College Freshmen Ought to Know…

1. College Freshmen Ought to Know… • That sometimes you can help yourself to get into a more productive or creative mood by changing your environment for studying by simply dressing differently for the study session. Go to a different place on campus to do this particular chore or wear the best clothes you have to sit and write a particularly formal assignment. 100 Things Every College Freshman Ought to KnowBy: William Disbro

3. Chapter 7 - Thinking • The business of persuasion embraces all of us • A typical American sees 30,000 television commercials each year (Radio, magazines, books, brochures) • It’s easy to lose our heads unless we develop skills in critical thinking. • When we think critically, we make choices with open eyes

4. Uses of critical thinking (CT) • Basic elements of communication: reading, writing, speaking, and listening • Critical thinking also plays an important part in social change • CT helps us uncover bias and prejudice • History offers a continuing story of half-truths/ faulty assumptions • Bloodsucking leeches to cure disease • Illness results from an imbalance • Racial integration of the armed forces will lead to the destruction of soldiers’ morale • Caucasians are inherently more intelligent • Mixing races will lead to genetically inferior offspring • Women are incapable of voting intelligently • We will never invent anything smaller than a transistor • Computers will usher in the age of the paperless office

5. Critical thinking as thorough thinking • Critical thinking is sorting out conflicting claims, weighing evidence, and arriving at reasonable views • Quick answers are often at odds with effective thinking • It takes time and willingness to say "I don't know" • Critical thinking and learning are linked together • NO ONE is born a thorough thinker - It is a Learned Skill!!!

6. Creativity fuels critical thinking • We can use critical thinking to create new knowledge • Creativity can open the door to new points of view • "Aha!" is the burst of creative energy that comes with a new idea • The "Aha!" does not have to result in a "Nobel Prize" • School is a natural breeding ground for "Aha!'s" • The creative process is both fun AND WORK • Employers actively seek people who can think intuitively

7. Techniques for creative thinking • With practice you can set the stage for creative leaps • Conduct a brainstorm • Focus and let go • Cultivate creative serendipity • Keep idea files • Collect and play with data • Refine Ideas and follow-through • Create Success strategies • Trust the process

8. Brainstorming • Brainstorming is a technique for finding solutions, creating plans, and discovering new ideas • The purpose of brainstorming is to generate many "possible" solutions • First, formulate the problem by writing it down • Next, set a time limit for brainstorming • Next, sit quietly for a few seconds to collect your thoughts • Finally, start timing and write EVERYTHING down! • Afterwards, review and eliminate the truly absurd ideas • Let go of the "need" for a particular solution • You can brainstorm with others • You can brainstorm about a "brainstormed" idea

9. Focus & Serendipity • Focus and let go • Intense focus taps the resources of your conscious mind • Notice when you pay attention and when your mind wanders • When you realize your concentration has lagged, let go (Don't force yourself to be creative) • Cultivate creative serendipity • Serendipity is the ability to see something valuable that you weren't looking for (a lucky discovery) • You can train yourself in the art of serendipity - Keep your eyes open! • Expect discoveries

10. Keep idea files • People labeled "creative" treat their ideas with care, recognize, record, and follow-up on their ideas • Include powerful quotes, insights, notes, and useful ideas • Keep a journal • Reading fuels creativity • Safeguard your ideas even if you're pressed for time (write it down!) • Review your files regularly

11. Collect and play with data • Look at information from all "sides" (aspects) -- Examine each fact • Pick a solution first and work backward to test it • It has been said that there are no new ideas -- Just new ways to combine old ideas • Create while you sleep - A solution may appear in a dream or just before sleeping or waking!

12. Refine Ideas and follow-through • Genius: • Genius resides in the follow-through • Keep a file for your own inspirations • Create Success strategies • Create your own ways to succeed in school. • Look at others, books, materials. • Trust the process • Learn to trust your creative process • Don't avoid frustration by giving up • Trust that a solution will show up

13. Qualities of a critical thinker: • Truth-seeking - Critical thinkers want to know truth • Open-minded - Critical thinkers value the fact that people disagree • Analytical - Critical thinkers recognize statements that call for evidence • Systematic - Critical thinkers stay organized and focused • Self-confident - Critical thinkers trust their intellectual skills and are wiling to seek truth with an open mind • Inquisitive - A critical thinker wants to know/learn • Mature - Critical thinkers posses wisdom from experience

14. Suggestions for critical thinking: • Be willing to say "I don't know" • Define your terms [be clear about what you are talking about] • Practice tolerance • Understand before criticizing • Watch for hot spots • Consider the source • Seek out alternative views • Ask questions • Look for at least three answers • Be willing to change your mind • Lay your cards on the table • Examine the problem from different points of view • Write about it • Construct a reasonable view

16. Assignment • Complete Exercise #25(Page 208)