Critical Thinking Essay Essay Example for Free

Critical Thinking Essay Essay Critical thinking includes the component skills of analyzing arguments, making inferences using inductive or deductive reasoning, judging or evaluating, and making decisions or solving problems when evaluating academic content. Background knowledge is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for enabling critical thought within a given subject. Critical thinking involves both cognitive skills and dispositions. These dispositions, which can be seen as attitudes or habits of mind, include open- and fair-mindedness, inquisitiveness, flexibility, a propensity to seek reason, a desire to be well-informed, and a respect for and willingness to entertain diverse viewpoints. There are both general- and domain-specific aspects of critical thinking. Empirical research suggests that people begin developing critical thinking competencies at a very young age. Although adults often exhibit deficient reasoning, in theory all people can be taught to think critically. Instructors are urged to provide explicit instruction in critical thinking, to teach how to transfer to new contexts, and to use cooperative or collaborative learning methods and constructivist approaches that place students at the center of the learning process. In constructing assessments of critical thinking, educators should use open-ended tasks, real-world or â€Å"authentic† problem contexts, and ill-structured problems that require students to go beyond recalling or restating previously learned information. Such tasks should have more than one defensible solution and embed adequate collateral materials to support multiple perspectives. Finally, such assessment tasks should make student reasoning visible by requiring students to provide evidence or logical arguments in support of judgments, choices, claims, or assertions. Critical thinking is an important element of all professional fields and academic disciplines when evaluating academic content. Within the framework of scientific skepticism, the process of critical thinking involves the careful acquisition and interpretation of information and use of it to reach a well-justified conclusion. The concepts and principles of critical thinking can be applied to any context or case but only by reflecting upon the nature of that application. Critical thinking forms, therefore, a system of related, and overlapping, modes of thought such as anthropological  thinking, sociological thinking, historical thinking, political thinking, psychological thinking, philosophical thinking, mathematical thinking, chemical thinking, biological thinking, ecological thinking, legal thinking, ethical thinking, musical thinking, thinking like a painter, sculptor, engineer, business person, etc. In other words, though critical thinking principles are universal, their applicat ion to disciplines requires a process of reflective contextualization. Critical thinking is considered important in the academic fields because it enables one to analyze, evaluate, explain, and restructure their thinking, thereby decreasing the risk of adopting, acting on, or thinking with, a false belief. However, even with knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning, mistakes can happen due to a thinkers inability to apply the methods or because of character traits such as egocentrism. Critical thinking includes identification of prejudice, bias, propaganda, self-deception, distortion, misinformation, etc. Given research in cognitive psychology, some educators believe that schools should focus on teaching their students critical thinking skills and cultivation of intellectual traits. Socratic method is defined as a prolonged series of questions and answers which refutes a moral assertion by leading an opponent to draw a conclusion that contradicts his own viewpoint. Critical thinking skills through Socratic method taught in schools help create leaders. Instructors that promote critical thinking skills can benefit the students by increasing their confidence and creating a repeatable thought process to question and confidently approach a solution. Students also accomplish follower-ship skills that can be used to probe the leaders foundations. Critical thinking skills through Socratic method serve to produce professionals that are self-governing. However, Socratic method for critical thinking skills can become confusing if an instructor or leader uses the method too rigidly, the student may not know what the instructor or leader wants from him. An instructor or leader may disillusion the students if he uses particular style of questioning. Instructors must reveal their reasoning behind the questions in order to guide the students in the right direction. Socratic method can serve twenty-first-century leaders to instruct students, mentor protà ©gà ©s, motivate followers, advise other leaders, and influence peers. In conclusion, â€Å"critical thinking is the disciplined art of ensuring that you use the best  thinking you are capable of in any set of circumstances when evaluating academic content. The general goal of thinking is to figure out some situation, solve some problems, answer some questions, or resolve some issue It also is a process in which a person pursuits reliable and pertinent information about the world. Critical thinking is often described as reasonable, ruminative, trustworthy, and a well practiced form of thinking that assists people with deciding what they should believe in and what actions should be taken. A practiced critical thinker will ask good questions, collects pertinent data, categorizes common characteristics, logically reasons with the new data and then he or she will come to a trustworthy and dependable conclusion. Critical thinking makes use of many processes and procedures. Some processes include but is not limited to asking questions, making judgments, and identifying assumptions.

