essay topics for critical thinking skills

75 Critical Thinking Essay Topics

Critical thinking requires students to think for themselves, question everything, and look at both sides of an issue before coming to a conclusion. In critical thinking essay writing, these same skills are applied to examine a topic more closely. In this type of essay, the writer must not only present their own opinion on the subject but must also back it up with evidence and reasoning.

Critical thinking essays can be challenging to write depending on the topic, course, and length of the assignment. However, there are some tips and tricks that can make the process a little bit easier. Take a look at our detailed guide breaking down the components of an excellent critical thinking essay, and consider using any of our 75 critical thinking essay topics at the end to get started.

Essential Things to Consider When Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

When writing a critical thinking essay, students must look past surface-level information and delve deeper into the subject matter. This requires a lot of research and analysis, which can be tough for some students. However, if you take the time to plan your essay and follow these tips, you should be able to write a great critical thinking essay that will impress your instructor.

1. Do Your Research

Before you can start writing your essay, you need to make sure that you have enough evidence to support your claims. This means doing a lot of research on your topic. Try to find reliable sources from experts in the field that you can use to back up your points. Once you have gathered all of your evidence, you can plan out your essay.

2. Create An Outline

An outline will help keep your thoughts organized and ensure that you don’t forget any vital information. Your outline should include a thesis, an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each part of your outline should also have a few key details that you want to discuss to help make the writing process go smoothly.

3. Write A Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the most essential part of your essay. It should be a clear and concise statement that presents your argument. Your thesis statement should be included in your introduction and reaffirmed in your conclusion.

It is important to note that because this is a critical thinking essay, your thesis should be more than just a statement of fact. Instead, it should be an arguable claim that you will be defending throughout your essay.

For example, if you are writing about the death penalty, your thesis statement needs to be more than, “The death penalty is wrong.” This thesis doesn’t leave room for discussion or debate. A better thesis statement would be, “The death penalty is a violation of human rights and it should be abolished.” This thesis statement presents an argument that can be debated and discussed.

4. Write The Introduction

Your introduction should start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention. You can use a surprising statistic, a quote, or a rhetorical question. After the hook, you should provide some background information on your topic. This will help orient the reader and give them context for your argument. Finally, you should end your introduction with your thesis statement.

5. Write The Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph’s main point. The rest of the paragraph should be used to support this point with evidence and reasoning. You should have at least three body paragraphs in your essay, but you can have more if needed.

Pro Tip: Critical thinking essays examine and analyze – they don’t just restate facts. When presenting your evidence, be sure to discuss it critically. What are the implications of this evidence? How does it support your argument?

6. Write The Conclusion

The conclusion of a critical thinking essay should be just as strong as the introduction. You should start by restating your thesis statement. Then, you should provide a brief summary of the main points of your essay. Finally, you should end with a strong closing statement that leaves the reader thinking about your argument long after they finish reading, such as a call to action or a final thought-provoking question.

Citing Sources in a Critical Thinking Essay

Since this type of essay will rely on evidence and reasoning, it is important to use credible sources. Be sure to only use reliable sources from experts in the field. When you do use sources, be sure to cite them properly. This will show that you are using other people’s work ethically, and it will also help strengthen your argument by showing that you have looked at the issue from multiple perspectives.

Citing sources has many different rules that you will need to follow depending on the formatting style that you are using. The most common formatting styles are MLA, APA, and Chicago. Be sure to check with your professor to see which style they prefer before you start writing your essay.

When citing in MLA format, you’ll need to use in-text citations. These are brief citations included in the body of your essay whenever you use a source. The full citation for each source is listed in the Works Cited section at the end of your paper.

When citing in APA format, you’ll need to use in-text citations and a reference list. The in-text citations are brief citations included in the body of your essay whenever you use a source. The reference list is a list of all the sources that you used – usually included at the end of your paper.

When citing in Chicago style, you’ll need to use footnotes or endnotes. These are brief citations at the bottom of each page (footnotes) or the end of your paper (endnotes).

Any of these 75 critical thinking essay topics will help students struggling to find an arguable and interesting topic.

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About Social Issues

Is democracy the best form of government?
Is capitalism good or bad?
Is socialism a viable alternative to capitalism?
Does religion do more harm than good?
Should creationism be taught in schools?
Is the death penalty ethical?
Are zoos cruel?
Is it ethical to eat meat?
Is climate change real?
Who is responsible for climate change?
Should wealthy nations do more to help developing nations?
Is immigration a good or bad thing?
What are the root causes of terrorism?
Is terrorism ever justified?
Are gun laws too strict or not strict enough?
Is healthcare a human right?
Should abortion be legal?
What are the ethical implications of stem cell research?
What should be done about the global water crisis?
How can we best help refugees?

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About General Issues

Should people be judged by their looks?
Is it better to be single or in a relationship?
Are men and women equal?
Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions?
Is it better to grow up with siblings or as an only child?
Should the drinking age be lowered?
Is drug legalization a good or bad idea?
What are the best ways to deal with stress?
How can we prevent bullying?
Are social media and technology making us more or less connected?
Should parents monitor their children’s internet use?
Should schools ban cell phones?
How can we reduce the number of teenage pregnancies?
What is the best way to deal with teenage rebellion?
Is homeschooling a good or bad idea?
Should all students be required to learn a foreign language?
Should schools start later in the morning?
Are there better alternatives to traditional schooling?
Is college tuition too high?
Should student loans be forgiven?
Should colleges be free to attend?
What are the best ways to prepare for a job interview?
How can we better retain employees?
What are the best ways to motivate employees?
How can we reduce workplace stress?
Should remote working be encouraged?
What are the pros and cons of globalization?
Is consumerism a good or bad thing?
How can we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels?

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About The Environment and Conservation

What are the best ways to reduce pollution?
Should we be doing more to conserve water?
How can we reduce food waste?
Is nuclear energy a good or bad thing?
What are the best ways to deal with climate change?
Is overpopulation a real problem?
What can we do to reduce our reliance on plastic?
Should we be doing more to protect endangered species?
How can we best preserve our natural resources?
What is the best way to deal with hazardous waste?
What are the best ways to reduce deforestation?

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About Technology

Should we be doing more to regulate the internet?
How can we best protect our privacy online?
What are the best ways to deal with cyberbullying?
Is social media a good or bad thing?
Are we too reliant on technology?
What are the best ways to deal with data breaches?
Should we be worried about artificial intelligence?
What are the best ways to deal with tech monopolies?

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About American Classics

Explore the theme of capitalism in Fight Club.
What is the significance of the title The Great Gatsby?
Is Atticus Finch a good father?
What is the significance of the title To Kill a Mockingbird?
Is Holden Caulfield a sympathetic character?
How does Steinbeck portray the American dream in The Grapes of Wrath?
How does Fitzgerald use symbolism in The Great Gatsby?

When writing on any of these 75 critical thinking essay topics, be sure to support your position with solid reasoning, examples, and evidence.

70 Casual Essay Topics
130 Informative Essay Topics
90 Concept Essay Topics
120 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
70 GED Essay Topics

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105 Critical Thinking Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Critical thinking is a skill that is highly valued in today's society. It involves analyzing and evaluating information to form well-reasoned judgments and make informed decisions. Critical thinking essays require students to think critically and present their arguments in a logical and coherent manner.

If you are struggling to come up with a topic for your critical thinking essay, here are 105 ideas and examples to get you started:

The impact of social media on personal relationships
The effectiveness of online learning compared to traditional classroom learning
The role of technology in shaping society
The ethical implications of genetic engineering
The influence of media on body image
The pros and cons of globalization
The impact of climate change on the environment
The benefits and drawbacks of using renewable energy sources
The role of governments in addressing income inequality
The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
The ethics of animal testing in scientific research
The influence of advertising on consumer behavior
The role of education in reducing poverty
The benefits and challenges of multiculturalism
The impact of video games on children's behavior
The morality of capital punishment
The implications of legalized marijuana
The influence of religion on politics
The consequences of plastic pollution in oceans
The role of media in shaping public opinion
The ethics of human cloning
The impact of social class on opportunities in life
The benefits and drawbacks of nuclear energy
The effects of income inequality on societal well-being
The role of censorship in the media
The implications of mass surveillance on privacy rights
The influence of gender stereotypes on career choices
The ethics of euthanasia
The impact of fast food on public health
The role of technology in reducing poverty in developing countries
The benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence in healthcare
The consequences of deforestation on biodiversity
The influence of cultural norms on individual behavior
The ethics of animal rights
The implications of overpopulation on resources
The impact of social media on political activism
The benefits and drawbacks of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
The role of education in combating climate change
The effects of income inequality on social mobility
The influence of gender roles on relationships
The ethics of assisted suicide
The consequences of air pollution on public health
The role of technology in promoting equality
The benefits and challenges of space exploration
The implications of consumerism on the environment
The impact of social media on mental health
The ethics of animal captivity in zoos
The influence of cultural diversity on creativity
The consequences of water scarcity on agriculture
The role of media in promoting stereotypes
The benefits and drawbacks of online shopping
The effects of income inequality on crime rates
The influence of gender inequality on economic development
The ethics of genetic testing
The implications of nuclear weapons on global security
The impact of social media on democracy
The benefits and challenges of autonomous vehicles
The role of education in promoting tolerance and acceptance
The consequences of plastic waste on marine life
The influence of cultural appropriation on identity
The ethics of animal agriculture
The implications of deforestation on indigenous communities
The impact of social media on self-esteem
The benefits and drawbacks of online dating
The effects of income inequality on education
The influence of gender stereotypes on leadership positions
The ethics of human organ trafficking
The consequences of pollution on wildlife
The role of technology in promoting sustainable development
The benefits and challenges of renewable energy
The implications of cultural assimilation on diversity
The impact of social media on fake news
The ethics of animal experimentation in cosmetics industry
The influence of cultural relativism on human rights
The consequences of soil erosion on food security
The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes
The benefits and drawbacks of virtual reality
The effects of income inequality on healthcare access
The influence of gender inequality on domestic violence
The ethics of surrogacy
The implications of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
The impact of social media on youth activism
The benefits and challenges of 3D printing
The role of education in promoting sustainable consumption
The consequences of industrial agriculture on biodiversity
The influence of cultural globalization on cultural heritage
The ethics of animal entertainment in circuses
The implications of cultural imperialism on local traditions
The impact of social media on political polarization
The benefits and drawbacks of autonomous drones
The effects of income inequality on mental health
The influence of gender stereotypes on STEM fields
The ethics of human trafficking
The consequences of noise pollution on human health
The role of technology in promoting social justice
The benefits and challenges of biofuels
The implications of cultural appropriation on indigenous cultures
The impact of social media on cyberbullying
The ethics of animal extinction caused by human activities
The influence of cultural stereotypes on interracial relationships
The consequences of plastic packaging on waste management
The role of media in promoting consumerism
The benefits and drawbacks of cryptocurrency
The effects of income inequality on political participation
The influence of gender inequality on human development

These essay topics cover a wide range of critical thinking subjects, allowing you to choose the one that interests you the most or aligns with your academic goals. Remember to research your chosen topic thoroughly and present a well-supported argument in your essay. Critical thinking is all about analyzing information and forming an evidence-based opinion, so make sure to approach your essay with a critical mindset.

