Critical Thinking Is More than Common Sense Essays

If one were to ask a group of high school seniors questions like, â€Å"Who was the first U.S. president?† or, â€Å"What equation is associated with the Pythagorean Theorem?† they would likely discover that the majority of the students would answer correctly. However, if one were to pose the questions, â€Å"Why did the Civil War occur?† or, â€Å"Why are international trade relations between other countries important to the U.S.?† they would receive fragmented responses at best; few students would be able to provide clear and concise answers. This simulated example clearly underscores some of the current flaws in the education system across the nation. Instructors teach students, and expect them to learn; they do not teach them how to learn. Many†¦show more content†¦By Wednesday or Thursday, little will remain.† Elder claims the result of learning rituals such as rote memorization simply produces alienated, bored and often poorly motivate d students, saying, â€Å"What they have learned best are the arts of passive resistance and an extreme aversion to anything academic or scholastic.† Simply revising teaching methods and curriculum to incorporate a greater application of critical thinking could reverse this trend, improving the quality of education, giving students important life skills and increasing academic achievement. Critical thought in the classroom has a unique opportunity to improve the quality of education in areas where other teaching and learning methods cannot. Because of its approach toward the actual content itself, thinking and application of the material take priority over the simple memorization of facts. As the Center for Critical Thinking’s Director of Research Richard Paul puts it, â€Å"It is thinking about thinking while thinking in order to make thinking better: more clear, more accurate, more relevant, more deep, more broad, and more effective.† In short, critical thinking yields a better education, and that is something an educational institution should always strive to offer. Additionally, such a technique can better-prepare students for life on their own. Where in America there exists a representative democracy, it is important to â€Å"think critically inShow MoreRelatedPsychology is not just common sense1300 Words   |  6 Pages Psychology is not just common sense. Discuss. The statement of psychology not being just common sense is parallel with the ideologies of most psychologists in the field. Although some aspects and examples of psychology might be simplistic and clear, it also involves substantial critical thinking skills, reasoning and an extensive amount of research. Psychology is defined as the study of the mind and behaviour. (American Psychological Association, 2014), thus affirmingRead MoreCritical Thinking As A Critical Thinker947 Words   |  4 PagesAs humane beans we speak about critical thinking as a person who thinks thing out very clear, with purpose and multifaceted ideas. This is somewhat true. Yes, that does help to begin and mend a critical thinker but critical thinking also includes a combination of skills. Those main characteristics are self-awareness, honesty, open-mindedness discipline, and judgment. Using these characteristics daily and with practice develops an amazing critical thinker. That person can live life solving hard problemsRead MoreThinking About Philosophy754 Words   |  4 PagesOLUSEGUN OLADIPO’S THINKING ABOUT PHILOSOPHY; A GENERAL GUIDE This chapter starts by introducing us to the areas which confuse students concerning philosophy, they are; the practical utility of their area of intellectual engagement, the usual impression of the philosopher as an intellectual generalist. A philosopher as intellectual generalist is one whose area of knowledge has no specific focus and whose skills of critical thinking and capacity for discernment, are nothing more than general intellectualRead MoreIntellectual Humility And The Education World1217 Words   |  5 Pagesand become more capable of doing a job better than before. Intellectual humility is combination of two things: common sense and critical thinking. Common sense is a characteristic that people sneer at. Speaking from experience, humans are prone to not listening to advice and doing what they think it is the best option. When peers and teachers start listing off x, y, and z reasons for why what they are doing is a bad idea, people without common sense will refuse to listen. Common sense requiresRead MoreScholarly Writing Essay801 Words   |  4 Pagesskills necessary to complete written assignments that are appropriate in your role as a Walden student in a masters or doctorate program. In this Application, you will critique a sample of scholarly writing and provide feedback on ways to make it more effective. To prepare for this assignment: †¢ Read the following Study Notes: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Finding a Scholarly Voice; Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Purpose, Audience, and Evidence; Citing a Discussion Posting and CourseRead MorePerception Is The Organization, Identification And Interpretation Of Sensory Information1209 Words   |  5 PagesLike perception, logic plays a role in critical thinking. Critical thinking is the process in which one mentally explores deeper than the superficial matters at hand into the deeper layers in order to find out what the real issues are. However, when it comes to weighing their beneficial impact on the critical thinking process, logic and perception are by no means equal. While logic is firmly rooted in reason, perceptions are just as firmly rooted in one’s senses and can easily be corrupted. Many kindsRead MorePoetry, By Billy Collins, The Writer1277 Words   |  6 PagesPoetry comes in many forms, rhythms, tones, and meanings whether metaphoric o r realistic. One thing, however, which is a common trait of poetry, is that they all carry a message to the reader. In some poems the message appears very clear and understandable, while in others, the author may hide the message within metaphors and imagery. In the poem â€Å"Introduction to Poetry† by Billy Collins, the writer â€Å"enlightens† his reader with an important message that poetry is something to experience. He usesRead MorePersonal Views On Personal Interests1259 Words   |  6 Pagesknowledge and dismissing effective techniques that have educational merit in augmenting critical thinking skills. Graff insinuates that critically analyzing and writing about personal interests is a creative way to develop a diverse student population. When it comes to learning, rather it be in a â€Å"traditional† grammar school or the more contemporary classrooms of colleges and universities, there is no argument stronger than incorporating personal interests in academic work that appeals to students. ThisRead MoreUnderstanding How Fallacies, Critical Thinking and Decision Making Techniques Are All Linked Togethe1689 Words   |  7 PagesHow it all comes together 1 Understanding how fallacies, critical thinking and decision making techniques are all linked together. What is a logical fallacy? According to the Webster dictionary (1996), a fallacy is a false notion. A statement or argument based on a false or invalid inference. Fallacies can be divided into two different groups; the first one is the fallacy of relevance where the premises are irrelevant to the outcome. The other is fallacy of insufficient evidence, where theRead MoreCritical Thinking Decision-Making and Logic: The Backbone of Intelligence1230 Words   |  5 PagesCritical thinking, decision-making, and logic form the backbone of intelligence. Regardless of what career path I may take, and where that path leads, I will continually rely on the skill set and mental habits that comprise critical thinking and logic. My decisions, I hope, are always informed by reason as well as finely honed intuition. Balance, integrity, and common sense will also be my companions. There are so me core reasons why critical thinking, decision-making, and logic are critical to my