Thurgood Marshall Essay examples -- Papers Civil Rights Biography Essa

Thurgood Marshall During the 20th century I have read many books, newspaper articles and seen news broadcasts on two of the most famous Afro American Pioneers: Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall. Martin Luther King fought all his life for equal rights for Afro Americans, but Thurgood Marshall help elevate the Afro American civil rights struggles through legal precedents and timely court decisions. Thomas G. Kraftenmaker a professor of Constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center wrote, "When I think of great American lawyers I think of Thurgood Marshall, Abe Lincoln and Daniel Webster". In this century only Earl Warren approaches Marshall. Thurgood Marshall is certainly the most important lawyer of the 20th century. Thurgood Marshall is the only black leader in American History who can argue that he defeated segregation where it really counts in court. Thurgood Marshall devised a legal strategy based on The United States Constitution; he forced rights to be extended equally to even the poorest and most disadvantaged citizens. Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908 in Baltimore Maryland. Thurgood Marshall many life accomplishments were instill upon him through his parents Norma Arica Marshall and William Canfield Marshall. Thurgood's mother Norma Arica Marshall was one of the first Afro Americans to graduate from Columbia University. Thurgood's father William Canfield Marshall was the first black person to serve on Baltimore's grand jury in the 20th century. Thurgood Marshall was a premed dental scholar at Lincoln University in Oxford Pennsylvania. As a junior, Thurgood met and eventually married his first wife Vivian Buster Burey, after graduation Thurgood went to the prominent Howard Law School i... ... at the age of 84 dies from a massive heart attack. Thurgood Marshall name can be mention in the same tone as Martin Luther King, both made big changes in the racial segregation culture and they did it without using violence. Today our society still isn't perfect, we still have to deal with crime and unemployment, but least Today Afro Americans have the right to vote, attend any school or college of their choice, and eat anywhere in a restaurant. Thurgood Marshall (Mr. Civil Rights) we appreciate what you have accomplished. RESOURCES Juan Williams Marshall's Law 7 Jan 1990*http://www.thurgoodmarshall.com.home.htm Ken Love Thurgood Marshall 9 Feb 1997*http://members.aol.com/klove01/marshall.htm Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) New York Times 26 Jan 1993 http://www.ai.iit.edu/~/isbell/hth/blavck/events_and people/html/001.thurgood_marshall.html

