1. The Elements The Standards SEEI Intellectual Traits of Mind
CRTW 201
The Elements
The Standards
SEEI
Intellectual Traits of Mind

2. The Elements – the What
The Standards – the How
The Traits – the Why

8. The Elements Purpose Questions Information Inferences/Conclusions
Concepts
Assumptions
Implications/Consequences
Points of View

9. Purpose
What am I trying to accomplish?
What is my central aim?

10. Questions What question am I raising? What question am I addressing?
Am I considering the complexities in the question?

11. Information What information am I using in coming to that conclusion?
What experience have I had to support this claim?
What information do I need to settle the question?

12. Inferences/ Conclusions
How did I reach this conclusion?
Is there another way to interpret the information?

13. Concepts
What is the main idea here?
Can I explain this idea?

14. Assumptions What am I taking for granted?
What assumption has led me to that conclusion?

15. Implications/Consequences
If someone accepted my position, what would be the implications?
What am I implying?

16. Points of View From what point of view am I looking at this issue?
Is there another point of view I should consider?

17. Intellectual Standards
Clarity
Accuracy
Precision
Relevance
Depth
Breadth
Logic
Significance
Fairness

19. Assessing Writing with the Standards
Is our meaning clearly stated (or is our writing vague, confused, or muddled in some way)?
Have we been accurate in what we have claimed?
Have we been sufficiently precise in providing details and specifics (when specifics are relevant)?

20. Do we stray from our purpose (thereby introducing irrelevant material)?
Do we take the reader into the important complexities inherent in the subject (or is our writing superficial)?
Is our writing overly narrow in its perspective?
Is our writing internally consistent (or are there unexplained contradictions in the text)?

21. Have we said something significant (or have we dealt with the subject in a trivial manner)?
Have we been fair (or have we taken a one-sided, narrow approach?

22. SEEI State it Elaborate (Explain it more fully, and in your own words)
Exemplify (give an example, maybe a contrasting example as well)
Illustrate (give an illustration: maybe a diagram, a picture, a concept map, and analogy)