What Is Critical Thinking Essay Example for Free

What Is Critical Thinking Essay Critical thinking to me means a way of thinking that helps us understand what has been observed or being observed. With being a critical thinker it allows us take charge of our minds and our thoughts. It’s also a way to help us to analyze, reasonable and reflective thoughts. Distinguishing from your willingness and your feelings are the awakening of oneself and should always be an experience for you in the realm of knowing that once the mission is complete you will then have acquired more knowledge for oneself. While reading, Elder, L. (2007, 09). The Ctitical Thinking community. Our Concept and Definition of Critical Thinking. Retrieved 09, 2007, from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/our-concept-and-definition-of-critical-thinking/411 it states that â€Å"Critical thinking is that mode of thinking — about any subject, content, or problem — in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use.† Just knowing that once you identify and evaluate the evidence it will then allow you to start the ability to apply logic and reasoning for the situation at hand. With having the ability of taking charge of your mind and thoughts defines to me what critical thinking really means. While continuing my research I noticed that there where so many different ways that Critical Thinking was mentioned. I found in Michael Scriven and Richard Paul. (2003). Defiing Critical Thinking. (http://www. criticalthinking.org/University/univclass/Defi ning.html, that its clear to me that in order to get down to the bottom of what is really Critical Thinking means is to take the word â€Å"Critical† which means â€Å"inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily or it means involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit, etc.†, Found on the dictionary.reference.com site. Then take the word â€Å"thinking† which means the action of using ones mind to produce thoughts or involving skillful judgment as to truth, merit and that’s found in the http://www.merriam-webster.com site. While taking the two words by themselves I came up with critical thinking is to making a judgment to find truth through formed thoughts and the ability to using logical reasons.

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector- Assessments Essay Example for Free

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector- Assessments Essay Role, responsabilities and boundaries of teacher in the teaching/ training cycle. The key aspects of current legislative requirements and codes of practice relevant to your subject and the type of organisation within which you would like to work. Expalin how you could promote inclusion, equality and diversity with your current / future learners. Identify other points of referral available to meet the potential needs of learners. Explain the ways in which you would establish ground rules with your learners, and which underpin behaviour and respect for others. Explain ways to embed elements of functional skills in your specialist area. Explain the need for keeping records and describe the types of records you would maintain. State the different assessment methods available and explain the ones you would use for your subject area, including reference to initial assessment. State the types of assessment records you would complete and explain why. Produce a learning programme/scheme of work in your subject area, for a minimum of six sessions (the length of each session is to be agreed between yourself and your tutor). Produce session plan(s) (these can be from the scheme of work or different) for a minimum of 30 minutes. Deliver the micro-teaching practice session(s), demonstrating a selection of teaching and learning approaches to engage and motivate learners. You need to communicate appropriately and effectively with learners. You must not deliver the same planned session more than once (total 30 minutes of delivery). Explain and justify the reasons behind your choice of teaching and learning approaches and use of resources for one of your delivered sessions. Obtain feedback from your peers and tutor/observer, and complete a self evaluation to refelct and evaluate the effectiveness of your own teaching. Give feedback to your peers regarding their delivery. (Peer feedback is applicable to micr-teach sessions only). Complete a reflective learning journal after each assessment task completed and/ or session attended throughout the PTLLS programme. At the end of the programme, complete a summative profile and action plan.

The Use of Narratives to Express the Religious Beliefs of People in Wes

The Use of Narratives to Express the Religious Beliefs of People in Western Religions For the layman, familiarity with the major religions stems from the stories that are associated with them. Using the narratives that are derived from the sacred texts is the most prominent way in which our society identifies the Western religions. The Jewish tradition is best correlated to stories like the Exodus and the parting of the Red Seas, for example, as are the many tales of the miracles of Jesus connected to Christianity. This essay will present narratives as an easy method of providing the basic groundwork for the Western religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam because of their simplicity and easily transmittable nature. Furthermore, narratives impart many of the rules, laws, and moral fundamentals for these faiths, and are used by religious writers as a novel method of initiating discussion or providing a parallel for other narratives. From the beginning of the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible, it is evident that the identity of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the West hails from Biblical narratives. Genesis and its two accounts of creation are an essential starting point for Jewish, Christian, and Islamic beliefs. It provides a foundation for devotees of these religions to worship their God as the ultimate creator of the heavens and earth, day and night, sun and moon, all the animals and vegetation that inhabits the world, and human beings. For Jews and Christians, God created the world in six days, taking rest on the seventh day. However in the Islamic tradition of creation, Allah's actions on the seventh day are quite different from the Judeo-Christian beliefs. In the Koran, it states, "In six days He c... ...the preferred method of transmitting the religious beliefs of peoples. Furthermore, our modern Western society easily portrays the identity of Christians, Jews, and Muslims through narratives in media, such as the news, movies, comic books, and television. Because of the way in which stories help people easily grasp the lessons and morals taught by religions, narratives are at the core of the teachings of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, presenting fundamentals as well as being a resource for writing upon subject matter dealing with the those theologies. Works Cited Buber, Martin. Hasidism and Modern Man. New York: Horizon Press, year? The Holy Bible. New International Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995. The Koran. Trans. N. J. Dawood. New York: Penguin Books, 1997 Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York: Bantam Books, 1960.

