{"id":1609,"date":"2016-09-07T18:28:10","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T18:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-collegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1609"},"modified":"2024-05-01T18:22:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T18:22:07","slug":"text-developing-yourself-as-a-critical-thinker","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/text-developing-yourself-as-a-critical-thinker\/","title":{"raw":"Developing Yourself as a Critical Thinker","rendered":"Developing Yourself as a Critical Thinker"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify strategies for developing yourself as a critical thinker<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-498\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/02\/20002423\/4051616855_dff482928a_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a group of students standing around a poster on the wall, where they're adding post-it notes with handwriting on them\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/>\r\n<blockquote>Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture. \u2014Francis Bacon, philosopher<\/blockquote>\r\nCritical thinking is a fundamental skill for college students, but it should also be a lifelong pursuit. Below\u00a0are additional strategies to develop yourself as a critical thinker in college and in everyday life:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Reflect and practice<\/strong>: always reflect on what you've learned. Is it true all the time? How did you arrive at your conclusions?<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Use wasted time<\/strong>: It's certainly important to make time for relaxing, but if you find you are indulging in\u00a0too much of a good thing, think about using your time more constructively. Determine when you do your best thinking and try to learn something new during that part of the day.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Redefine the way you see things<\/strong>: It can be very uninteresting to always think the same way.\u00a0Challenge yourself to see familiar things in new ways. Put yourself in someone else's shoes and consider things from a different angle or perspective. If you're trying to solve a problem, list all your concerns: what you need in order to solve it, who can help, what some possible barriers might be, etc. It's often possible to\u00a0reframe a\u00a0problem as an opportunity. Try to find a solution where there seems to be none.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Analyze the influences on your thinking and in your life<\/strong>: Why do you think or feel the way you do? Analyze your influences. Think about who in your life influences you. Do you feel or react a certain way because of social convention or because you believe it is what is expected of you? Try to break out of any molds that may be constricting you.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Express yourself<\/strong>: Critical thinking also involves being able to express yourself clearly. Most important in expressing yourself clearly is stating one point at a time. You might be inclined to argue every thought, but you might have greater impact if you focus just on your main arguments. This focuswill help\u00a0others to follow your thinking clearly. For more abstract ideas, assume that your audience may not understand. Provide examples, analogies, or metaphors where you can.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Enhance your wellness<\/strong>: It\u2019s easier to think critically when you take care of your mental and physical health. <strong>Try taking ten-minute activity breaks to reach thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity each day<\/strong>. Try taking a break between classes and walk to the coffee shop that\u2019s farthest away. Scheduling physical activity into your day can help lower stress and increase mental alertness.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Strategically plan your hardest work:<\/strong> Do your most difficult work when you have the most energy. Think about the time of day you are most effective and have the most energy. Plan to do your most difficult work during these times. And be sure to reach out for help. If you feel you need assistance with your mental or physical health, talk to a counselor or visit a doctor.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/ad1cc49f-5153-4f81-8e8e-52932472e3c4\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Resources for Critical Thinking<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/glossary-of-critical-thinking-terms\/496\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Glossary of Critical Thinking Terms<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/critical-thinking.wikidot.com\/self-assessment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Critical Thinking Self-Assessment<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jeopardylabs.com\/play\/logical-fallacies16?utm_source=cheetah&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2014.04.28%20Faculty%20Focus%20Update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Logical Fallacies Jeopardy Template<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/fallaciesfiles.weebly.com\/?utm_source=cheetah&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2014.04.28%20Faculty%20Focus%20Update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fallacies Files\u2014Home<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/learningcommons.ubc.ca\/student-toolkits-2\/thinking-critically\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thinking Critically | Learning Commons<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Foundation for Critical Thinking<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/ctmodel\/logic-model1.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To Analyze Thinking We Must Identify and Question Its Elemental Structures<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/critical-thinking-in-everyday-life-9-strategies\/512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Critical Thinking in Everyday Life<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify strategies for developing yourself as a critical thinker<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-498\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/02\/20002423\/4051616855_dff482928a_z.