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123 Critical Thinking Essay Topics, Questions, & Examples

Are you searching for the best critical thinking topic for your paper? Look no further! StudyCorgi has made a list of excellent questions and topics for critical thinking. Whether you’re studying at high school, college, or university, you will likely find a good idea for your essay, discussion, presentation, or research paper.

🏆 Best Critical Thinking Topics for Students

✍️ critical thinking essay topics for college, 👍 good critical thinking research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting critical thinking topics to write about, ❓ critical thinking essay questions, 📃 critical thinking paper topics.

Reading as a Source of Knowledge, Intelligence, and Critical Thinking
Mass Media: Critical Thinking Skills, Images, and Stereotypes
Critical Thinking and Logical Reasoning
Critical Thinking in Nursing Process
Critical Thinking in Education
Aspect of Sociocentric and Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking and Active Learning Model
Critical Thinking and Critical Response in Human Studies The paper defines critical thinking, describes why it is crucial in studying the humanities, identifies the six steps in critical response, and explains how they relate to critical thinking.
“Critical Thinking” by Brooke Noel Moore and Richard Parker The author of this piece commits some serious logical errors owing to the fact that he/she is trying to convince other readers to support his/her position based on a bad flow of reasoning.
The Importance of Critical Thinking for Effective Human Resource Management This paper discusses the importance of critical thinking for managers and leaders in managing human resources effectively.
Television Violence and Critical Thinking T.V. viewing is one of the most influential forms of information distribution and behavioral modification in that people tend to believe what they hear from T.V.
Contingency Planning Analysis: Creativity, Critical Thinking and Key Steps Contingency plans are essential for the majority of organizations. They allow the company to have a course of action even when the original plans become obsolete due to an unforeseen problem.
Critical Thinking: Linen Management Process Analysis Efficient linen management in the healthcare sector contributes to quality patient care. Linen affects the healthcare aspects of hygiene, comfort and environment.
Environmental Studies: Critical Thinking The article “Impacts of the 1945 and 1995-1996 Ruapehu Eruptions, New Zealand” by Johnston et al. (2000) examines the negative consequences of two volcanic eruptions.
Critical Thinking and Transgender Ethics Sexual orientation and preference is a debated and complex topic involving biological aspects, including hormones, which can alter and change people’s behavior and feelings.
Relationship Between Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making, and Stress Management in Nursing In nursing practice, many care providers and leaders have to encounter high-stress levels due to the nature of their work.
The Attributes of Critical Thinking in the Nursing Practice The current paper discusses such attributes of critical thinking as curiosity, reflection, rational thought, and intuitive thought.
Critical Thinking Self-Assessment I have gained sufficient knowledge from this course that has made me a critical thinker. I can now identify fallacies in my thinking and try to avoid them.
Math in Real Life: Critical Thinking and Number Sense The paper states that Critical Thinking and Number Sense are applicable in decision-making, analysis, reasoning, and communication mathematical knowledge.
Critical Thinking: Dignity and Justice The critical analysis of the works of Pope Paul IV showed the connection between the notion of human dignity and the common good based on justice.
Reflection: Critical Thinking and New Habits’ Development Reflective learning is one of the most efficient ways of getting some information and developing certain skills. It is based on constant analysis of different kinds of activities.
Discovery Learning Method: Critical Thinking Skills A discovery learning method is a form of learning that encourages participation rather than passive consumption of information.
The Importance of Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a rich concept and an essential skill. It is a key to successful choices and vital for the twenty-first-century human mindset.
Critical Thinking and Its Components Critical thinking is the ability of people to find cause-and-effect connections between different phenomena and build a rational strategy based on verifying authenticity.
Critical Thinking: Examples From Literature The five stories under analysis allow seeing how critical thinking can be differentiated from pseudo-critical and unsupported ideas of inexperienced people.
Critical Thinking and Ethics Today Ethical interpretations of events are based on various types of viewpoints. Amoralists believe that ethics do not exist.
Critical Thinking in the “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr Carr suggests that we should be more attentive to the influence the Internet has on our thinking and reflect on the AI’s ability to make us more efficient but less human.
Critical Thinking and Overpopulation Problem Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Framework is used to analyze various social issues. The main purpose should be to understand why overpopulation is a major problem affecting humanity.
Critical Thinking in Modern Society Critical thinking is necessary in human life in order to better understand our surroundings. It would be unjust to oneself not to question why things are the way they are.
Critical Thinking Process and Its Importance Critical thinking is one of the most important processes that have many functions. It helps individuals analyze and interpret the information.
Bloom’s Taxonomy for Critical Thinking Development The paper states that critical thinking in writing can be derived from the notion that learning occurs linearly and hierarchically.
Philosophy of Knowledge and Critical Thinking Philosophical inquiries and debates contribute to the students’ critical thinking and encourage them to look at one issue from different angles.
What Is Critical Thinking? Critical thinking is a way of thinking in which the critical thinkers arrive at conclusion through logical means.
Happy Life: Critical Thinking and Ethics Any person has more chances to be happy and successful if some material values are present in the life and do not cause any emotions or feeling.
Leasing vs. Buying a Car: Math & Critical Thinking Leasing allows you to drive a vehicle that people cannot buy due to its cost. Buying a car seems more relevant in today’s realities, as it meets people’s needs in the long term.
Critical Thinking Applied to Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk tells the story of a narrator who is seemingly trapped in an apparent disordered series of domino effects.
The Example of Critical Thinking Skills The paper states that critical thinking and emotional intelligence define the quality of multiple processes and colleague relationships.
Critical Thinking, Modern Society, and Argumentation Critical thinking is a process of balanced reflection on external phenomena. It requires a high level of awareness, attentiveness, and concentration.
Concepts of Critical Thinking The paper discusses concepts of critical thinking. It includes self-regulation, system-1, system-2, heuristics, dominance structuring, and cognitive bias.
Critical Thinking in the Modern World Naturally, critical thinking is one of the essential elements of people’s lives, as it is part of interpersonal communication.
Critical Thinking and Role of Schools in Knowledge This paper analyzes the articles “What can schools do? Knowledge, social identities and the changing world” and “Critical Thinking and Critical Theory”.
Critical Thinking and Racism in Modern Times The new definition of racism is a belief that human capacities are determined by race and that differences in race lead to one race being viewed as superior to another race.
Discussion of Lessons of Critical Thinking The article discusses lessons of critical thinking from stories of Faye Abdellah, Chiara Lubich and Oprah Winfrey.
Female Circumcision Analysis with Critical Thinking In this paper, the topic of female circumcision will be viewed from ethnocentric and cultural relativistic points of view. This work aims to observe both theories.
Critical Thinking and Creativeness Critical thinking has largely enabled people to develop different human activities, for example, arts is one of the issues that primarily involve creativity.
Medical Intervention in Acute Heart Failure and COPD The essay evaluates the health condition related to the quality medical intervention in acute decompensated heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Aspects of Critical Thinking Critical thinking is one of the fundamental concepts of philosophy. Used to describe the process of objectively identifying and analyzing events.
Critical Thinking and Its Importance in Modern Life Critical thinking is the subject of the study of ideas about the content of intellect, which can be associated with research in psychology, philosophy, education and epistemology.
Flat Earth Society: The Importance of Logic and Critical Thinking in Perceiving Information The consideration of such organizations as the Flat Earth Society demonstrates the need to apply critical thinking to the newly received information to avoid misconceptions.
The RS 204 Course: Emerging Logical and Critical Thinking The RS 204 Course has provided an opportunity to gain interdisciplinary knowledge about logical judgments and critical thinking.
Decision in Paradise: Possible Solutions, Analysis of the Decision-Making Technique and Critical Thinking The management staff should be sourced from the already established branches, as their experience will be much needed in the making of the day-to-day decisions.
Assisted Suicide: Critical Thinking and Rhetoric For assisted suicide to have positive consequences for people who yearn for such an early death, the practice must be published and not performed in secret.
Characteristics of Critical Thinking and Decision Making Critical thinking involves fairness, and it implies in-depth thinking with highly insightful thinking. A critical thinking mind treats every opinion in an unbiased manner.
Social Psychology and Critical Thinking Process Obedience to the boss is a common thing and most people take it for granted, the others try to quarrel, thinking that they know better.
Future US President: Arguments & Critical Thinking One of the greatest arguments is taking place today in the United States. The argument centers around who will be the running mates of Barack Obama and John McCain.
Homeland Security and Critical Thinking Skills The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a lack of critical thinking skills on a governmental scale could cause long-term issues and threats to homeland security.
Critical Thinking for Homeland Security The skill of critical thinking is helpful in all areas of people’s lives. It is vital to understand what factors contribute to the development of one’s critical thinking.
Critical Thinking for Managers Everyday we are dared to make proper decisions, normally with limited ideas under serious time restrictions; this requires critical thinking.
Critical Thinking Skills Influence The ability to think critically allows a person to identify and resist attempts to manipulate, teaches to keep thoughts clear and structured, and interpret information correctly.
Learning Environment for Nurses’ Critical Thinking The learning environment plays a significant role in the formation of students’ critical thinking abilities. For nursing students, these skills are particularly important.
Nursing Values: Empathy and Critical Thinking The ability to be empathetic and the nurse’s willingness to help the patient is a fundamental variable of nursing. Empathy can create space for the patient’s self-actualization.
Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment in Nursing Nurses in the current healthcare institutions need to have proper clinical judgment skills that will ensure that their decisions help save the lives of their patients.
Critical Thinking in Addressing Dispensing Errors Dispensing errors are common and most of them, often, go undetected when dispensing drugs in the hospitals and the pharmacies.
Humanistic Psychology: Critical Thinking and Issues The paper discusses Humanistic Psychology, its peculiarities, and effects on the development of the understanding of human behavior, as well as the difference of the school of Behaviorism.
Critical Thinking Tactics for Nurses Critical thinking guides nurses to get right information from patients. The concept makes it easier for Nurse to analyze, discuss, and address issues affecting patients.
Critical Thinking to Solve Hard Problems The hard problem is a problem without functional explanation as opposed to an easy problem, which involves explanation in the form of what mechanism can perform what function.
Social Media Affecting Critical Thinking
The Performance Classification Systems for Critical Thinking
Sustainable Development Critical Thinking
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision Making
Relationship Between Listening and Critical Thinking
The Outsourcing Bogeyman Critical Thinking Exercise
Banking Regulation Critical Thinking
The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Language
Applying Critical Thinking Skills on Academic and Professional
Relationships Between Critical Thinking and Ethics
Various Critical Thinking Skills and Their Uses
The Early Church Critical Thinking
Barriers and Critical Thinking Skills
Assisted Suicide Critical Thinking
The Direct Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Ethics
Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision Making
The Importance and Features of Critical Thinking
Using Critical Thinking Skills Creatively
The Education Profession Aims and Improving Critical Thinking
African American Civil Rights Movement Critical Thinking
American Foreign Policy Critical Thinking
How Can You Improve Your Critical Thinking?
What Are Barriers to Critical Thinking?
How Does Critical Thinking Help in Solving Problems?
What Are the Main Principles of Critical Thinking?
Can Critical Thinking Be Learned?
What Factors Affect Critical Thinking?
How Can a Person Master the Critical Thinking Skills?
What Causes a Lack of Critical Thinking Skills?
Why Is Critical Thinking So Difficult?
Is Critical Thinking a Skill or Talent?
What Are the Two Main Components of Critical Thinking?
Why Is Critical Thinking Important for Students?
How Does Critical Thinking Affect Society?
What Is the Difference Between Thinking and Critical Thinking?
How Are Critical Thinking Leaders Beneficial to an Organization?
What Does Poor Critical Thinking Look Like?
Is Critical Thinking Necessary in Our Society?
Who Is the Father of Critical Thinking?
Why Is Critical Thinking Important in Social Work?
How Do Leaders Develop Critical Thinking Skills?
What Are the Benefits Enjoyed by a Society That Promotes and Teaches Critical Thinking?
Where in Society Is Critical Thinking Valued and Used?
How Do You Improve Critical Thinking in the Workplace?
Why Is Critical Thinking Essential for Today’s Business Teams?
How Can Critical Thinking Improve Your Chances of Making Better Choices?
How can critical thinking help identify fake news?
The role of critical thinking in solving ethical dilemmas in healthcare.
Critical thinking lessons one can gain from the anti-GMO movement.
The link between critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
The significance of critical thinking in evaluating advertisements.
The effects of media portrayals on stereotypes and prejudices.
The connection between critical thinking skills and beliefs in conspiracy theories.
The role of critical thinking in effective leadership.
The impact of technology on critical thinking skills.
Age-appropriate strategies for developing critical thinking in children.

