, 4.

Many of the CA CCSS for ELA/Literacy and CA ELD Standards demand critical thinking. Students
evaluate text and consider claims. They determine points of view and explore the impact of word
choices. They evaluate language use. Representative CCR Anchor Standards of the CA CCSS for
ELA/Literacy and Critical Principles of the CA ELD Standards that require critical thinking are presented
in figure 10.6.

21st Century Learning Chapter 10 | 943