The Shift in Abortion Policy in the 1800s Essay -- History Abortion Fe

The Shift in Abortion Policy in the 1800s "In 1800 no jurisdiction in the United Sates had enacted any statutes whatsoever on the subject of abortion... Yet by 1900 virtually every jurisdiction in the United States had laws upon its books that proscribed the practice sharply and declared most abortions to be criminal offenses" (Mohr p. VII). Societal Changes from the Early 1800s to the Mid 1800s During the early 1800s, abortion at the beginning of a pregnancy was neither immoral nor criminal. Common law held that before 'quickening,' the first perception of fetal movement by the mother, usually during the second trimester, the fetus was not alive or independent. After quickening abortion was a criminal offense, because the fetus had demonstrated the beginnings of independent life (Mohr p. 1). Since the point of quickening varied from woman to woman and depended upon her word, it was near impossible to prosecute criminal abortions (Mohr p. 2). Most of the laws of the early 1800s were aimed not at prosecuting women for obtaining an abortion, but rather to protect them from medical malpractice such as poisoning, physical harm, and unwanted abortions (Mohr p. 21, 28) (see mollie smith case link). Information on abortion was available to women primarily through home medical manuals and journals. Abortion information was usually available in two sections of home medical books: how to ?release obstructed menses? and ?dangers? to avoid during pregnancy. The latter section was a sort of how-to in reverse that could be effectively put to use by the reader. The most widely consulted work, Buchan's Domestic Medicine, advised emetics and a mixture of prepared steel, powdered myrrh, and aloe to ?restore menstrual flow.? Under caus... ...tives, sixth ed. Worth Publishers. 2001 Mohr, James C. Abortion in America: The Origins and Evolution of National Policy, 1800-1900. Oxford University Press: New York, New York. 1978. New York Times, Aug 23 1871, Aug 27 1871, Aug 30 1871, Aug 31 1871, Oct 29 1871. Shryock, R. H. Medicine and Society in America: 1660-1860. Ithaca, NY: Cornell. 1960 Starr, P. Medicine, "Economy and Society in Nineteenth century America," Journal of Social History. 1977. pp10, 588-607. Taverne, Dick. "The Huge Benefits of GM are being Blocked by Blind Opposition," The Guardian 3 Mar. 2004: 24. Wertz, R., and Wertz D. Lying-In: A History of Childbirth in America. New York: Free Press. 1997 Wilson, Richard K. "DNA: 50 Years Later," St. Louis Post 27 Feb. 2003: B7. Zeitz, Joshua M. "The Big Lie about the Little Pill," NEED NAME OF PAPER OR JOURNAL27 Dec. 2004: A17.

