Critical Thinking?

So we learned about Critical Thinking in 1 of my classes, which I would have to say I am not very good at. However, the point is to learn the concepts and can get better at it.

For instance, there are Richard Paul and Linder Elder's Standards of Thinking. These are the principles applied to checking the quality of reasoning about an issue and consist of:

• clarity
• accuracy
• precision
• relevance
• depth
• breadth
• logicalness
• significance
• fairness

There also Gerald Nosich’s Elements of Reasoning. These are tools to use when we reflect on our thinking and consist of:

• purpose
• question at issue
• assumptions
• implications and consequences
• information
• concepts
• conclusions
• point of view
• context
• alternatives

You probably have no idea what I am talking about so I leave you with this situation: An elderly coworker of yours is out climbing in the mountains with you and falls and gets very hurt. His last dying wish is delivered to you as "I have $1 million dollars in my safe at home, clean, legal, and taxes paid. Nobody knows about this money but you. I don't even have a written will but here is what I want you to do with it. I was secretly involved with this militia all these years and want this money to be donated anonimously to the militia." He dies. You then see 2 different articles in the newspaper: 1. Children's Hospital Needs $1 Million Dollars Tomorrow or Doors Will Close and Treatment Will End. 2. Health Clinics Bombed, Militia is Suspected to be Involved. What do you do with the $1 million dollars?