To some extent, it’s unavoidable to have beliefs based on gut feelings or blind acceptance of something you’ve heard or read. However, some assumptions should be examined more thoughtfully, especially if they will influence an important decision or serve as the foundation for an argument.

We develop an understanding of information based on our value systems and how we view the world. Our family backgrounds influence these views, opinions, and assumptions. College is a time to challenge those assumptions and beliefs and to think critically about ideas we have always had.

Well-meaning people will often disagree. It’s important to listen to both sides of an argument before making up your mind. If you follow the guidelines in this chapter, we can’t promise that your classes will be easier or that you’ll solve major problems, but you will be better equipped to handle them. You will have the skills to use critical thinking to figure things out instead of depending purely on how you feel or what you’ve heard. As you listen to a lecture, debate, or political argument about what is in the public’s best interest, try to predict where it is heading and why. Ask yourself whether you have enough information to justify your own position.