Understands and applies the basic principles of presenting an argument
1. Evaluates arguments that are based on quantitative data and mathematical concepts 2
2. Questions claims that use vague references such as "leading experts say..." or are based on the statements of people speaking outside of their expertise (e.g., celebrities)
3. Questions conclusions based on very small samples of data, biased samples, or samples for which there is no central sample 1, 2
4. Makes basic distinctions between information that is based on fact and information that is based on opinion 1
5. Identifies and questions false analogies
6. Identifies and questions arguments in which all members of a group are implied to possess nearly identical characteristics that are considered to be different from those of another group
7. Compares and contrasts the credibility of differing accounts of the same event
Overarching Standard 2:Making Connections
Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences (compares, contrasts, classifies)
1. Compares consumer products on the basis of features, performance, durability, and cost, and considers personal tradeoffs
2. Understands that an analogy not only contains some likenesses but also some differences
3. Selects criteria or rules for category membership that are relevant and important
4. Orders information or events based on frequency of occurrence
5. Orders information based on importance to a given criterion
6. Articulates abstract relationships between existing categories of information
7. Creates a table to compare specific abstract and concrete features of two items
8. Compares different sources of information for the same topic in terms of basic similarities and differences 1
9. Identifies the abstract relationships that form the basis for analogies
Overarching Standard 3:Scientific Inquiry
Understands and applies basic principles of hypothesis testing and scientific inquiry
1. Understands that there are a variety of ways people can form hypotheses, including basing them on many observations, basing them on very few observations, and constructing them on only one or two observations
2. Accurately and effectively verifies results of experiments 3
3. Understands that there may be more than one valid way to interpret a set of findings
4. Questions finding in which no mention is made of whether the control group is very similar to the experimental group
5. Reformulates a new hypothesis for study after an old hypothesis has been eliminated 3
6. Makes and validates conjectures about outcomes of specific alternatives or events regarding an experiment
Overarching Standard 4:Problem Solving
Applies different trouble-shooting and problem-solving techniques
1. Identifies alternative courses of action and predicts likely consequences of each
2.Selects the most appropriate strategy or alternative for solving a problem 2
3. Examines different alternatives for resolving local problems and compares the possible consequences of each alternative
Overarching Standard 5: Decision Making
Applies decision making techniques
1. Identifies situations in the community and in one's personal life in which a decision is required
2. Secures factual information needed to evaluate alternatives
3.Identifies the values underlying the alternatives that are considered and the criteria that will be used to make a selection among the alternatives
4. Predicts the consequences of selecting each alternative
5. Makes decisions based on the data obtained and the criteria identified
6. When appropriate, takes action to implement the decision
7. Makes effective decisions about consumer products based on important criteria, including external features, performance, durability, cost, and personal tradeoffs
8. Analyzes personal decisions in terms of the options that were considered
9. Uses a decision-making grid or matrix to make or study decisions involving a relatively limited number of alternatives and criteria
10. Selects appropriate locations for specific service industries within the community
Overarching Standard 6: Reasoning
Understands and applies basic principles of logic and reasoning
1. Uses formal deductive connectors ("if...then," "not," "and," "or") in the construction of deductive arguments
2. Understands that some aspects of reasoning have very rigid rules but other aspects do not
3. Understands that when people have rules that always hold for a given situation and good information about the situation, then logic can help them figure out what is true about the situation
4. Understands that reasoning by similarities can suggest ideas but cannot be used to prove things
5. Understands that people are using incorrect logic when they make a statement such as "if x is true, then y is true; but x isn't true, therefore y isn't true
6. Understands that a single example can never prove that something is true, but a single example can prove that something is not true
7. Understands that some people invent a general rule to explain how something works by summarizing observations
8. Understands that people overgeneralize by making up rules on the basis of only a few observations
9. Understands that personal values influence the types of conclusions people make
10. Recognizes situations in which a variety of conclusions can be drawn from the same information
1 - English Language Arts
2 - Math
3 - Science
4 - Social Studies