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StudyCorgi . "123 Critical Thinking Essay Topics, Questions, & Examples." January 28, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/critical-thinking-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "123 Critical Thinking Essay Topics, Questions, & Examples." January 28, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/critical-thinking-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Critical Thinking were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 5, 2024 .

80 High-scoring Critical Thinking Essay Topics

To criticize someone does not solely mean disrespecting someone or highlighting their shortcomings.

When writing a critical thinking essay, it is important to analyze the critical thinking essay topics thoroughly and discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of the situation.

A recent research indicated that 52% of difficulties in academic writing lay in vocabulary and 47% in writing resources. Both of these might be important in choosing a critical essay topic.

Table of Contents

The Challenges of Choosing Good Critical Thinking Topics

It is not that easy to shortlist some critical thinking topics for students. The topic they pick must have a plethora of data available for research and more. Here are common challenges of picking up critical essay topics for students.


Overlapping of a topic	Finding a unique angle for some critical analysis topics can be difficult as most of the topics are covered.	Focus on fresh perspectives and lesser-known aspects of topics for critical essay.
Resources Depth of critical thinking paper topics	Less availability of primary and secondary resources for in-depth analysis.	Pick a topic that has a plethora of credible references available.
Relevance and Personal Interest	Difficulty in balancing personal interest in topics for critical thinking with academic relevance.	Choose a topic that covers personal passion and academic importance
Critical Topics’ Scope	The topic may be too broad or too narrow.	Refine the topic you select.
Originality of the critical essay topics	The topic has to allow original thoughts.	Brainstorm unique angles

During my high school time, I had a very hard time figuring out a topic for my critical thinking essay. I could have gone with Shakespeare’s stuff like others but that would be too much for me.

All I needed was something different and very unique in my shortlisted critical thinking essay topics. After spending hours in the library and discussing with my colleagues and professor, I finally thought about going with mental health and society expectations.

As I took a lot of time finding this topic, I knew where to research it and how to find the supporting evidence. All in all, the essay went very well and helped me secure top scores. Hence you should take your time with choosing critical thinking topics for students.

80 Interesting Critical Thinking Essay Topics

Here are 100 topics for critical thinking you can count on for writing a killer critical thinking essay.

20 New Critical Thinking Topics For Students

This is the first list of critical thinking paper topics that has some very unique and easy-to-research critical analysis topics.

How is social media impacting our relationships and self-esteem?
The causes and effects of income inequality.
Effective ways of reducing gun violence these days.
Ways to ensure pay equity in an organizational setup.
How are climate change and equity related?
Working ways of preventing racial profiling.
Different ways to ensure access to healthcare.
How can we deal with the refugee crisis well?
Discussing the challenges in learning for students with autism these days.
What are the reasons behind youth homelessness?
The negative impact of mass incarceration.
How can we address education equity well?
The historical injustices of indigenous rights.
Effective ways to analyze barriers to disability rights?
Different ways to examine stereotypes and promote respect.
The causes of food insecurity these days.
How to address the mental health stigma effectively?
Ways to end human trafficking.
The hurdles in the way of clean water access for all.
Effective ways to ensure digital privacy.

20 Critical Thinking Essay Topics Related to Technology

Still couldn’t shortlist some topics for critical essay? Don’t fret as we have more critical essay topics for you here.

The ethical considerations of using AI.
How can we assure privacy in this digital age?
Effective strategies that we can employ against cybersecurity threats.
Will automation take all of the human jobs?
The challenges of interconnected devices.
The access to technology and internet connectivity these days.
What should we know about the ethical implications of biometric technology?
The difference between Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
What are the ethical implications of using big data?

Hopefully, you are having a good time going through our list of critical thinking topics for discussion. Keep on reading as more of such critical thinking essay topics from a professional paper writing service are coming your way.

The Disadvantages of Quantum Computing.
How is social media breaching our online privacy?
The benefits and risks of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology.
The concept and principles of Digital Rights Management (DRM).
The impact of surveillance technologies on civil liberties and privacy.
How can we ensure ethics in biotechnology?
How can we explore the benefits and challenges of integrating technology?
Assessing the implications of wearable devices on health, privacy, and society.
The regulatory challenges of autonomous vehicles.
The potential and limitations of 5G Technology.
The psychological impact of digital addiction on students.

10 critical thinking essay topics related to the environment

There are so many things you can choose for a critical thinking essay on the environment. Here’s a list of critical thinking topics for discussion in this category.

The negative impact of climate change on human beings.
The consequences of deforestation we should know about.
Is plastic pollution too dangerous for human survival in the future?
The transition to renewable energy sources and overcoming challenges.
The causes and implications of biodiversity decline.

You would already have noticed that most critical topics are debatable and open to differing points of view. Here are more essay topics:

The bad impact of excessive Co2 emissions.
The concept of sustainable agriculture.
The challenges of water scarcity and solutions.
The most common sources of air pollution.
How is ecosystem restoration possible these days?

20 Interesting Topics for Critical Essay

An interesting critical topic can make your piece enticing to read. Here’s another list of critical thinking essay topics you can consider.

How is mental illness portrayed in literature?
How is social media shaping political discourse?
What students usually miss out on when collecting resources for how to write an autobiography well.
How is technology influencing human relationships?
The negative representation of gender in movies.
How has language evolved and what is its cultural significance?
Things we should know about the psychology of conspiracy theories.
How are religion and politics interacting these days?
Things we should know about environmental racism.
The ethics of animal testing biotechnicians must know.
How does advertising impact consumer behavior?
Things we must know about the philosophy of happiness.
How is cybersecurity possible in the digital age?
How can parenting style influence child development?
Discussing the efficiency of healthcare systems.
The Economics of Healthcare: Assessing the efficiency and equity of healthcare systems.
How is food of cultural significance in different societies?
How is race represented in contemporary art?
How is globalization impacting cultural diversity?
The Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence.

10 Critical Thinking Topics for Discussion Related to Culture

Researching culture could be a great idea. Here are some critical thinking essay topics related to culture.

The disadvantages of cultural appropriation in fashion.
Effective strategies to preserve endangered languages.
How to cope with the cultural stereotypes in the media?
The relationship between globalization and cultural homogenization.
Analyzing Cultural Relativism vs. Universalism.
The challenges of Indigenous Cultural Preservation and successes in maintaining traditions.
Different types of cultural assimilations in Immigration.
Is cultural heritage conservation even possible these days?
How is multiculturalism working in Education?
The role of culture in international relations and diplomacy.

Useful Resources for Students

Students can check out these important resources to improve their critical thinking abilities before shortlisting a topic or two.

You can watch videos on Youtube about how to be a creative thinker.
You can go through this book The Foundation for Critical Thinking by Richard W. Paul, Linda Elder to improve your understanding.
You can also go through the critical thinking flowchart to improve your understanding.

Final Thoughts

To be able to write a good critical thinking essay, you must be able to start well with a good topic. A good topic will not only get you on the right track but will also help you find ample resources to convey your ideas well. Going through a critical thinking essay example is also a way to learn the art of choosing a topic for one. All in all, this article was all about letting you know of interesting and unique critical thinking essay topics to work on.

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142 Critical Thinking Essay Topics That Will Get You An A+

Are you ready to ace your paper with brilliant critical thinking essay topics? We have the tip-top writing ideas to take you to the top ASAP!

A critical thinking essay requires you to explain or analyze the advantages and disadvantages of a specific topic.

To ace your critical thinking essay, you need to do lots of reading, find numerous unique resources and even visit monumental locations. All these will give you a firm grip on your preferred area of study as well as sufficient inspiration to churn a high-scoring paper.

A great topic is the genesis of any successful essay writing process. However, we all know how difficult and time-consuming it is to come up with an out-of-the-box case. Lots of scholars fail to get past this stage. We decided to give you the roadmap for smooth sailing during the writing process on the bright side. We have compiled an impressive list of critical thinking essay topics.

