"The purpose of critical thinking is, therefore, to achieve understanding, evaluate view points, and solve problems. Since all three areas involve the asking of questions, we can say that critical thinking is the questioning or inquiry we engage in when we seek to understand, evaluate, or resolve."

This definition of critical thinking reflects the process of composing for hypertext. For me, hypertext is all about asking questions. Inquiry is the basis of the progression from page to page, idea to idea. The evaluation/understanding/resolving is the natural result of composing with a question in mind. There is an important difference between begining with a goal and begining with a question. When we begin with a question, the progession occurs naturally.

"It also includes the ability to generate questions, construct, and recognize the structure of arguments, and adequately support arguments..."

When composing in hypertext, generating questions is the starting point. From there, the process consists of considering the best structure for your argument. this does not occur prior to composition. Rather, the recognizing the appropriate structure occurs during the writing process. I often asked myself, "Where is the best place to go from here? From here, the adaquate support falls into the structure and the process comes together.


Critical thinking is the development of cohesive and logical reasoning patterns

The key word here is development. These "logical reasoning patterns" do not map out the writing for hypertext before the actual writing happens. The patterns are developed as the writing occurs. As I formulate ideas for the direction...