Critical Thinking Expert:

Learn to analyze any text in simple steps

Build critical thinking skills you can use in school, work, and daily life. This prompt teaches you how to find the claim, check the evidence, and spot hidden assumptions. You learn by doing, with short questions, helpful hints, and clear examples. Use it in text or voice mode.

What you will learn

• Learning skills
  Break down ideas, study smarter, and understand faster.

• Recognizing patterns
  See links, themes, and hidden beliefs across different texts.

What it is

Critical Thinking Expert is a guided teacher inside your AI chat. It does not hand you answers. It shows you how to think. You practice with short, simple steps. You use your own words. Over time you build a habit you can reuse anywhere. It works in ChatGPT text and voice mode, so you can speak your answers and think out loud.

If you want quick overviews first, try Summarizer Specialist: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/summarizer-specialist
If you want idea generation next, explore Brainstorming Expert: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/brainstorming-expert

How it works

Step 1. Understand the main point

Question: In your own words, what is the main point here
Tip: Look for the sentence that everything else supports.
Voice tip: Say your answer in one or two short sentences.

Step 2. Break it into parts

• Claim: what the author wants you to believe

• Evidence: facts, examples, or reasons that support the claim

• Assumptions: ideas the author relies on but does not say

Short example
Text: “Solar energy is the most sustainable source of power because it is abundant and produces no greenhouse gases.”
Claim: Solar energy is the most sustainable source of power.
Evidence: It is abundant. It produces no greenhouse gases.
Assumptions: Sustainability is judged only by abundance and emissions.

Step 3. Ask better questions

• What would make this claim false

• Is this support fact or opinion How do I know

• What beliefs are implied but not stated
  Voice tip: Ask each question out loud, then answer it briefly.

Step 4. Improve your questions

Basic: Is this true
Better: True for whom, when, and under what conditions

Step 5. Reflect and apply

Use the same steps on new texts. Build your own checklist. Say one thing you learned and one thing you want to test next time.

Want help turning insights into a one week plan Use Learning Planner Expert: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/learning-planner-expert
Want a guided lesson after your analysis Use Generalist Teacher: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/generalist-teacher

Why this approach works

This method uses short prompts, plain words, and active recall. You learn by doing. You also build metacognition, which means you notice how you think and improve it over time. Voice mode helps you think aloud, which can make reasoning clearer and faster.

For background on critical thinking skills, see The Foundation for Critical Thinking: https://www.criticalthinking.org
For a clear overview of asking better questions in problem solving, see Stanford d.school resources: https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources

When to use it

• Before class
  Preview a reading and set a goal.

• During study time
  Take notes in claim, evidence, assumptions format.

• For test prep
  Turn readings into short question sets you can review.

• At work
  Analyze reports, proposals, and presentations with the same steps.

• On the go
  Use voice mode while walking or commuting to talk through ideas.

If you need quick practice questions from your notes, try Pocket Quiz: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/pocket-quiz
If you want to rewrite complex text in simpler words, use Simplifier Specialist: https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/simplifier-specialist

Tips for better results

• Paste the full text if you can.

• Tell the AI your goal. Example: “Help me test the claim.”

• Ask for short answers. Example: “One or two sentences.”

• If you get stuck, ask for a hint or a model answer.

• Save your best questions to build a personal checklist.

• Using voice

  • Speak answers in short sentences.

  • Ask the AI to read back your notes so you can listen and revise.

  • If you ramble, ask for a one-sentence summary of what you said.

Built in safety

This prompt focuses on constructive and factual topics. It does not analyze harmful, illegal, or discriminatory content. It also does not help with cheating or breaking academic rules. For more on academic integrity, see the University of Waterloo hub: https://uwaterloo.ca/academic-integrity

Works well with these prompts

• Summarizer Specialist
  Get a short overview before deep analysis.
  https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/summarizer-specialist

• Brainstorming Expert
  Generate options after you spot gaps or weak claims.
  https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/brainstorming-expert

• Learning Planner Expert
  Turn insights into a simple weekly plan.
  https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/learning-planner-expert

• Generalist Teacher
  Learn a topic step by step after your analysis.
  https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompts/generalist-teacher

FAQs

Does this work for any subject

Yes. The steps are the same for science, history, literature, and more.

Will it give me the answers

No. It helps you think and practice. You learn how to build your own answers.

Can I use short replies

Yes. Use one to two sentences or quick bullet points.

Can I use voice mode

Yes. You can speak your answers and questions. Ask the AI to read back key points so you can listen and edit.

How do I save what I learn

Ask for a short summary of your claim, evidence, and assumptions. Then save your best questions as a checklist.

Get started

Open your AI chat. Paste the Critical Thinking Expert prompt. Add your text or topic. In a few minutes you will be spotting claims, testing support, and seeing patterns that others miss. Use text or voice mode — whatever fits your study style.

Try it free here
https://www.vertechacademy.ca/free-prompt

See all prompts
https://www.vertechacademy.ca/prompt-library

Unlock the full suite
https://www.vertechacademy.ca/mastery-suite