Evaluating information can be one of the most complex tasks you will be faced with in college. But if you utilize the following four strategies, you will be well on your way to success:

1. Read for understanding by using text coding.
2. Examine arguments.
3. Clarify thinking.
4. Cultivate habits of mind.

Read for Understanding by Using Text Coding

When you read and take notes, use the text coding strategy. Text coding is a way of tracking your thinking while reading. It entails marking the text and recording what you are thinking either in the margins or perhaps on Post-it notes. As you make connections and ask questions in response to what you read, you monitor your comprehension and enhance your long-term understanding of the material. This kind of active reading is a kind of metacognition and is importantly different from more passive reading. You will get a lot more out of your reading if you read actively.

With text coding, mark important arguments and key facts. Indicate where you agree and disagree or have further questions. You don’t necessarily need to read every word, but make sure you understand the concepts or the intentions behind what is written. Feel free to develop your own shorthand style when reading or taking notes. The following are a few options to consider using while coding text.

Examine Arguments

When you examine arguments or claims that an author, speaker, or other source is making, your goal is to identify and examine the hard facts. You can use the spectrum of authority strategy for this purpose. The spectrum of authority strategy assists you in identifying the hot end of an argument—feelings, beliefs, cultural influences, and societal influences. The cold end of an argument is the scientific influences.

The following video explains this strategy by describing a spectrum of examples involving culture, beliefs, and feelings as the hot end of the spectrum. Whereas scientific subjects such as geometry, physics, and biology are more on the cold side of this spectrum. Take notes about the examples of the spectrum of authority.

You can view the transcript for “Critical Thinking 101: Spectrum of Authority” here (opens in new window).

Clarify Thinking

When you use critical thinking to evaluate information, you need to clarify your thinking to yourself and likely to others. Doing this clarification well is mainly a process of asking and answering probing questions, such as the logic questions discussed earlier. Design your questions to fit your needs, but be sure to cover adequate ground. What is the purpose? What question are we trying to answer? What point of view is being expressed? What assumptions are we or others making? What are the facts and data we know, and how do we know them? What are the concepts we’re working with? What are the conclusions, and do they make sense? What are the implications?

Cultivate Habits of Mind

Habits of mind are the personal commitments, values, and standards you have about the principle of good thinking. Consider your intellectual commitments, values, and standards. Do you approach problems with an open mind, a respect for truth, and an inquiring attitude? Some good habits to have when thinking critically are being receptive to having your opinions changed, having respect for others, being independent and not accepting something is true until you’ve had the time to examine the available evidence, being fair-minded, having respect for a reason, having an inquiring mind, not making assumptions, and always questioning your own conclusions—in other words, developing an intellectual work ethic. Try to work these qualities into your daily life.