Cultural Criticism Essay Topics

Define islamophobia and explain its impact on the lives of American Muslims
Review the history of the slave trade and highlight the impact of the abolition
Review the history of the first nations of Canada and their impact on Canada we know today
Explain how racism affects the mental health of black people in the U.S
Define xenophobia, review its history and explain how it affects our daily life
Highlight the features of a multicultural society
What is the impact of drug use and addiction among teenagers in the U.S
Examine the prevalence of poverty in the U.S and explain how it leads to homelessness
Explain the effect of social media and technology on human interaction and socialization
What are the likely impacts of changing gender roles

Critique Essay Topics

Explain why people tend to think that nature is a free shop
Discuss why some animals are kinder and more faithful as compared to people
Examine five ways in which technological advancement has impacted human life
Examine the viewer experience of mind sports
Dive into the effectiveness of standardized tests
Explain the difference between online and traditional relationships
Compare and contrast between recorded music and live performances
Define global warming and analyze its effects on human life
Review the advantages and disadvantages of attending private and public schools
Look into the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering and GMOs
Examine why painkillers are so essential and highlight some of their side effects
Investigate the pros and cons of having a college degree
Examine the problems that Native Americans faced in their quest for independence
Discuss whether any health risks are arising from anorexia nervosa
What is the effectiveness of a balanced diet in a child’s health?
Explain the role played by mass media in crime development and mitigation
Investigate the pros and cons of district zoning
Define health insurance, why it is so important, and highlights its potential disadvantages

How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay With Tips and Examples

Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
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Essay writing is an integral academic exercise for students in higher educational institutions. As an example of different paper types, a critical thinking essay requires students to employ analytical and reflective writing skills. In essence, these skills underscore essential features of a critical thinking essay: analysis of information, reflection on key findings, a review of the relevance of the information, and an identification of any conclusions made by the author(s) or other scholars. Hence, a critical thinking essay is a specific type of writing that requires learners to read documents and make interpretations from their points of view. In turn, writers need to learn how to write a critical thinking essay to master their analytical, creative, and reflective skills.

General Guidelines for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

Critical thinking is an essential skill, particularly for students who need to analyze and interpret data. In this case, the essence of this skill is that learners confront issues every day that require them to make prompt decisions. Moreover, critical thinking is the mechanism by which individuals arrive at these decisions. Therefore, a critical thinking essay is a document that allows students to address an issue holistically. Then, it means addressing issues in an essay format by using critical thinking skills from different perspectives, highlighting possible alternatives, and making well-thought-out decisions. To the audience, such a text makes it easy to understand the writer’s message and either agree or disagree with it. Besides, the decision to agree or disagree is based on the writer’s information regarding an issue in question. Hence, this is why authors of critical thinking essays need to provide details that make their arguments stronger and more palatable to the audience.

1. Defining Characteristics of a Critical Thinking Essay

When writing a critical thinking essay, students should address several essential features. Firstly, writers need to reflect on what they have read, meaning taking time to consider the relevance of the information. In this case, such an attitude helps them to make strong arguments in defense of their points of view. Secondly, learners need to analyze how the information is presented and state whether it is sufficient or needs improvement. Thirdly, writers need to review the information based on previous knowledge. Here, they should say whether the information advances a concept or theory or contradicts existing knowledge. Finally, scholars need to identify the conclusion reached by the author(s) of the information and support or challenge it.

2. How to Identify a Critical Thinking Essay

Based on the essential features described above, students can tell whether an essay that they are writing is a critical thinking paper. Ideally, learners can know that their papers are critical thinking essays if prompt requirements require them to read and analyze a text. Basically, the analysis process includes reflecting on the text, commenting on how information is presented and its relation to previous knowledge, and supporting or challenging the conclusion made. In principle, these requirements reflect the defining features of a critical thinking essay.

3. How Does a Critical Thinking Essay Differ From Other Papers

A critical thinking essay differs fundamentally from other types of essays because it requires a student to read a text, such as a book or a poem, and analyze it using the writer’s perspective. Moreover, some instructions need students to analyze a film. In other words, writing a critical thinking essay emphasizes the students’ understanding of information and the meaning of what they have read, watched, or heard. Indeed, it is a central point of difference from other types of papers that require students to refrain from personal viewpoints. Then, this feature means that instructors grade a critical thinking essay based on the writer’s ability to develop a coherent argument and use essential writing skills. In this light, one can argue that a critical thinking essay is a form of an argumentative essay.

Free Examples of 20 Topics for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

How to write a critical thinking essay with examples

1. Identify Communication Differences Between Men and Women

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read texts that talk about how men and women communicate and identify the differences. In this case, writers should analyze what they have read and summarize it via concise statements or arguments.

2. Discuss Drug Use in Sports

Under this topic, the students’ task is to research texts, such as research journal articles and government reports, that address the problem of drug use in sports and summarize their findings.

3. Explore the Anti-Meth Campaign

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read widely about anti-meth campaigns and provide an in-depth analysis of their impacts. By reading a critical thinking essay, the audience should understand whether specific campaigns have been effective or ineffective.

4. Discuss Homelessness and Its Social Impacts

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read texts about homelessness, such as journal articles and reports by governments and other humanitarian organizations, and explain the root causes and social implications of homelessness.

5. Discuss the History of College Football in the United States

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read documents, such as books and media articles, narrating college football history in the US. After writing a critical thinking essay, the audience should identify specific challenges that college football has faced in its development in the country.

6. Explore Health Effects of Obesity

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read research studies and medical reports discussing obesity. In turn, a critical thinking essay should explain the specific causes of obesity and the risks that obese individuals face.

7. Discuss the Significance of Street Art and Graffiti

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read texts discussing the evolution of street art and graffiti and make compelling arguments as to why they are essential features of modern art.

8. Sports On Television: Is It Necessary?

Under this topic, the students’ task is to explain why television has become a critical platform for sports and how it undermines or helps advance its social and cultural significance.

9. What Is the Essence of Multicultural Identity?

Under this topic, the students’ task is to explore the phenomenon of multiculturalism that has become notable and acceptable in modern society and explain its significance.

10. The Relevance of Body Size in Modeling

Under this topic, the students’ task is to explore the modeling profession and explain why body size matters. In other words, a critical thinking essay should make a case as to why a model should have a particular body size.

11. Understanding Multicultural Families

Under this topic, the students’ task is to explore multicultural families by reading texts that address the issue from a research or commentary perspective and summarize the leading arguments.

12. Changing Gender Roles: What It Means for Traditionalists

Under this topic, the student’s task is to explore gender roles from a historical and present perspective and discuss how it threatens or cements traditional views about the roles of men and women.

13. What Is Ethnic Music, and Does It Matter in a Multicultural Society?

Under this topic, the students’ task is to study multiculturalism and identify how ethnic music is a significant characteristic.

14. American Society and the Latino Influence

Under this topic, the students’ task is to study contemporary American society’s characteristics and indicate the extent to which Latinos and their culture (Latin American) have become a significant part of the American identity.

15. Challenges of Single-Parent Households

Under this topic, the students’ task is to read research studies on single parenthood and identify its challenges.

16. What Are the Features of a Good Movie?

Under this topic, the students’ task is to watch movies they consider “good” and provide an analysis of what makes them so.

17. Describe a Poem With a First-Person Point of View

Under this topic, the students’ task is to select a poem, examine it, and describe its outstanding features, such as literary devices.

18. The Dynamics of Adoption in a Multicultural Society

Under this topic, the students’ task is to examine the aspect of adoption within the context of a multicultural society.

19. What Store Strategies Influence Consumers?

Under this topic, the students’ task is to study the phenomenon of retail stores and give an analysis of specific factors that lead to their growth or shut down.

20. Euthanasia: The Questions of Ethics, Morals, and Legality

Under this topic, the students’ task is to examine the aspect of euthanasia (mercy or assisted killing) and give an opinion on whether society should address it from a perspective of ethics, morals, or law.

How Students Can Understand if They Need to Write a Critical Thinking Essay by Looking at a Topic

When it comes to essay writing, the department’s requirements provide direction about a critical thinking topic. By reading such a topic, students get an idea of what kind of paper they are supposed to write. Regarding a critical thinking essay, a topic should require students to research a specific theme, reflect on what they have read, and comment on how the author(s) have presented information, the relevance of the information to existing knowledge, and the significance of the author’s conclusion. In turn, these five tasks underscore the essential features of a critical thinking essay.

Structure of a Critical Thinking Essay

When it comes to an essay structure, a critical thinking essay comprises three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. When writing each of these sections, students should capture essential features. Firstly, the introduction should provide a hook to capture the readers’ attention and formulate a thesis statement to guide the paper’s arguments and ideas. In the body, writers should use topic sentences to introduce paragraphs. Besides, students should follow a sandwich rule, where they make a claim, provide supporting facts, and explain the significance of cited evidence to the paper’s thesis. In the conclusion part, authors should restate a thesis statement, summarize the main body points, and make a concluding remark. Finally, other essential features that learners should use in the main text are transitions to give a critical thinking paper a natural and logical flow of ideas and arguments.

Sample Outline Template for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

I. Introduction

A. Start with a hook sentence that makes a critical thinking essay interesting. B. Cover brief information about a theme discussed in body paragraphs. C. End with a thesis statement of a critical thinking essay.

A. Background Information:

introduce an issue for readers;
provide examples that support this issue;
explain how examples correlate with a theme;
finish with defining an issue for readers.

B. Argument on an Issue

begin with an argument on an issue;
covers examples to support this argument;
explain how examples and argument are related;
conclude how an argument on this theme is relevant.

C. Importance of an Issue

state why this issue is important;
support this statement with examples from credible sources;
explain how these examples underline the importance of an issue;
end with a concluding sentence that supports this importance.

III. Conclusion

A. Restate a thesis claim. B. Cover the key points discussed in body paragraphs. C. Provide a final thought on an issue.

An Example of a Critical Thinking Essay

Topic: Roles of Critical Thinking Skills

I. Introduction Sample of a Critical Thinking Essay

Critical thinking is a requirement in higher education because it reflects the level of mental preparedness of students intending to join the labor industry. In this case, essay writing is one of the strategies that higher education institutions use to develop these critical thinking skills in students. Writing argumentative essays has profoundly shaped my critical thinking skills and made me more reflective and analytical in my texts.

II. Examples of Body Paragraphs in a Critical Thinking Essay

A. background information of an issue.

The advent of the Internet opened a new world of research as scholars found a platform to publish research findings. Besides scholars, public and private entities have turned to the online platform to spread information they perceive as critical and needful. Over time, I have come to see the Internet as a crucial reservoir of knowledge, and I always turn to it for personal enrichment. Moreover, Gilster (1997) perceives critical thinking as a critical skill for individuals who use online platforms for academic purposes. In this case, the author demonstrates that, since the Internet is full of falsehoods and incomplete and obsolete information, it is critical for those who depend on this technology to employ critical thinking. Hence, such thinking helps users distinguish between essential, relevant information, and what appears to be irrelevant and nonessential.

