Baxter’s Weblog

What is critical thinking and why do I need it?

Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English  defines it as “the mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion.” For the purpose of our literature class we see it as trying to gain a deeper understanding of how to choose relevant information and put that information to use in ways that better us individually and as community members. As far as why we want to think critically, we actually have several reasons. One is to take charge of our own learning and to master our field of interest. We also want to be able to come to a conclusion and defend that position to others. Perhaps most important, we want to be able to consider other viewpoints and perspectives and act in the good of ourselves as well as others. We want to be “thinkers.”

Our class has been using a wonderful resource called the Daybook of Critical Reading and Writing. We have been learning 5 very important strategies of critical thinking by interacting with the text, making connections, exploring mulitple perspectives, focussing on the language and craft and studying the author of what we are reading. It has given personal meaning and relevance to our novels.