Game Theory Essay

Game theory emerged as a scholarly field of study in the first half of the 20th century. Since that time, it has significantly affected various academic disciplines, such as economics, political science and biology. Although the term â€Å"game theory† may suggest a certain frivolity, the concepts underlying it have many real-world applications and offer a structured and logical method of considering strategic situations. The parallels between competitive games and strategic business situations should be fairly obvious. Consider the game of chess. There are two players, each of whom makes moves in sequence. After observing the move made by the first player, the second player makes a counter move. Then the first player, having observed the first two moves, makes the third move and so on. Compare this to the business situation of gas stations competing for customers through strategic pricing. (The players in this case are station A and station B. ) Suppose, for instance, that station A starts by choosing a new pricing strategy. Given station A’s decision, station B decides how it will set its prices. Given station B’s response, station A can choose to revise its pricing strategy and so on. The objective of each gas station in this â€Å"game† is to maximise its own profit. For each to do so, it must be continually acting and reacting to its competitor in the market as well as anticipating competitive responses when making decisions. What does game theory have to offer? First, game theory provides a framework, or formal procedure, for analysing any competitive situation (or â€Å"game†). Specifically, it forces you to identify the players in a game (consumers, sellers, input providers, governments, foreign organisations, etc. , their possible actions and reactions to the actions of other players, and the payoffs or rewards implicit in the game. Game theory models reduce the world in which businesses operate from a highly complex one to one that is simpler but nevertheless retains some important characteristics of the original. By capturing and clarifying the most significant aspects of competition and interdependence, game theory models make it possible to break down a complex competitive situation into its key components and to analyse the complex dynamics between players. In order for game theory to be truly useful in analysing such complex situations, certain assumptions need to be made. The most significant assumption is that the players in a game are choosing their actions optimally; that is, they are choosing their actions in the hope of maximising their ultimate payoff and they assume that the other players are doing likewise. Without this assumption, game theory cannot successfully model real-world situations. Because game theory can realistically model business situations, it helps businesses to make optimal decisions and choose optimal actions. In other words, by â€Å"solving† a game, a business can identify its optimal actions (assuming, as always, that all the other players are also choosing their actions optimally). This is especially valuable because it helps companies choose the right business strategies when confronted with a complex strategic situation. In what types of business situations can game theory be applied? Click on the linkhere to find out. The nature of the solution(s) in game theory also motivates businesses to analyse how the structure of the game can be altered so that a different (and perhaps a more favourable) game can be played. Because of its systematic approach, game theory allows businesses to examine the consequences of actions that they may not have considered. It is worth noting here that many games involving business are different from games in other fields. For instance, in business, many players can win (and lose) simultaneously, which obviously is not the case with chess. Additionally, because of the interdependent nature of most business relationships, these games are not always ones of direct competition. Consider a game between manufacturer and supplier — both have incentives to do well, but each also has a vested interest in the success of the other. Furthermore, unlike some other games with fixed rules, the rules of business are continuously in flux. They may be formulated by law, by tradition or by accident. Often, however, players have an influence on how rules are decided. How does game theory differ from microeconomics? Because game theory can be used to model almost any economic situation, it might seem redundant to study both microeconomics and game theory. However, microeconomics tends to focus on cases in which there are many buyers and sellers or there is one seller (or buyer) and many buyers (or sellers). Yet here are many instances in which there are a few buyers or sellers. Markets in which more than one but still only a few firms compete are known as â€Å"oligopolies. † Oligopolists are acutely aware of their interdependence. Each firm’s decisions in the market depend on the specific assumptions it makes about how its rivals make pricing and output decisions. In addition, there are other situations in which there is one buyer and one seller. Microeconomics without game theory does not adequately address these matters. Consider a market in which the number of producers is small. In aircraft manufacturing, two firms, Boeing and Airbus, control 100 percent of the world market for commercial aircraft. Each firm recognises that its pricing and production decisions have important implications for its rival’s profitability. As a consequence, each firm attempts to guess which actions its rival will take. But each must also recognise that its rival will also be guessing as to what it will do. Clearly, such interactions are inadequately represented by classic microeconomic models, which assume that the firms are price takers. In some other markets, the number of buyers is small. For instance, the wholesale market for diamonds is dominated by a small group of global firms; therefore, diamond producers may find that implicit (or explicit) collusion between buyers makes it difficult for the diamond producers to exercise market power. Once again, classic microeconomic models may be missing a very important feature of actual markets. Click on each of the links below to read a few real-world examples in which game theory is applicable.

