In-class Paper

CRTW 201

Dr. Fike

 

This writing exercise is adapted from an assignment borrowed from Dr. John Bird.

 

Here is some information for you from Richard Paul and Linda Elder’s The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking:  Concepts and Tools:

•         Master Thinker:  Good habits of thought are becoming second nature.

•         Advanced Thinker:  We advance in keeping with our practice.

•         Practicing Thinker:  We recognize the need for regular practice.

•         Beginning Thinker:  We try to improve but without much regular practice.

•         Challenged Thinker:  We are faced with significant problems in our thinking.

•         Unreflective Thinker:  We are unaware of significant problems in our thinking.

 

Directions:  Answer all of the following questions.  Write a minimum of a paragraph in response to each one.  Use blue or black ink (ballpoint, not felt tip).  Write only on one side of each page in your large bluebook.  Leave one-inch left and right margins.  It is very okay to use notes.  Bring a copy of this document to class.  Do not hand it in with your bluebook.  Please number your responses 1-5.  Each response should be in the neighborhood of a full page in your large blue book.  You do not need to write more than that. 

 

  1. Using the six categories above, explain what kind of thinker were you when you began this course.  Make an argument that you were a specific type of thinker.  Discuss specific examples that support your point.

 

  1. Using the six categories above, explain what kind of thinker you are now.  Make an argument that you are a specific type of thinker.  Discuss specific examples that support your point.  These might include ways in which you have used the elements and the standards in your life or in another class.  In other words, how has our class become “real” for you?  Where else do you find yourself using the tools that CRTW provides?

 

  1. To what do you attribute the change or the lack of change in your thinking?  Why has CRTW had or not had an impact on your thinking?  In other words, what things are working for you, and what things do you still need to work on?

 

  1. What have you discovered/realized so far this semester about your impediments, background stories, and biases as a result of taking this course?  In other words, what kind of intellectual baggage might be hindering your critical thinking?

 

  1. Realistically, which type of thinker do you hope to be someday—and why?  Note:  Not everybody has to be a master thinker.  If you are satisfied with less than that, it is okay to explain why.

Note:  Your grade will be based primarily on sufficiency and accuracy, so be sure to write substantial answers in response to each item and to do so with as few lower-order errors as possible.  Please do not use the word "you" in your answers.  Development is key.  Length counts.