People give all kinds of reasons for their claims. Some are subjective or personal, and some are objective or based on agreed upon facts and academic studies.
Overall, it is super important to identify what kinds of reasons are being given. It helps you decide: 1) What type of reason/evidence is missing? 2) Should I ask for more information? 3) How can I combat the claim - what kind of evidence might be appealing to this person?
Read each statement carefully. Decide which are objective (facts that can be verified) and which two are subjective (opinions that express a personal view).
How to play: Select the two statements that are objective — then click Check when you're ready.
Statement 1
"That movie was absolutely terrifying — the scariest thing I've seen in years."
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Statement 2
"The film earned $100 million in its opening weekend!"
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Statement 3
"Eating vegetables every day is the single best thing you can do for your health."
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Statement 4
"Studies show that adults who eat five servings of vegetables daily have a 20% lower risk of heart disease."
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Step two of four
One Claim or Many?
Is this one clear claim?
Sometimes a speaker bundles several different claims into one sentence. That makes it hard to evaluate any of them.
As critical thinkers, we want to be precise. So, if we hear someone rattle off a long list of claims, it would be a good idea to focus on one important one. Let's practice identifying when someone is giving us one claim versus multiple claims.
Find the two statements that make a single, clear claim.
How to play: Select the two statements where only one claim is being made. Watch out for statements that sneak in multiple ideas at once.
Statement 1
"Social media is ruining teenagers' mental health, and all those companies care about is making money! It's sick!"
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Statement 2
"Using social media for more than three hours has been linked to higher rates of anxiety in teenagers."
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Statement 3
"Politicians are all corrupt; nobody in power actually cares about regular people anymore."
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Statement 4
"Voter turnout in local elections is typically lower than in national elections."
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Step three of four
Evidence
Is there evidence given?
In some cases, subjective experience really matters and must be shared. We might, for example, describe how long we waited at a hospital and describe our frustration in order to argue in favor of concrete changes. But claims are generally stronger when backed by objective evidence. So, for example, we would want to know if long wait times were the norm at the hospital or just a fluke. We should try to verify the experience and look for patterns. Remember: not all evidence is equal! Let's explore this.
Part A: Select the two statements that include objective evidence to support the claim.
Statement 1
"You should trust this supplement — I've been taking it for years, and I feel fantastic."
Statement 2
"A randomized trial of 1,200 participants found that this supplement reduced fatigue markers by 34% over 12 weeks."
Statement 3
"Everyone knows that getting outside makes you happier."
Statement 4
"Spending time in nature reduces cortisol levels, according to research in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives."
Part B
Are the reasons objective or subjective?
You found the two statements with evidence. Now look at each one: is the reason being given objective (data, research, verifiable facts) or subjective (personal experience, feelings, anecdote)? And think to yourself: is this the kind of claim where I want Objective or Subjective supports?
Statement 1 reason:
"I've been taking it for years, and I feel fantastic."
Statement 4 reason:
"A randomized trial of 1,200 participants found a 34% reduction in fatigue markers."
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Step four of four
Your Response
What do you do next?
You've just heard a claim that sounds convincing. Some of it has evidence — but not all of it was airtight. What are the best next steps? Select all that apply.
Tip: More than one answer can be right — and sometimes all of them are. Think carefully about which responses show good critical thinking and good character.
Agree without looking deeper into itThe claim sounds good, so I'll accept it and move on.
Check the facts from independent sourcesLook it up in other places (preferably places using academic peer review) to see if the claim holds up.
Ask the person to tell me moreRequest clarification or more detail before forming a view.
Listen for other reasons as a next stepStay open and gather more perspectives before deciding.
Be compassionateRemember that people making claims often care deeply — engage with kindness.
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You did it!
Well done, thinker.
You've just worked through the four layers of critical thinking. Every time you hear a claim — from a friend, a headline, or a podcast — you now have a toolkit.
Fact vs. Opinion
Precise Claims
Evidence Evaluation
Thoughtful Response
Your critical thinking checklist
1. Is it objective or subjective?
Facts can be verified. Opinions reflect personal views. Know which one you're hearing.
2. Is it one clear claim?
Bundled claims are harder to evaluate. Separate them before deciding what you think.
3. Is there evidence — and is it solid?
Look for data, research, and sources. Personal anecdotes are not the same as evidence.
4. What do I do next?
Check independently. Ask questions. Stay open. And always — be compassionate.