Endeavour Journal Essay

This journey followed close upon the visit of the expedition on Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus. On 8 June 1769 the transit of Venus was successfully observed from three different points. After fulfilling his mission on Tahiti Cook resumed his voyage to fulfil the task given to him secretly by the Royal Society. On 7 September 1769 the Endeavour reached New Zealand, which had never been visited by any European after Abel Janszoon Tasman had discovered it on 13 December 1642. Tasman’s stay at New Zealand was not successful in the means of its discovery. No trading had been done between the native Maori and Tasman’s crew. The first discovery by the Dutch businessmen Tasman was only the western coastline of New Zealand, which had been mapped afterwards. The first seven days of the journal had been taking place at ‘Cannibals Cove’ where the HMS Endeavour anchored for about twenty-three days. James Cook has given the name after he had an encounter with indigenous people, which will be described in the following. During the stay Joseph Banks refers to several encounter with indigenous people of New Zealand. He describes the behaviour and findings in a large extend. As an example he describes the encounter of members of HMS Endeavour’s crew and a double canoe. They have been told that the indigenous people lost a female child that according to their narrative â€Å"had been stole and eat by some of their neighbours†. Another group of crewmembers reported that they have met people who told them that they ate a child the day before. As a result of these stories Banks describes the conclusions of the crew as thefts of this kind are common for those Indians. Afterwards he tries to analyse and evaluate these stories. He assumes that the crewmembers met the same people and interpreted the stories differently which have been told by the indigenous people. Nevertheless he does not exclude this either, since families that came of to the ship â€Å"often brought women and young children in arms as if they were afraid to leave them behind. † Banks’ interest in the indigenous people of New Zealand can also be illustrated by his encounter of an Indian family. He describes them as being affable, obliging and unsuspicious and observed any order or subordination. By making known his regret of not being able to stay with the family for one night his interest in people and their behaviour can be seen. On the following days Banks describes how the exploration of the Cook Straits took place. The officers’ spread their thought that the land they have been round might be an isthmus that is between their current position (Cook Strait) and the Cape Turnagain, which they have last seen 17 October 1969. To confirm this Cook ordered the crew to sail northward until the cape could be seen. Whilst sailing in this direction HMS Endeavour came across indigenous people which in Banks’ journal entries are described as richer and more cleanly than any people they have seen since their stay at the Bay of Islands 3 November 1769. This makes him believe that they might have met subordinates of the Dominions of Teratu. As it turned out they were not this kind of people and thus they had to go on sailing northward looking for a well-known part of New Zealand. On 9 February 1770 an important discovery had been made. Cape Turnagain came back into sight, which proved that the land, they had been visiting, is an island. Besides Banks’ depictions of the exploration of New Zealand and the description of the indigenous people in huge detail he described Albatrosses and other animals to a small extend. His task as botanist plays a minor part during these days. By shooting Albatrosses as often as possible he tries to nourish the crew with fresh meat. The last four days of the journal at hand take place at the east coast of the future southern island of New Zealand. On 16 February 1770 Banks reports the sighting of a new island. This island will be later called â€Å"Banks’s Island† according to the chart of New Zealand based on Cook’s mapping. The fact that this is not an island but rather part of the southern island of New Zealand will be unknown for the rest of the journey. This error happened because Captain John Gore believed that he saw land in south eastward direction. To pursue this Cook decided to follow this direction and validate Gore’s assumption so â€Å"that nobody should say he had left land behind unsought†. On 18 February 1770 Banks states that no land could be found and the voyage will continue in westward direction. In the journals’ last entry Banks describes the discovery of land that might be either part of the New Zealand or the beginning of the southern island, which they have long yearned for. What can be seen in this part of the journal is the personal conflict of Banks. Intelligence obtained by the Indians during their last anchoring stop tells them that this might only be an island, nevertheless Banks does not want to let go of the â€Å"strong hopes that we had at last completed our wishes and that this was absolutely a part of the Southern continent†. The journal at hand includes without limitation information on the discovery of the Cook Strait and exploration of New Zealand. The subsequent days of the journey will clarify if the land they have spotted is either part of the southern continent or an island on its own. Nevertheless an outcome of this journey so far is a detailed map of northern New Zealand and the discovery of the isthmus between the northern island and the southern part. The nature of this journal is a very objective description of the happenings during the voyage.

Trifles and Cuban Swimmer Essay - 771 Words

Mrs. Wright and Margarita are timely examples of the age old saying, Youve pushed me too far. Both of them were pushed throughout life to live up to someone elses expectations and in their own way they break and handle it they only way they know how. The women are under constant pressure to be someone that another person expects them to be and both women begin giving in to the expectations they can no longer live up to. Mrs. Wright lashes out in revenge while Margarita gives in and almost falls to her death. The characters both symbolize exactly what overwhelming emotions can do to a person and how in fact they may handle it. Mrs. Wright is being accused of murdering her husband, and all the evidence points to her, but if you look†¦show more content†¦It is obvious that not too many people knew Mrs. Wright very well because she always kept to herself. One of the women made the comment that Mrs. Wright used to be pretty and happy, when she was Minnie Foster not Minnie Wright. This is just the beginning of realizing that she was just pushed to far into depression and couldnt live up to John Wrights expectations anymore. The Wrights had no children and Mrs. Wright was alone in the house all day long. The women perceive John Wright to be a controlling husband who in fact probably wouldnt have children and this may have upset Mrs. Wright. They eventually find vacant bird cage and ponder upon what happened to the bird, realizing Mrs. Wright was lonely they figured she loved the bird and it kept her company. The women make reference to the fact that Mrs. Wright was kind of like a bird herself, and that she changed so much since she married John Wright. They begin looking for stuff to bring her and they find the bird dead and they realize someone had wrung its neck. This is when they realize Mrs. Wright was in fact pushed to far, John Wr ight had wrung her birds neck and in return Minnie Wright wrung his. Margaritas emotions were far from Mrs. Wrights in fact she did not try to take