On the issue of critical thinking, examining and analyzing content are fundamental exercises. In essence, critical thinking entails reading a text and interpreting it by using an analytical lens. For example, when students read novels, they can use their critical thinking skills to analyze the plot and characters and provide arguments that indicate an in-depth understanding of both (Gilster, 1997). In most cases, such ideas go beyond what is written in the novel to include the student’s interpretation of events. In my case, I use the Internet to find research and media articles on different topics, such as homelessness, substance abuse, crime, and police and law enforcement. Moreover, I use these articles to reflect on the dynamics that shape life in contemporary society, using my critical thinking skills to relate the past, present, and future. Therefore, I can state confidently that this habit has made me a strong debater on contemporary issues.

By using critical thinking skills, readers make deductions, thereby showcasing their understanding levels. As the literature suggests, critical thinking serves as a basis for knowledge accumulation and advancement (Ku & Ho, 2010). In my academic journey, I have employed critical thinking to gain insight into several issues. Furthermore, one of these issues is the significance of politics to the life of ordinary citizens. Then, many documents I have read about politics have made me conclude that politicians are selfish by default and only develop consensus when their interests are accommodated. Hence, this understanding has made me have minimal expectations from local and national political figures.

III. Conclusion Sample of a Critical Thinking Essay

Critical thinking is a key skill that helps individuals to analyze and reflect on information from diverse sources. Over the years, I have used critical thinking to analyze research and media articles published on online platforms and make logical deductions. Moreover, these deductions point to my ability to take information, analyze, and interpret it. Thus, I can confidently state that my critical thinking skills have made me aware of human weaknesses and the risk of putting too much trust in people vulnerable to shortcomings.

Gilster, P. (1997). Digital literacy: The thinking and survival skills new users need to make the Internet personally and professionally meaningful . New York, NY: Wiley.

Ku, K. Y., & Ho, I. T. (2010). Metacognitive strategies that enhance critical thinking. Metacognition and Learning , 5 (3), 251-267.

Summing Up on How to Write a Good Critical Thinking Essay

A critical thinking essay is a document that reflects students’ ability to use analytical and reflective skills in studying an issue. Although writing a critical thinking essay assumes following a basic structure of a standard essay, it has features that distinguish it from other papers. When writing this type of essay, students should master the following tips:

read and analyze information;
reflect on study findings;
review the relevance of the information within the context of existing knowledge;
identify any conclusions made by authors or other scholars and their significance.

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Critical Thinking Essay Topics

Table of contents

Writing Metier

As a student, you are required to write several critical thinking essays. Writing critical thinking essays allows you to sharpen your analytical skills and improve your writing skills. In addition, working on critical thinking essays allows you to understand things in so much detail and sharpens your understanding.

When writing a critical thinking essay , you must clearly understand what you are talking about. Not just that, but you also have to gather enough information and evidence that allows you to write the essay correctly. You need to first find sources, then analyze them based on the information; you have to do justice to the task you are given.

A critical thinking essay allows you to use your creativity most profitably, which is exactly what is needed from your end. The examiner wants to see what you bring to the table and how you choose to analyze different questions.

In this guide, the idea is to give you a few critical thinking essay topics, alongside also helping you understand how you would approach these topics if you have to write on them. This will help you understand critical thinking essays much better, also read on how to write a college resume . Also, it will be useful to read additional info on critical thinking

Watching this video will also help you to better understand how to write a critical thinking essay.

In conclusion

So here are a few topic ideas that can give you a better understanding of how you can explore critical thinking essay topics, if you are stuck in writing critical thinking essay writing.

Remember that you need to plan your essay out correctly to make sure that you have everything sorted in the right way.

Read additional info on critical thinking as much as possible and that will help you. Make sure you brainstorm first, so you have all of your ideas sorted out first. That way, you can work in a very organized way, allowing you to write well.

Free topic suggestions

Vitalii anufriiev.

CEO and Co-founder at Writing Metier OÜ

Critical Thinking Essay Outline

A critical thinking essay outline is an essential part of writing an excellent essay. It helps you to organize your thoughts and ideas and ensures that your arguments are logical and well-structured. When writing a critical thinking essay outline, it's important to understand the topic well, analyze your sources carefully, and create a well-structured outline.

Critical Thinking Essay vs. Critical Essay

Both critical essays and critical thinking essays are important forms of academic writing that require careful analysis, evaluation, and reflection. While a critical essay involves analyzing and evaluating a text or idea, a critical thinking essay requires you to analyze an issue and reflect on it from different angles.

Critical Thinking Skills for writing Critical Thinking Essay

Critical thinking is an essential skill when it comes to writing a successful critical thinking essay. It involves analyzing and evaluating complex topics, making connections, and forming well-supported arguments. Developing strong critical thinking skills takes time and practice, but it can be done with the right approach. In this article, we'll explore tips and strategies to help you improve your critical thinking skills and approach your essay with confidence.

How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay? A Complete Guide

Whatever profession you plan to get into, it is important to have critical thinking skills so that you can understand how to make essential decisions in life. To find out how to write a critical thinking essay, continue reading!

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay?

A critical thinking analysis essay is a type of academic writing that requires you to carefully analyze and evaluate a text or an idea. It involves identifying the central arguments, analyzing the evidence, and assessing the overall effectiveness of the author's approach.

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How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline

Critical thinking is the process of evaluating and analyzing information. People who use it in everyday life are open to different opinions. They rely on reason and logic when making conclusions about certain issues.

A critical thinking essay shows how your thoughts change as you research your topic. This type of assignment encourages you to learn rather than prove what you already know. In this article, our custom writing team will:

explain how to write an excellent critical essay;
introduce 30 great essay topics;
provide a critical thinking essay example in MLA format.
🤔 Critical Thinking Essay Definition
💡 Topics & Questions
✅ Step-by-Step Guide
📑 Essay Example & Formatting Tips
✍️ Bonus Tips

🔍 References

🤔 what is a critical thinking essay.

A critical thinking essay is a paper that analyses an issue and reflects on it in order to develop an action plan. Unlike other essay types, it starts with a question instead of a thesis. It helps you develop a broader perspective on a specific issue. Critical writing aims at improving your analytical skills and encourages asking questions.

Critical Thinking in Writing: Importance

When we talk about critical thinking and writing, the word “critical” doesn’t have any negative connotation. It simply implies thorough investigation, evaluation, and analysis of information. Critical thinking allows students to make objective conclusions and present their ideas logically. It also helps them avoid errors in reasoning.

The Basics: 8 Steps of Critical Thinking Psychology

Did you know that the critical thinking process consists of 8 steps? We’ve listed them below. You can try to implement them in your everyday life:

	Identify the issue and describe it.
	Decide what you want to do about the problem.
	Find sources, analyze them, and draw necessary conclusions.
	Come up with creative arguments using the information you’ve gathered and your imagination.
	Arrange your ideas in a logical order.
	Evaluate your options and alternatives and choose the one you prefer.
	Think of how you can express your ideas to others.
	Defend your point of view.

It’s possible that fallacies will occur during the process of critical thinking. Fallacies are errors in reasoning that fail to provide a reasonable conclusion. Here are some common types of fallacies:

Generalization . It happens when you apply generally factual statements to a specific case.
Ambiguity . It occurs when the arguments are not clear and are not supported by evidence.
Appeal to authority . This mistake happens when you claim the statement is valid only because a respected person made it.
Appeal to emotion . It occurs when you use highly emotive language to convince the audience. Try to stay sensible and rely on the evidence.
Bifurcation . This mistake occurs when you choose only between two alternatives when more than two exist.
False analogy . It happens when the examples are poorly connected.

If you want to avoid these mistakes, do the following:

try not to draw conclusions too quickly,
be attentive,
carefully read through all the sources,
avoid generalizations.

How to Demonstrate Your Critical Thinking in Writing

Critical thinking encourages you to go beyond what you know and study new perspectives. When it comes to demonstrating your critical thinking skills in writing, you can try these strategies:

Read . Before you start writing an essay, read everything you can find on the subject you are about to cover. Focus on the critical points of your assignment.
Research . Look up several scholarly sources and study the information in-depth.
Evaluate . Analyze the sources and the information you’ve gathered. See whether you can disagree with the authors.
Prove . Explain why you agree or disagree with the authors’ conclusions. Back it up with evidence.

According to Purdue University, logical essay writing is essential when you deal with academic essays. It helps you demonstrate and prove the arguments. Make sure that your paper reaches a logical conclusion.

There are several main concepts related to logic:

✔️	Premise	A statement that is used as evidence in an argument.
✔️	Conclusion	A claim that follows logically from the premises.
✔️	Syllogism	A conclusion that follows from two other premises.
✔️	Argument	A statement based on logical premises.

If you want your essay to be logical, it’s better to avoid syllogistic fallacies, which happen with certain invalid deductions. If syllogisms are used carelessly, they can lead to false statements and ruin the credibility of your paper.

💡 Critical Thinking Topics & Questions

An excellent critical thinking essay starts with a question. But how do you formulate it properly? Keep reading to find out.

How to Write Critical Thinking Questions: Examples with Answers

Asking the right questions is at the core of critical thinking. They challenge our beliefs and encourage our interest to learn more.

Here are some examples of model questions that prompt critical thinking:

What does… mean?
What would happen if…?
What are the principles of…?
Why is… important?
How does… affect…?
What do you think causes…?
How are… and… similar/different?
How do you explain….?
What are the implications of…?
What do we already know about…?

Now, let’s look at some critical thinking questions with the answers. You can use these as a model for your own questions:

Question: What would happen if people with higher income paid more taxes?

Answer: It would help society to prosper and function better. It would also help people out of poverty. This way, everyone can contribute to the economy.

Question: How does eating healthy benefit you?

Answer: Healthy eating affects people’s lives in many positive ways. It reduces cancer risk, improves your mood and memory, helps with weight loss and diabetes management, and improves your night sleep.

Critical Thinking Essay Topics

Have you already decided what your essay will be about? If not, feel free to use these essay topic examples as titles for your paper or as inspiration. Make sure to choose a theme that interests you personally:

What are the reasons for racism in healthcare?
Why is accepting your appearance important?
Concepts of critical thinking and logical reasoning .
Nature and spirit in Ralf Waldo Emerson’s poetry.
How does technological development affect communication in the modern world?
Social media effect on adolescents.
Is the representation of children in popular fiction accurate?
Domestic violence and its consequences.
Why is mutual aid important in society?
How do stereotypes affect the way people think?
The concept of happiness in different cultures.
The purpose of environmental art.
Why do people have the need to be praised?
How did antibiotics change medicine and its development?
Is there a way to combat inequality in sports?
Is gun control an effective way of crime prevention?
How our understanding of love changes through time.
The use of social media by the older generation.
Graffiti as a form of modern art.
Negative health effects of high sugar consumption.
Why are reality TV shows so popular?
Why should we eat healthily?
How effective and fair is the US judicial system?
Reasons of Cirque du Soleil phenomenon.
How can police brutality be stopped?
Freedom of speech: does it exist?
The effects of vaccination misconceptions.
How to eliminate New Brunswick’s demographic deficit: action plan.
What makes a good movie?
Critical analysis of your favorite book.
The connection between fashion and identity.
Taboo topics and how they are discussed in gothic literature.
Critical thinking essay on the problem of overpopulation.
Does our lifestyle affect our mental health?
The role of self-esteem in preventing eating disorders in children.
Drug abuse among teenagers.
Rhetoric on assisted suicide.
Effects of violent video games on children’s mental health.
Analyze the effect stress has on the productivity of a team member.
Discuss the importance of the environmental studies.
Critical thinking and ethics of happy life.
The effects of human dignity on the promotion of justice.
Examine the ethics of advertising the tobacco industry.
Reasons and possible solutions of research misconduct.
Implication of parental deployment for children.
Cultural impact of superheroes on the US culture.
Examine the positive and negative impact of technology on modern society.
Critical thinking in literature: examples.
Analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on economic transformation.
Benefits and drawbacks of mandatory vaccination.

