Bobby Dan HUM/111 December 23, 2012 Jennifer Jones 2
Personal Reflection Paper Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally about all aspects and sides of any given idea or argument. When thinking critically, you are engage in reflective and independent thinking. Critical thinking is the process of breaking down any given concept, argument, or idea in order to examine all of its individual parts. If we use critical thinking, we should be able to understand the logical links between ideas, evaluate arguments, and find the discrepancies as well as the common mistakes in reasoning. In recent weeks, I have learned more than I imagined possible from this course. I used to think that my thinking skills were sound and advantageous to me, but I have learned that I did not think deep enough or ask enough questions. Of the three things that were most significant to my learning this past block was to question my own decisions, ideas, and thoughts. To be self- critical and to remember that criticism is valuable to a better process. The best change that I have noticed to my critical thinking is the self-evaluation of ideas and decisions. I have noticed that my thinking has become more objective in my views and ideas. I have also been less apt to assume. Assumptions are invalid without the proof and that is even more crucial when it comes to your own work. You have to not become enamored by what you are doing to not see it objectively. After reviewing my personal evaluation of my thinking from Appendix A, I can understand why I put myself into the The Practicing Thinker category. My biggest challenges were to narrow my focus and concentrate more efficiently. Allowing my thoughts to wander while needing to concentrate or listen to someone completely was a downfall in my thinking process. 3
In review of what we did in week one, I believe that I have moved from The Practicing Thinker into the next level of The Advanced Thinker. The reason is that I have improved the ability to hold my focus (I have practiced continuously), and I have started to dig deeper and question more critically than before. I have been working at thinking critically on all levels and seeing it become more of a second nature than a practice. I believe that once I have it ingrained and just a normal part of my thinking process, then I will be very close if not in the Master Thinker category.