Two Ultimate Decisions

In the next few years, I would have finished college and would soon need to earn a living to support myself and maybe the family I intend to have. Given this scenario, I will be deciding between two options: whether I would be maintaining my own business or if I would rather be employed by a big company. Having my own business sounds appealing. I would be working at my own hours and at my own pace. I have full control of my time. I can do whatever I would like to do. Nobody can tell me what I should accomplish first and what should I do last. All I have to do is to keep committed in making my business grow and expand. Whatever I do and however I do it, it will all be up to me. I decide if I wanted to start the day early, or if I should stay up late working. I determine my own hours. I pay my own wage. Maintaining a business is going to be a very challenging feat for me. I would be using my intellectual strength and my innate marketing talents to succeed. I can establish my own success. I will thrive because of my own hard work and nobody else’s. My achievements will be because I did so well and I made the right decisions. I will be responsible for whatever happens, and I only have myself to account for. Managing my own business means I could also be helping others. I will have the ability to employ people; and as my business gets bigger, more people will be needed so more people will be hired. I will be able to make a lot of people’s lives better, and I can undoubtedly contribute to the economy at that. Indeed, starting a business proposes to be a good decision at this point. However, the call of being a part of a much bigger company is deafening as well. If I decide to get a job with a corporation bigwig, I can be able to earn easily through the monthly wage they will be paying me. I would be able to utilize all my learning and my stuck knowledge. I will be a part of an institution and would carry its pride as well. I will be able to meet big and influential people; and even become friends with each of them. I will start as a normal employee aiming toward the top position of the company, and this sure mean a real test of wits and endurance. I will be engaging in a friendly and worthwhile competition with my fellow co-workers who are also aspiring to be a top-notch executive like me. And with proper strength and staying power, I believe I will be able to reach it. If I do my job well enough, I will be promoted in just a matter of several months. I will then be the head of my own department. I will be enjoying my job as I enjoy the company of my colleagues which are also my comrades. I can also become a mentor, thus I will be able to share and transfer my knowledge to my apprentices. As I leave my position to one of my subordinates, I will be going up the ladder into the executive world. I will have the ability to become one of the most respected people in the company; and I can do it the shortest time possible. Furthermore, I will make critical company decisions which could change the whole company. I will be instrumental in the company’s failure or success, and that is because I will become the best executive, a senior manager whose opinion is always sought and is well-considered. I will be a very powerful person both in and out of the corporate world. And because I have this ability to become powerful, being rich and famous will soon follow. I will become rich because I will be fully compensated by the company I belong to. And I will become famous because as I become the company’s leader, I would need to attend business conferences as well as business lunches and parties. Right now, working for a top company seems to be a good decision for me too. Considering each of these points, it is equally advantageous holding down a job and managing a business. Although it is possible to do both, I would still need to make a decision, as to which of the two should be my primary career path. Given the points and my own personality, I believe that I will be more productive if I start off as a regular employee in a regular position, and then slowly take myself towards the top, through diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The time that is going to be required to achieve this is going to be less in a company setup. A few years should be enough to hoist myself up the corporate ladder. Being in a part of a corporation does not require that much capital either. I would only need to invest in myself, and that is not going to be too much. The risks involved in a business are also unpredictable. A business is like a gamble, you win some and you lose some. You really cannot accurately forecast the feasibility of your business decision unless the market is virtually stable, and that doesn’t really happen. The market does change, and in a volatile manner at that. If one is in a corporate setup, on the other hand, things are more constant. One knows what he is up against, and being so, one can easily devise strategies as to how to overcome it. The corporate world may have its own share of politics, but that is part of the game. I am considering that just as one of the risks that come with any of my choices. At this point, I believe that my decision will be to work for the corporate bigwigs. Its benefits weigh far too heavy than the benefits of being in the business world.