Haven’t found a suitable essay idea? Try using our topic generator !

✅ How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay Step by Step

Now, let’s focus on planning and writing your critical thinking essay. In this section, you will find an essay outline, examples of thesis statements, and a brief overview of each essay part.

Critical Thinking Essay Outline

In a critical thinking essay, there are two main things to consider: a premise and a conclusion :

A premise is a statement in the argument that explains the reason or supports a conclusion.
A conclusion indicates what the argument is trying to prove. Each argument can have only one conclusion.

When it comes to structuring, a critical thinking essay is very similar to any other type of essay. Before you start writing it, make sure you know what to include in it. An outline is very helpful when it comes to structuring a paper.

The picture enumerates the main parts of a critical essay outline: introduction, main body, conclusion.

How to Start a Critical Essay Introduction

An introduction gives readers a general idea of an essay’s contents. When you work on the introduction, imagine that you are drawing a map for the reader. It not only marks the final destination but also explains the route.

An introduction usually has 4 functions:

It catches the reader’s attention;
It states the essay’s main argument;
It provides some general information about the topic;
It shows the importance of the issue in question.

Here are some strategies that can make the introduction writing easier:

Give an overview of the essay’s topic.
Express the main idea.
Define the main terms.
Outline the issues that you are going to explore or argue about.
Explain the methodology and why you used it.
Write a hook to attract the reader’s attention.

Critical Analysis Thesis Statement & Examples

A thesis statement is an integral part of every essay. It keeps the paper organized and guides both the reader and the writer. A good thesis:

expresses the conclusion or position on a topic;
justifies your position or opinion with reasoning;
conveys one idea;
serves as the essay’s map.

To have a clearer understanding of what a good thesis is, let’s have a look at these examples.

Bad thesis statement example	Good thesis statement example
Exercising is good for your health.	All office workers should add exercising to their daily routine because it helps to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce stress levels.

The statement on the left is too general and doesn’t provide any reasoning. The one on the right narrows down the group of people to office workers and specifies the benefits of exercising.

Critical Thinking Essay Body Paragraphs: How to Write

Body paragraphs are the part of the essay where you discuss all the ideas and arguments. In a critical thinking essay, arguments are especially important. When you develop them, make sure that they:

reflect the key theme;
are supported by the sources/citations/examples.

Using counter-arguments is also effective. It shows that you acknowledge different points of view and are not easily persuaded.

In addition to your arguments, it’s essential to present the evidence . Demonstrate your critical thinking skills by analyzing each source and stating whether the author’s position is valid.

To make your essay logically flow, you may use transitions such as:

Accordingly,
For instance,
On the contrary,
In conclusion,
Not only… but also,
Undoubtedly.

How to Write a Critical Thinking Conclusion

In a critical thinking essay, the notion of “conclusion” is tightly connected to the one used in logic. A logical conclusion is a statement that specifies the author’s point of view or what the essay argues about. Each argument can have only one logical conclusion.

Sometimes they can be confused with premises. Remember that premises serve as a support for the conclusion. Unlike the conclusion, there can be several premises in a single argument. You can learn more about these concepts from the article on a logical consequence by Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Keeping this in mind, have a look at these tips for finishing your essay:

Briefly sum up the main points.
Provide a final thought on the issue.
Suggest some results or consequences.
Finish up with a call for action.

📑 Critical Thinking Essays Examples & Formatting Tips

Formatting is another crucial aspect of every formal paper. MLA and APA are two popular formats when it comes to academic writing. They share some similarities but overall are still two different styles. Here are critical essay format guidelines that you can use as a reference:

	APA format	MLA format

	at the top of the page;


	in the center of a new page in bold;

Finally, you’re welcome to check out a full critical essay sample in MLA format. Download the PDF file below:

Currently, the importance of critical thinking has grown rapidly because technological progress has led to expanded access to various content-making platforms: websites, online news agencies, and podcasts with, often, low-quality information. Fake news is used to achieve political and financial aims, targeting people with low news literacy. However, individuals can stop spreading fallacies by detecting false agendas with the help of a skeptical attitude.

✍️ Bonus Tips: Critical Thinking and Writing Exercises

Critical thinking is a process different from our regular thinking. When we think in everyday life, we do it automatically. However, when we’re thinking critically, we do it deliberately.

So how do we get better at this type of thinking and make it a habit? These useful tips will help you do it:

Ask basic questions. Sometimes, while we are doing research, the explanation becomes too complicated. To avoid it, always go back to your topic.
Question basic assumptions. When thinking through a problem, ask yourself whether your beliefs can be wrong. Keep an open mind while researching your question.
Think for yourself. Avoid getting carried away in the research and buying into other people’s opinions.
Reverse things. Sometimes it seems obvious that one thing causes another, but what if it’s the other way around?
Evaluate existing evidence. If you work with sources, it’s crucial to evaluate and question them.

Another way to improve your reasoning skills is to do critical thinking exercises. Here are some of them:

Exercise	Technique	Explanation
Brainstorming	Free-writing	Choose a topic and write on it for 7-10 minutes straight. Don’t concern yourself with grammar.
	Clustering	Choose a keyword and write down the words that you associate with it. Keep doing that for 5-10 minutes.
	Listing	List down all the ideas that are concerning the subject you are about to explore.
	Metaphor writing	Write a metaphor or simile and explain why it works or what it means to you.
	Journalistic questions	Write questions such as “Who?” “When?” “Why?” “How?” Answer these questions in relation to your topic.
Organizing	Drawing diagrams	Jot down your main ideas and see if you can make a chart or form a shape depicting their relationship.
	Rewriting an idea	Try briefly outlining the central idea over the course of several days and see how your thoughts change.
	Solution writing	Look at your idea through a problem-solving lens. Briefly describe the problem and then make a list of solutions.
Drafting	Full draft writing	Write a draft of a whole paper to see how you express ideas on paper.
	Outlining	Outline your essay to structure the ideas you have.
	Writing with a timer	Set a timer and write a draft within a set amount of time.
Revising	Analyzing sentences	Analyze your draft at the sentence level and see if your paper makes sense.
	Underlying the main point	Highlight the main point of your paper. Make sure it’s expressed clearly.
	Outlining the draft	Summarize every paragraph of your essay in one sentence.

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What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

What Is Critical Thinking? | Definition & Examples

Published on May 30, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a judgment .

To think critically, you must be aware of your own biases and assumptions when encountering information, and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources .

Critical thinking skills help you to:

Identify credible sources
Evaluate and respond to arguments
Assess alternative viewpoints
Test hypotheses against relevant criteria

Why is critical thinking important, critical thinking examples, how to think critically, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about critical thinking.

Critical thinking is important for making judgments about sources of information and forming your own arguments. It emphasizes a rational, objective, and self-aware approach that can help you to identify credible sources and strengthen your conclusions.

Critical thinking is important in all disciplines and throughout all stages of the research process . The types of evidence used in the sciences and in the humanities may differ, but critical thinking skills are relevant to both.

In academic writing , critical thinking can help you to determine whether a source:

Is free from research bias
Provides evidence to support its research findings
Considers alternative viewpoints

Outside of academia, critical thinking goes hand in hand with information literacy to help you form opinions rationally and engage independently and critically with popular media.

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essay topics for critical thinking skills

Critical thinking can help you to identify reliable sources of information that you can cite in your research paper . It can also guide your own research methods and inform your own arguments.

Outside of academia, critical thinking can help you to be aware of both your own and others’ biases and assumptions.

Academic examples

However, when you compare the findings of the study with other current research, you determine that the results seem improbable. You analyze the paper again, consulting the sources it cites.

You notice that the research was funded by the pharmaceutical company that created the treatment. Because of this, you view its results skeptically and determine that more independent research is necessary to confirm or refute them. Example: Poor critical thinking in an academic context You’re researching a paper on the impact wireless technology has had on developing countries that previously did not have large-scale communications infrastructure. You read an article that seems to confirm your hypothesis: the impact is mainly positive. Rather than evaluating the research methodology, you accept the findings uncritically.

Nonacademic examples

However, you decide to compare this review article with consumer reviews on a different site. You find that these reviews are not as positive. Some customers have had problems installing the alarm, and some have noted that it activates for no apparent reason.

You revisit the original review article. You notice that the words “sponsored content” appear in small print under the article title. Based on this, you conclude that the review is advertising and is therefore not an unbiased source. Example: Poor critical thinking in a nonacademic context You support a candidate in an upcoming election. You visit an online news site affiliated with their political party and read an article that criticizes their opponent. The article claims that the opponent is inexperienced in politics. You accept this without evidence, because it fits your preconceptions about the opponent.

There is no single way to think critically. How you engage with information will depend on the type of source you’re using and the information you need.

However, you can engage with sources in a systematic and critical way by asking certain questions when you encounter information. Like the CRAAP test , these questions focus on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

When encountering information, ask:

Who is the author? Are they an expert in their field?
What do they say? Is their argument clear? Can you summarize it?
When did they say this? Is the source current?
Where is the information published? Is it an academic article? Is it peer-reviewed ?
Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence? Does it rely on opinion, speculation, or appeals to emotion ? Do they address alternative arguments?

Critical thinking also involves being aware of your own biases, not only those of others. When you make an argument or draw your own conclusions, you can ask similar questions about your own writing:

Am I only considering evidence that supports my preconceptions?
Is my argument expressed clearly and backed up with credible sources?
Would I be convinced by this argument coming from someone else?

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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ChatGPT citations
Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
Using ChatGPT for your studies
What is ChatGPT?
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Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

Critical thinking skills include the ability to:

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

Who is the author? Are they an expert?
How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A credible source should pass the CRAAP test and follow these guidelines:

The information should be up to date and current.
The author and publication should be a trusted authority on the subject you are researching.
The sources the author cited should be easy to find, clear, and unbiased.
For a web source, the URL and layout should signify that it is trustworthy.