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of a group of students standing around a poster on the wall, where they're adding post-it notes with handwriting on them\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture. \u2014Francis Bacon, philosopher<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Critical thinking is a fundamental skill for college students, but it should also be a lifelong pursuit. Below\u00a0are additional strategies to develop yourself as a critical thinker in college and in everyday life:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Reflect and practice<\/strong>: always reflect on what you&#8217;ve learned. Is it true all the time? How did you arrive at your conclusions?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use wasted time<\/strong>: It&#8217;s certainly important to make time for relaxing, but if you find you are indulging in\u00a0too much of a good thing, think about using your time more constructively. Determine when you do your best thinking and try to learn something new during that part of the day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Redefine the way you see things<\/strong>: It can be very uninteresting to always think the same way.\u00a0Challenge yourself to see familiar things in new ways. Put yourself in someone else&#8217;s shoes and consider things from a different angle or perspective. If you&#8217;re trying to solve a problem, list all your concerns: what you need in order to solve it, who can help, what some possible barriers might be, etc. It&#8217;s often possible to\u00a0reframe a\u00a0problem as an opportunity. Try to find a solution where there seems to be none.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Analyze the influences on your thinking and in your life<\/strong>: Why do you think or feel the way you do? Analyze your influences. Think about who in your life influences you. Do you feel or react a certain way because of social convention or because you believe it is what is expected of you? Try to break out of any molds that may be constricting you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Express yourself<\/strong>: Critical thinking also involves being able to express yourself clearly. Most important in expressing yourself clearly is stating one point at a time. You might be inclined to argue every thought, but you might have greater impact if you focus just on your main arguments. This focuswill help\u00a0others to follow your thinking clearly. For more abstract ideas, assume that your audience may not understand. Provide examples, analogies, or metaphors where you can.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhance your wellness<\/strong>: It\u2019s easier to think critically when you take care of your mental and physical health. <strong>Try taking ten-minute activity breaks to reach thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity each day<\/strong>. Try taking a break between classes and walk to the coffee shop that\u2019s farthest away. Scheduling physical activity into your day can help lower stress and increase mental alertness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategically plan your hardest work:<\/strong> Do your most difficult work when you have the most energy. Think about the time of day you are most effective and have the most energy. Plan to do your most difficult work during these times. And be sure to reach out for help. If you feel you need assistance with your mental or physical health, talk to a counselor or visit a doctor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_ad1cc49f-5153-4f81-8e8e-52932472e3c4\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/ad1cc49f-5153-4f81-8e8e-52932472e3c4?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_ad1cc49f-5153-4f81-8e8e-52932472e3c4\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Resources for Critical Thinking<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/glossary-of-critical-thinking-terms\/496\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Glossary of Critical Thinking Terms<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/critical-thinking.wikidot.com\/self-assessment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Critical Thinking Self-Assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jeopardylabs.com\/play\/logical-fallacies16?utm_source=cheetah&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2014.04.28%20Faculty%20Focus%20Update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Logical Fallacies Jeopardy Template<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/fallaciesfiles.weebly.com\/?utm_source=cheetah&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2014.04.28%20Faculty%20Focus%20Update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fallacies Files\u2014Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/learningcommons.ubc.ca\/student-toolkits-2\/thinking-critically\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thinking Critically | Learning Commons<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Foundation for Critical Thinking<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/ctmodel\/logic-model1.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To Analyze Thinking We Must Identify and Question Its Elemental Structures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/critical-thinking-in-everyday-life-9-strategies\/512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Critical Thinking in Everyday Life<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-1609\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>College Success. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Linda Bruce. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Image of students putting post-its on wall. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Hector Alejandro. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7b2Ax2\">https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7b2Ax2<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":16,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"College Success\",\"author\":\"Linda Bruce\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Image of students putting post-its on wall\",\"author\":\"Hector Alejandro\",\"organization\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/7b2Ax2\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"0ac1a7bc-3e11-4b18-a181-f08eaa955f15, c1427fb4-f0d8-4160-8577-f260e998aced","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1609","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":131,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7569,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1609\/revisions\/7569"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/131"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1609\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1609"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1609"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}