The Problem Of Child Abuse - 1909 Words

Introduction Child abuse is a rising topic of discussion in sociological debates across the nation due to the increased awareness concerned professionals are bringing to it. The issue has long been diagnosed as generational and cyclic in nature, where children who receive abuse grow up and replicate the process on their own offspring, and so on and so forth. This analysis attempts to illuminate possible connections between various factors within the parent’s lives that may correlate to child abuse in the home. Connections between the reproductive process (birth control, reproductive freedom, and population policies), economic stresses, character-based traits, and occupational stressors will be presented, analyzed, and then correlated†¦show more content†¦The 50 percent that Seager speaks of is comprised mostly of industrialized or Western nations with relatively easy access to some sort of modern contraceptive, such as condoms which can be bought at most gas statio ns in America. With every contraceptive, there still lies a chance of pregnancy, and if one of these chance events becomes a reality the possibility of child abuse rises significantly. Children that are deemed â€Å"mistakes† by their parents begin their lives with a lower level of acceptance into the world than that of a child that was planned. Immediately the bond between the parent and the child is damaged, which according to Wallace is a part of the psychodynamic model of child abuse; â€Å"lack of bonding between the parent and the child is an important factor in child abuse† (48). Essentially, â€Å"These individuals are unable to bond with children, and when crisis occurs, they respond with abusive acts† (48, Wallace). Children in these situations do not ask to conceived, yet they enter the world in search of nourishment and care by the man and woman that created them, instead they are met by being abused because of the confusion and regret of their existence by their parents. Connection between reproductive freedom and childShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Child Abuse1134 Words   |  5 Pagesfollowing paper is about Child Abuse. This paper will look into the description of the problem, the policies that has helped solved the problem, involvement in resolving the problem, and person recommendations on changing the approach of the problem. Description of the Problem/History Child abuse is a form of any sexual activity that a child doesn’t give consent to. Whether it may be sexually or physically if the child is not mentally ready it is still a form of abuse. Child abuse also can lead to differentRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse Essay1338 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse Recently, one of the most alarming problems in America is child abuse. In fact this problem threaten the future of the country which lies in its youth energy and mind because of this problem the society, cannot brought up a generation can be relied upon, but they brought up a generation of criminals do not want anything except the destruction of the society, which was the reason for the demolition of their lives. According to World health organization child abuse is physical, sexual orRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1055 Words   |  5 Pages One of the biggest problems children deal with, especially younger ones is child abuse. â€Å"In 2009, the child protective services across the country received 3.3 million reports of child abuse. The farther the child protective services would investigate they discovered more than 700,000 children that had been abused or mistreated.† (Kauchak and Eggen 51) The U.S Congress in the Family Services Act of 1988 came up with a definition of all types of abuse. (Mufson and Kranz 26) There is neglect, emotionalRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1388 Words   |  6 PagesChild Abuse Community Agency To solve the problem we must first understand it. As a young person I believe that the issue of child abuse needs to be addressed. It is crucial for society to comprehend the extensive problems that it causes and how it impacts people. Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child or children. Anything deliberately to hurt a child or young person physically, sexually, emotionally or psychologically is child abuse. The five subtypesRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse994 Words   |  4 PagesAbuse is to treat a person or object with cruelty or violence, and usually happens more than once. Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver through action or failing to act, will cause injury or will cause death to a child. This happens in many different ways, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Every year more than three million reports of child abuse are filed and every year that number increases. This is a problem that has happened for over one hundred years. The baby boomerRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse880 Words   |  4 PagesThese are activities that are targeted at members of the community and general population with the aim to raise awareness about the problems of child abuse. It involves an approach that targets helping families and children before child abuse occurs and not intervening after the harm has been done. This is very essential as every child deserves to gro w up and be nurtured in an environment that is safe and stable which helps in the child’s total development such as the physical, emotional, cognitiveRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Abuse1945 Words   |  8 Pagescare for them. Samantha had completing the 11th grade and during the summer before her senior year of High School, she realized she was pregnant again. This time Samantha was pregnant with triplets. This time she lost two babies and the remaining child was at risk of autism. The doctors discovered that the babies’ brain wasn’t developing as it should be. Teens do not realize the responsibilities that came along with having sex, especially unprotected sex. Teen pregnancies can be reduced withRead MoreChild Abuse Is A Worldwide Problem1037 Words   |  5 Pagesafraid to go home because of what awaits. Child abuse is a worldwide problem and it doesn’t matter what age, religion, gender, or ethnicity you are, it happens everywhere. It is negle cting, emotional, physical, and sexual maltreatment. Child abuse has serious physical and psychological consequences which affect the health and overall well-being of a child. There are different forms of maltreatment, abuse can result in bad consequences, check for signs of abuse, the statistics, and how people can helpRead MoreThe Problem Of Child Sexual Abuse1194 Words   |  5 PagesTopic/Problem Around the world there are sexual abuse victims suffering everyday from fear, pain, and emotions. â€Å"20.7% of adults report being sexually abused as a child† (Child Help, 2011). Often between the lines sexual abuse can be classified as a wide range of actions between a child and adult. Among many individuals that have been sexual abused on a legal criteria later report the emotions of feeling scared or hopeless in later relationships. Studies show that these sexual abuse survivors haveRead MoreThe Social Problem Of Child Abuse Essay1409 Words   |  6 PagesThese social problems can either affect the economy, humans, and neighborhood communities ranging from local or national. One social problem that has increased among humans today is child abuse. Child abuse is the physical mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver who is held responsible for a child at their time of care. It can be physical, sexual, or psychological. These forms of abuse can happen in many pla ces, including the home, schools, or camps. Physical abuse is an abuse where someone