Name two questioning techniques that promote critical thinking and give an example of each.

Name two questioning techniques that promote critical thinking and give an example of each.

• A. Leading questions and rapid-fire yes/no.
• B. Closed-ended questions and jokes.
• C. Rhetorical questions and statements.
• D. Open-ended questions (What, How) to explore; Socratic asking (probing assumptions) to challenge thinking.

Answer: (D)

Two questioning techniques that promote critical thinking are open-ended questions and Socratic questioning. Open-ended questions invite explanation, analysis, and exploration rather than yes/no answers. For example: “What are the possible ways to approach this problem, and what are the pros and cons of each?” This kind of prompt elicits reasoning, invites consideration of alternatives, and helps you defend conclusions with detail. Socratic questioning challenges assumptions and reasoning by probing more deeply. For example: “Why do you think this is the best solution? What evidence supports that claim? Could there be another explanation?” These probes push you to examine underlying beliefs, assess supporting evidence, and consider alternative viewpoints. Together, they drive deeper thinking and clearer justification of ideas.

Two questioning techniques that promote critical thinking are open-ended questions and Socratic questioning. Open-ended questions invite explanation, analysis, and exploration rather than yes/no answers. For example: “What are the possible ways to approach this problem, and what are the pros and cons of each?” This kind of prompt elicits reasoning, invites consideration of alternatives, and helps you defend conclusions with detail. Socratic questioning challenges assumptions and reasoning by probing more deeply. For example: “Why do you think this is the best solution? What evidence supports that claim? Could there be another explanation?” These probes push you to examine underlying beliefs, assess supporting evidence, and consider alternative viewpoints. Together, they drive deeper thinking and clearer justification of ideas.