For those unfamiliar with Aesop and his fables: Aesop (pronounced EE SOP by humans) was an ancient Greek storyteller, believed to have lived as a slave in the 6th century BCE and later freed because of his remarkable storytelling. His fables, often featuring animals with human traits, were shared orally for generations before being written down centuries after his death.
This particular fable is a metaphor for critical thinking in research: success comes not from luck, but from persistent inquiry, creative problem-solving, and the willingness to thoughtfully adapt one’s approach until the solution emerges.
Critical thinking is about asking questions rather than simply accepting what you read, see, or hear. The critical thinking model can guide you in developing a systematic way of questioning, helping you think more deeply about the information you encounter.
The model below has three steps, starting with basic questions about your source and progressing to advanced questions that support critical analysis. Select the blue question icons below to see what kind of questions to ask.