Script 8
Critical
thinking is an essential tool in both academic writing and reading.
Good critical thinkers are able to do the following:
sort out general and specific points
understand the difference between facts and opinions
synthesize information from a variety of sources
summarize
analyze
interpret information
support and defend an opinion
make judgments
make inferences
draw conclusions
view a topic objectively (unbiased)
understand a variety of viewpoints
think logically
ask questions.
(Leonhard, B. (2003) Discoveries in Academic Writing, University of Missouri-Columbia)
Academic writing assignments Script 9
Students
often do worse than they should in examinations or when writing
assignments not because their writing skills are weak or because
their knowledge of the subject matter is insufficient, but because
they have not fully understood what they have been asked to do. To
score high marks in an examination or an essay, it is important to
fully understand what a question means and how it should be answered.
In order to understand the question it is useful to analyze the
questions and to search for certain components. The following
technique is very useful.
Let’s talk about the components of a question.
Most essay titles or examination questions contain the following components:
Subject matter or topic. What, in the most general terms, is the question about?
Aspect or focus. This is the angle or point of view on the subject matter. What aspect of the subject matter is the question about?
Instruction or comment. This refers to the instruction word or phrase. These instructions tell the student exactly what to do.
Some questions also contain the following components:
Restriction or expansion of the subject matter. This is the detailed limitation of the topic. What, in specific terms, is the question about?
Viewpoint. This refers to the requirement, in the question, that the writer writes from a point of view dictated by the setter of the question.
Now you should analyze the question.
To analyze the title, it is useful to follow the following steps:
Identify the topic.
If the topic has a restriction or expansion, identify it.
Search for the aspect. This is the angle or point of view on the subject matter. Often, the aspect is a phrase ending in 'of', e.g. 'the importance of', 'the contribution of'. Be sure you are clear about how the aspect relates to the subject matter. It can be an example of it, a stage in its sequence, the cause or effect, one of the solutions to it as a problem etc.
Identify the instruction ( ) and decide what it means and what it requires you to do.
Check whether there is a viewpoint and if so, if it is the same as your own.
(http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm)
The process of writing
Brainstorming
Script 10
Ground
Rules in brainstorming.
There are four basic rules in brainstorming. These are intended to reduce social inhibitions among group’s members, stimulate idea generation, and increase overall creativity of the group.
Focus on quantity: This rule is a means of enhancing divergent production, aiming to facilitate problem solving through the maxim, quantity breeds quality. The assumption is that the greater the number of ideas generated, the greater the chance of producing a radical and effective solution.
Withhold criticism: In brainstorming, criticism of ideas generated should be put 'on hold'. Instead, participants should focus on extending or adding to ideas, reserving criticism for a later 'critical stage' of the process. By suspending judgment, participants will feel free to generate unusual ideas.
Welcome unusual ideas: To get a good and long list of ideas, unusual ideas are welcomed. They can be generated by looking from new perspectives and suspending assumptions. These new ways of thinking may provide better solutions.
Combine and improve ideas: Good ideas may be combined to form a single better good idea, as suggested by the slogan "1 + 1 = 3". It is believed to stimulate the building of ideas by a process of association.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming)