Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines

Volume 24, Issue 1/2, Fall/Winter 2004/2005

Thinking Critically, Choosing Politically II

Controversy and Critical Thinking Involving African-American Families

The purpose of this article is to present a classroom exercise and corresponding discussion for educators to use when teaching critical thinking skills to undergraduate students. The exercise involves applying critical thinking conccpts/questions offered by Browne and Keeley (2004) to a contemporary discussion about parenting issues among some African-American families. Comments by Dr. Bill Cosby have spurred debate about the parenting skills of some lower-income African-American parents. This article offers a classroom-based exercise that may be used to help undergraduate students develop critical thinking that are useful in engaging in productive discourse in issues of importance.