Information literacy refers to a broad range of skills, including the ability to find, evaluate, and use sources of information effectively.

Being information literate means that you:

Know how to find credible sources
Use relevant sources to inform your research
Understand what constitutes plagiarism
Know how to cite your sources correctly

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search, interpret, and recall information in a way that aligns with our pre-existing values, opinions, or beliefs. It refers to the ability to recollect information best when it amplifies what we already believe. Relatedly, we tend to forget information that contradicts our opinions.

Although selective recall is a component of confirmation bias, it should not be confused with recall bias.

On the other hand, recall bias refers to the differences in the ability between study participants to recall past events when self-reporting is used. This difference in accuracy or completeness of recollection is not related to beliefs or opinions. Rather, recall bias relates to other factors, such as the length of the recall period, age, and the characteristics of the disease under investigation.

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How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Complete Guide

Critical thinking is a complex system of judgments that helps to analyze information and come up with valid conclusions, create an assessment of what is happening, and interpret it. It can be said that critical thinking is high-level thinking, which makes it possible to question the incoming information. Read the full guide prepared by our essay writers to be better in studies.

Critical thinking in learning process

Critical thinking as an academic discipline is based on the rules of formal logic, theory, and practice of argumentation, rhetoric, and scientific epistemology (a section of philosophy that deals with instruments and limitations of cognitive activity).

Every human being has two ways of thinking: absorbing information (like a sponge absorbs the water) and thinking about information (like sifting through sand). While a person that uses the first way will be trying to remember the given information in detail, the other one will actively interact with the obtained knowledge. This doesn’t mean that one way is worse; critical thinking combines these two features.

Developing critical thinking is hard, as it’s easier to take the position of your friends, family, or public opinion. Your friends may think that vaccines badly influence children’s health and you will think the same, just because your friends think so. But if you will study available information about this issue, you can change your mind, or just reiterate the conviction.

A person with developed critical thinking skills will be resistant to manipulations, immune to stereotypes or public opinion – that’s why AI essay writer isn’t the best option for the development of such skills.

The opinion, worked out independently, can surprise you with its unexpectedness, or it may turn out to be generally accepted. You can find out that such conclusions belong to certain researchers or that they have already been stated by rebels that oppose the established dogmas.

What is a critical thinking essay?

A critical thinking essay is a type of writing that is aimed to improve your analytical skills. Critical thinking essays should teach the student to carefully read the texts, utilize methodical doubt, find weaknesses in both others and personal arguments, work with concepts, and clearly and reasonably express thoughts. The basis of a critical thinking essay is to ask and answer the right questions. Tutors usually pay attention both to the quality of the text and how a student develops arguments about a certain issue. In any case, you will be sure that you have your own position based on your own research and conclusions.

Essay writing is one of the best exercises to help improve critical thinking skills. This will help you learn how to effectively work with information, structure it, filter out questionable data, make conclusions – simply everything connected with critical thinking. For example, critical thinking in essay writing will help nurses analyze their experience, reflect on a situation, solve problems, and make the right decisions in a new situation.

Fortunately, critical thinking is not an organ that can atrophy. If you think that you have low critical thinking skills, you always have a possibility of improving it on your own, or apply for paper writing help to professionals.

How to start a critical thinking essay

Every text needs structure and focus, and consistent guidelines can help you consider all valuable points of a critical essay. As every piece of academic writing, critical thinking essay format consists of an introduction, several body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Choose a central problem or argument. At college you may be asked to critically analyze essays, articles, controversial opinions, literature, etc. If you will have a chance to pick a topic by yourself, make sure that it is interesting for you and that there is plenty of information that you can read about it. Make sure that the topic is not too difficult and you will be able to come up with basic arguments.
Gather information and recall to existing knowledge. What do you already know about the topic? If your topic is analyzing a certain text, you will need to read it attentively and point out the main issues. Before you will start reading, make a list of questions that you can consider while reading. Also, a good idea is to take notes as you read and briefly write your own thoughts.
Come up with a thesis statement. This means that you need to come up with a central focus of your paper. A good thesis statement gives you the aim that you need to achieve in the body paragraph.
Write the body paragraph. To write this paragraph, you will need to make several actions like analyzing the material. Maybe, you have some notes with ideas that you have come up with during writing, but for writing you need to make a profound analysis.
Analyze the information. What evidence, arguments, and claims have you found? Identify weaknesses and strengths, pointing out important relationships.
Examine different viewpoints. For critical writing it is a crucial part, as it will be a mistake to consider a particular viewpoint to be obvious and undeniable. Such approach requires to examine and evaluate scholarly opinions about the topic.
Review contexts. Does the author try to approach the topic from an ideological perspective? Consider the fact that your own interpretation may be influenced by your culture, ideology, and other biases.
Come up with your own viewpoint. It is advisable to create an additional section or subparagraph dedicated to your opinion. You can imagine that you are a participant of discussion and your task is to explain your opinion with evidence. Remember that you should avoid pronouns like “I” and “my.”
Come up with conclusions. How can you evaluate your own findings? Briefly sum up the ideas you came up with in an overview. Define the importance of your findings and point out the directions that need further research.

Critical thinking essay questions

Do we often think about the role that questions play in our lives? You won’t be able to master critical thinking skills without asking the right questions.

Common questions for critical thinking usually start with who, what, why, where, and when. The right questions will help you think deeply about the context: causes and consequences, analyzing different data, and finding evidence to explain your point. The following questions prepared by our college paper writing service are aimed to help students to promote critical thinking while writing essays.

Questions about change.

– How has A become a turning point for B? – How has X transformed to Y? – What are the consequences of A? – What is the starting point of Y?

Questions that ask for an evaluation.

– What factors have influenced the decision? – How would the opponent critique this idea? – How would a supporter defend the decision? – How can the decision be applied in other conditions? – What factors have led to unusual consequences?

Questions that ask for rationale and evidence.

– What could be an example? – Are these justifications adequate (suitable, sufficient)? – Why do you think this is true? – What led you to this belief? – Do you have any proof for this?

Questions that ask for synthesis.

– How can this be compared? – Which option is better? – What is the benefit of this decision? – What is the value and importance? – What can I recommend? – What is better to think about?

This structured approach reflects the process that is governed by critical thinking. These questions allow us to challenge traditional thought processes and help to find new solutions.

Critical thinking essay topics

When you need to pick a topic for a critical thinking essay on your own, it can be a daunting task. Our paper writing service experts created a list of topics with suggested questions and ideas that will boost your writing process.

Should insurance cover illnesses resulting from drug addiction?

Analyze several articles related to the topic over the internet. Mark several citations that you can cite in your essay. What is your personal attitude to people that take drugs? What is your own point of view about the topic? Write the essay from the perspective of your point of view and support it with citations from sources.

What were the causes of the currency crisis in Russia?

Find relevant internet sources and analyze the origins of this crisis and its resolution. Has the International Monetary Fund provided intervention? Has the crisis ended? How did the Russian economy react to the conclusion?

What differences and similarities do social welfare institutions in USA and China have?

First, briefly describe the overall development of social welfare in the context of culture and history. Compare the development of social welfare institutions in US and China. How has the poverty reduction policy influenced the situation in China? Discuss the current situation in US and China, focusing on the US social policy. Connect the relationship of poverty reduction and development of welfare institutions in China.

Write a critical reflection about growing up, analyzing a personal experience.

Think about yourself when you were a child. What qualities have you obtained? What qualities have you lost? Why? What factors have influenced your development? Sum up your experience and how it has influenced your personal traits.

What effects do leaders and managers have on employees?

What are the qualities of leaders in organizations? Does being a leader mean to have some sort of power? Is the statement “the more power the better” true? What tools do organizations use to manipulate the employees? How can the leader avoid being corrupted?

Is the Affordable Care Act a good decision?

Write your own overall opinion about the Affordable Care Act. What are weaknesses and strengths of this Act? Develop your own opinion, considering the fact that the Affordable Care Act will require many people to buy insurance or pay a penalty. Are you ready to purchase insurance or get a fine? What would you prefer? Have you ever used health insurance? Do you see any sense in it? Why?

Can drug testing of employees be treated as an infringement of personal privacy?

Nowadays, drugs have become a part of life for many people. When a company wants to hire a professional, managers want to be sure that the employee will be reliable and peaceful. Why do companies provide drug testing? How does this testing influence the relationship between worker and employer? What types of drug testing is common in companies? How does drug addiction influence the efficiency of the worker?

How can schools encourage students to develop meta-cognition and critical thinking?

First, you should describe what is the essence of critical thinking and meta-cognition. How can all these skills be helpful for students at school and further in life? What practices should schools implement in programs? Are there any working exercises students can practice on their own?

How can managers influence successful employees to behave in a certain way?

It is pure luck if you have a productive and brilliant employee in your team. Imagine that you have some controversial issues that this employee cannot agree with or his or her behavior is wrong in some way. What psychological strategies exist that can change behavior?

Why is Apple marketing special?

You can pick several products and analyze the ways marketers use to promote particular products. What strategies do Apple marketers use? How do they introduce new categories of products? Can these methods be implemented in other companies? How?

How have modern trends for healthy eating influenced the food industry?

Pick a company that successfully adopted a healthy eating policy for their own goods. Has the company succeeded in it? Has it worked? For example, we can take McDonald’s with a milk-free latte and soy hamburgers. Are these products popular? How does the company promote this subcategory of goods?

What is the importance of critical thinking in academic writing?

First, you will need to collect some information about the topic from articles, your own experience, interviewing, observing, and come up with your point of view. Think about a list of things a good academic writer must do to become a successful writer. Why is it important? How can it be achieved?

Can microaggressions be more than racial bias?

What is microaggression? Make research of available sources and determine the forms of microaggression and discrimination. What is the difference between microaggressions in the workplace and sexual harassment? Have you ever faced acts of microaggression in your college, friends group, and media? What type of aggression was it? What can society do to reduce such acts?

What is the relationship between critical thinking and ethics?

Start with the definition of critical thinking and ethics. What are the steps of the critical thinking process? In what ways can you use critical thinking when studying and problem solving? What ethical lens do you prefer from the Ethical Lens Inventory? Think about how your personal ethical norms influence your decisions. How does ethics generally influence societal and professional responsibilities?

