Critical Thinking Activities You Participate In?

Under the second dimension of the Inner Development Goals framework is THINKING - Cognitive Skills. I want to focus on the skill of critical thinking. The article in our pathway reading ‘Tips to Boost Your Cognitive Skills’ described critical thinking as: The ability to carefully examine and assess the credibility of viewpoints, evidence, and plans by applying rigorous analysis.

Discussion Questions: 

1. One of the tips mentioned was to participate in debates or discussions. What kind of critical thinking activities do you participate in?

2. How do you think critical thinking activities improve your ability to set goals and make important life decisions? 

My response: 

1. I participate in debates and discussions through my book clubs. I have two book clubs that meet online with friends, one that focuses on non-fiction books and one for fiction. I love underlining or highlighting the books I read to find evidence for the points I make and to take the time to make an opinion on the book before discussing it with the group. A lot of the time the other members of the group will bring up points I had never considered and I grow a lot from the discussions. I also enjoy watching movie critiques on YouTube which treat film as literature in my opinion. I try to gather my thoughts together by discussing a movie at a cafe afterward with friends and then see what my favorite YouTubers have to say about the movies. I could debate in the comment sections with others, but honestly I don’t. 

2. I think having experience analyzing other people’s arguments against my own about books and movies actually helps me to listen to my own inner compass when it comes to getting advice from others. I don’t just take what someone has to say about my decision or goal, I can be critical with the advice of loved ones that I do value, but know how to take what works and leave the rest.