Recent Case Study Topics

Applying Critical Thinking

Your Chapter 6 author,  Terri Russ, J.D., Ph.D. (2011) states:

“Before we get too far into the specifics of what critical thinking is and how we can do it, it’s important to clear up a common misconception. Even though the phrase critical thinking uses the word “critical,” it is not a negative thing. Being critical is not the same
thing as criticizing. When we criticize something, we point out the flaws and errors in it, exercising a negative value judgment on it. Our goal with criticizing is less about understanding than about negatively evaluating. It’s important to remember that critical
thinking is not just criticizing. While the process may involve examining flaws and errors, it is much more” (p.6-2).

Thinking about the Source

You and your class can consider the topic of the “Travel Ban” from a wide variety of news sources and practice the “critical thinking” process described above.

• Fox News = Supreme Court Trump travel ban decision is an important victory for our national security. June 26, 2018. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/26/
  supreme-court-trump-travel-ban-decision-is-important-victory-for-our-national-security.html.
• BBC = Trump travel ban: What does this ruling mean? June 26, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39044403.
• MSNBC = Is President Trump’s Travel Ban Constitutional? June 26, 2018. https://www.msnbc.com/velshi-ruhle/watch/is-president-trump-s-travel-ban-constitutional-1264331843691.