Critical thinking essay topic suggestions

If you still cannot choose a topic, maybe you will find it from these critical thinking essay questions:

What effect does violence in the media have on young children?
What are the causes of unhappy marriage?
What is the nature of the employment relationship involved in the various areas of the “gig economy”?
Critically analyze the following statement from the Marxist perspective: “Defining criminals as animals and misfits, as enemies of the state, provides a justification for incarcerating them in prison.”
How does science as a practical technique transform human lives? What dangers does this transformation pose to humanity?
Is solitary confinement cruel and unusual punishment?
What is the nature of politics? Consider its influence on public opinion, political parties, interest group activity, and political socialization.
Why has the global supply chain emerged? Why does it matter? What perspectives does it have?
Do nurses who receive anti-bullying education experience less bullying?
How do writers influence readers? What approaches do they use?
What status and rights does a female worker have in Japan?
What differences are between the burden of proof in a criminal trial and a civil trial?
Critically analyze your favorite film or soap opera.
How have gender stereotypes influenced Asian American identities?
Do Shakespeare and Montaigne agree on how a person should react to misfortune? Why or why not?
Critically analyze Steve Jobs’ commencement speech. Is it logically structured? What powerful moments does it have?
What are the best ways to eliminate domestic violence? What countries have resolved this issue?
Is sexual addiction a “biopsychosocial” phenomenon?
Should assisted suicide (by the request of the patient) be illegal? Why or why not? If you agree, what methods of punishment should be applied? If not, describe your position in detail.
What are advantages and disadvantages of being a vegan?

Critical thinking essay example

The best way to learn is to learn from examples. You will significantly improve your writing skills if you combine practical advice with a sample. One of the critical thinking essays examples that you can read below was written by a professional writer to show you how this type of essay may look. Let’s check it right away!

What Are the Scientific Causes of Happiness?

This essay will discuss the meaning of happiness and whether there is a scientifically proven method to reach happiness.

Humanity has always been interested in happiness. This term has many definitions and many approaches to modern positive psychology. From the scientific point of view, happiness is a chain of chemical processes in the body, as a result of which a person is saturated with “happiness hormones.”

Dfarhud (2014) research has shown that happiness depends on many brain chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, cortisol, and melatonin, which can create happy feelings. No specific approach can keep chemicals on the level that brings happiness. According to this study, we can conclude that the assessment of subjective happiness and satisfaction is a complex system, and needs a balance of interactions and counterbalances.

According to Sato (2015), if a person is satisfied with life and often experiences positive emotions, the amount of gray matter in the parietal lobe on the inner surface of the cerebral hemispheres increases in the ancestral part, which is responsible for consciousness and memory. Scientists suppose that happiness can be achieved through meditation and training which, according to studies, increase the mass of gray matter in the parietal lobe of the cerebral hemispheres.

Research by Lyubomirsky (2005) has shown that thoughts can influence the balance of hormones and chemicals. That means that with positive thinking a person generates and reinforces new synapses in the brain that subsequently increase brain functions. But this cannot be applied to those who already are in depression or under certain circumstances that reduce the ability to think positively.

Many neurological articles promise to say something about happiness, but in fact, tell about the remuneration. Psychologists and scientists still have no universal recipe to become a happy person. There are various screening tests to identify the level of happiness, but the problem is that they are quite subjective. Along with brain reactions, happiness also depends on genetics, character, underlying brain systems; it is impossible to influence at a certain brain area or give a pill and make a person happy. The main aim of a scientist shouldn’t be happiness as a whole, but how to use psychic mechanisms and activities that can raise the overall subjective level of happiness.

Dfarhud, D., Malmir, M., & Khananmandi, M. (2014). Happiness & Health: The Biological Factors – Systematic Review Article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 43(11), 1468–1477.

Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). The benefits of frequent positive affect: Does happiness lead to success? Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 803-855.

Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Kubota, Y., Sawada, R., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2015, November 20). The structural neural substrate of subjective happiness. Retrieved from Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep16891

Exercises for developing critical thinking skills

Critical thinking will not only improve the way you write an essay and do research. It will help you to make the right decisions in your everyday life and analyze situations you face at university and work. Practice at least one of the exercises and you will definitely feel the benefits of thinking critically.

1. Create a journal.

Get used to writing down your thoughts dedicated to a certain topic. Change it, for example, every week. You can follow this format:

Situation. Describe the situation in detail and from various points of view: scientific, logical, and emotional. Your reaction. Describe all of your emotions caused by the situation. Analysis. Think about the situation and try to find out what has happened and why. Try to get to the bottom of it. Evaluation. Try to evaluate the text you have written above. What can you do to improve your way of thinking? What misconceptions have you mentioned?

2. Set the list of goals for the week.

You can list the abilities you want to develop. Accuracy, precision, clarity, logical thinking, etc. That means that you should concentrate on these abilities in all everyday activities. For example, devote one week to concentrate on what you say and how you say it. At the end of the week you can sum up your observation and make improvements in the following week.

3. Pick an interesting topic or issue.

Find an interesting topic that you want to learn. Along with your everyday responsibilities, leave from fifteen to thirty minutes to read information about the chosen topic. This means that every day you will be reading about different points of view about the problem. Your task is to doubt the information and check whether it works or not.

4. Practice mind mapping.

Mind mapping is a great tool that you can use to increase your brain power and perceiving information. Research has shown that mind maps accumulate both left and right brain capacities. Mind mapping can help you summarize information, come up with questions, and increase comprehension. For example, you can create a mind map during one lecture in your college or just listen to any educational video over the internet.

Take a piece of paper and put the main idea in the center. Draw the branches starting from the top right corner and move in a clockwise direction. Each branch will represent keywords (subheadings of the topic). It is recommended to use different colors to group ideas, so it will be easier to encode your mind map later.

Critical thinking is just a way to think with your head, questioning any, even the most interesting ideas. Of course, critical thinking won’t solve all your problems, but it’s a good habit. And the more you think, the more effectively you will work, learn, communicate, and generate creative ideas. In conclusion, there’s nothing more to say but, each of us is free to choose in which world he or she should live – a colorful, multidimensional world or a flat, black-and-white world.

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

Developing technical and problem-solving skills
Engaging in more active listening
Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
Seeking out more diversity of thought
Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

What information should be included?
Which information resources should the author look to?
What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
What is the most effective way to show information?
How should the report be organized?
How should it be designed?
What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

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Critical Thinking Essay Examples

The main aspects of critical thinking.

Critical thinking is a mindset, an expository position you take with respect to surveying claims that you have perused, heard, or saw. In deciding if a case is valid or not, basic reasoning is the cautious application. Sensible thinking about what to do and what...

Critical Thinking: Definition, the Importance and Problem Solving

Thinking takes a great place in modern scientific studies. It is one of the important mental abilities that play a major role in the life of the human being and in the cognitive life of humans. Thinking is defined as a series of mental activities...

How Develop the Ability of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking not only involves practice and mental discipline, it allows a reader to form a judgment from analyzing facts. But this does not mean that only a few can learn the ability to think critically. In critical thinking reflection essay we will understand how...

Importance of Critical Thinking: a Reflection on Its Impact

Encouraging people to improve their mindset and think deeper will help them better themselves as people and individuals. Developing a good mindset may be hard to achieve but will be worth it in the end, according to philosopher Minke Tromp. Changing mindsets can affect people...

Impacts of Critical Thinking on Growth Mindset

In the articles “Learning to Think” and “Growth Mindset”, the authors describe how critical thinking can impact lives immensely. Both articles present the idea that if people think positive then their results will become more positive. While developing a more positive mindset may be tough...

Fake News and Critical Thinking in Information Evaluation

In the post-truth era we are constantly bombarded with “news” which is fabricated, distorted, and massaged information, published with the intention to deceive and mislead others. Such “news” has come to be known as “fake news”. The influence of fake news can have profound socio-political...

The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills for My Education

I will be more independent and self-directed learner. This is because as a student it allows me to figure out my learning style, strengths and weakness in my life. This would help me to improve my performance or effort in achieving my goals. For an...

Critical Thinking Thesis: Learning Disabilities, Specifically Dyslexia

This topic interests me because I am familiar with people who suffer from learning disabilities. This made me want to explore in detail, the learning disability called dyslexia. I have a younger sibling who has not yet been definitively diagnosed with a learning disability however,...

Philosophical Problems and Critical Thinking

The main arguments revolve around the philosophies of the professor. The first argument of the professor is that to save the human race in the world, the skillsets of a person is the main ingredient. This means that the bunker should only be composed of...

The Role of Mental Imagery for an Athlete

Thinking, or cognition, can be defined as mental activity that goes on the brain when a person is processing information (organizing, understanding, and communicating it to others). Thinking does not only include memory, but much more. When people think, they are not only aware of...

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About Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgment.

The list of core critical thinking skills includes observation, interpretation, analysis, inference, evaluation, explanation, and metacognition. In addition to possessing strong critical-thinking skills, one must be disposed to engage in problems and decisions using those skills. Critical thinking employs not only logic but broad intellectual criteria such as clarity, credibility, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, significance, and fairness.

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75 Critical Thinking Essay Topics

Essential Things to Consider When Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

1. Do Your Research

2. Create An Outline

3. Write A Thesis Statement

4. Write The Introduction

5. Write The Body Paragraphs

6. Write The Conclusion

Citing Sources in a Critical Thinking Essay

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About Social Issues

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About General Issues

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About The Environment and Conservation

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About Technology

Critical Thinking Essay Topics About American Classics

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How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay With Tips and Examples

General Guidelines for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

1. Defining Characteristics of a Critical Thinking Essay

2. How to Identify a Critical Thinking Essay

3. How Does a Critical Thinking Essay Differ From Other Papers

Free Examples of 20 Topics for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

1. Identify Communication Differences Between Men and Women

2. Discuss Drug Use in Sports

3. Explore the Anti-Meth Campaign

4. Discuss Homelessness and Its Social Impacts

5. Discuss the History of College Football in the United States

6. Explore Health Effects of Obesity

7. Discuss the Significance of Street Art and Graffiti

8. Sports On Television: Is It Necessary?

9. What Is the Essence of Multicultural Identity?

10. The Relevance of Body Size in Modeling

11. Understanding Multicultural Families

12. Changing Gender Roles: What It Means for Traditionalists

13. What Is Ethnic Music, and Does It Matter in a Multicultural Society?

14. American Society and the Latino Influence

15. Challenges of Single-Parent Households

16. What Are the Features of a Good Movie?

17. Describe a Poem With a First-Person Point of View

18. The Dynamics of Adoption in a Multicultural Society

19. What Store Strategies Influence Consumers?

20. Euthanasia: The Questions of Ethics, Morals, and Legality

How Students Can Understand if They Need to Write a Critical Thinking Essay by Looking at a Topic

Structure of a Critical Thinking Essay

Sample Outline Template for Writing a Critical Thinking Essay

B. Argument on an Issue

C. Importance of an Issue

An Example of a Critical Thinking Essay

I. Introduction Sample of a Critical Thinking Essay

II. Examples of Body Paragraphs in a Critical Thinking Essay

III. Conclusion Sample of a Critical Thinking Essay

Summing Up on How to Write a Good Critical Thinking Essay

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