Appendix: Question Prompts
1) Questions to clarify meaning
- What do you mean in saying _____ ?
- Can you describe this term another way?
- Would you give an example of this?
2) Questions that address "So what"?
- Why is it important to consider this issue?
- Who is this topic most relevant to?
- How did this issue come up?
3) Questions that explore assumptions
- Could the opposite assumption be valid too?
- What does the author assume about ___ ?
4) Questions the explore reasons and evidence
- What evidence supports that claim?
- How can we determine if this is true?
- Is the evidence adequate?
5) Questions that consider implications and actions?
- What are the short and long-term consequences?
- What are the best and worst case scenarios?
- What can we do to fix the problem?
6) Questions that consider viewpoint
- Are their other perspectives important to consider?
- What would somebody that disagrees say?
Taken from: A list compiled by R. Paul as cited in MacKnight, C.B. (2000) in Teaching Critical Thinking through Online Discussions and Collison et al. (2000) in Critical-thinking Strategies.
Guest Lecturer
Susan Gallagher-Lepak, RN, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in the Professional Program in Nursing.