Thinking Critically

Critical thinking, to me, is to think beyond the surface. We try to find evidence, then follow where evidence may lead and ask questions, then try to answer those questions. Critical thinking is also thinking carefully about something as to not interpret wrong. Sometimes I have a habit of reading to where I am just reading. I absorbed nothing and have to read it again to get a grasp on what it is about. There are times where I have to read something over and over again because I want to be careful as to not miss something that can either lead me to interpret something right or wrong.

            When it comes to reading and thinking critically, my habits are somewhat weak. I try to understand what I may be thinking by asking questions, but it usually turns into questioning whether I am asking the right questions to begin with. I only question myself when it comes to an assignment where I will be graded. Sometimes this is because I tend to think too much on the supporting factors and am not careful to stay on topic. Other times this is because I think I do not understand what the assignment is, even when understanding perfectly when looking at the directions again.

            In politics I try to figure out what a speaker is saying and if they are just saying it to get followers. I make sure to read everything and look at the small details when making a decision on voting. I do not pay attention to a lot of media on television or in certain magazines because they tend to exaggerate, misinterpret, and throw words or pictures out there to make one think falsely. The newspaper is a good way for me to analyze politics because some articles are biased, so I could see other people’s views and compare them to my own in making a decision on where I stand.

            In my professional goals I use critical thinking by questioning all that has to be done to attain my goals and by analyzing how far or close I am to attaining them. What is to be done after attaining my professional goals, is also a way of using critical thinking. I must take all the classes needed to get my Associates Degree and my Bachelor’s Degree with grades that are acceptable. Also, when I reach my professional goal I have to think on how I will get done everything within that work day or week and possibly think on how to move up in the workplace.

            By being in this English 103 class, I feel my analysis of skills and how I view things will differ greatly. I will most likely not question myself on if I am doing an assignment right or wrong. I will not question whether I am asking the right or wrong questions also. I know that my ways of critical thinking will strengthen in ways of being able to look at things and be able to understand when analyzing or reading something. I am hoping to be able to understand what to look for when reading, so as to not have to read something over and over to understand it. I expect this class to help me be a better reader and writer.