THINKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH CLARITY & PRECISION KATIE JACKLETT EDU 325 10 NOVEMBER 2010

1. THINKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH CLARITY & PRECISION KATIE JACKLETT EDU 325 10 NOVEMBER 2010

2. “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug” Mark Twain • Language and thinking go hand in hand. • If you hear fuzzy language, it is a reflection of fuzzy thinking. • Be descriptive • Example: Do not say, “thing.” Instead you could say, “The piece of paper on the floor.” • Do not generalize. • Example: Do not say, “They told me to do it.” Say something like, “Mrs. Jacklett said to do it.”

3. Activity For Demonstration Of Habit Without Clarity • Draw a shape. • Draw two diagonal lines. • Draw squiggly lines. • Do it six times. • Draw a box around it. • What does your picture resemble?

4. Activity For Demonstration of Habit With Clarity • Draw a rectangle in the center of your page. • Draw a diagonal line from the right corner of the rectangle to the middle of the rectangle. • Draw a diagonal line from the left corner of the rectangle to the middle of the rectangle. • Directly below the rectangle draw short squiggly lines. • Go below that squiggly line and make another one the same length. • Do this six times. • Draw a box around your squiggly lines. • What is the result?

5. Thinking with clarity and precision Comes with thought for every decision Be clear Have no fear Accurate communication Is why we go on vacation In both written and oral forms Clarity keeps us from the storm Avoid generalizations, distortions, and deletions We just might never have completion

6. Works Cited Costa, A.L., & Kallick, B. (2000). Describing 16 habits of mind. Retrieved November 10, 2010 from the Institute for habits of Mind website: http://www.instituteforhabitsofmind.com/what-are-habits-mind. Steffen. (2003). Habits of Mind. Retrieved November 10, 2010 from Habits of Mind website: http://mtsd.k12.wi.us/mtsd/steffen/hom/default.html