Thinking Critically

Community DB 2: Living in Tribes

Critical Thinking Skills

Thinking Critically

Introduction

               
I have always had trouble analyzing what I have read. Before this class, I used to read a text and not take the time to think into it to look beyond the words to find the meaning. This class has made me learn what it means to analyze a reading and how to do it. I learned that if I want to understand what the author is really saying, I would have to compare what the author says to what I already know and assess the reading based off of what I came up with. I chose my post in Community Discussion Board #2 as a good example of my critical thinking skills because I understood and thought that I had a good grasp on the topic for this discussion board. I, like everyone else, have experience in trying to fit in with a group and wanting to belong somewhere. This discussion board was a good example of my critical thinking skills because my post contained a lot of my own insight in the topic of Living in Tribes. I analyzed the information in the required readings and added perspective from my own life.  This Discussion Board was something that I understood and was familiar with and I was confident in my response and knowledge of the topic.  An analysis helps a reader to understand the writing better because an analysis connects the writing with something that is already familiar to them. Connecting something you already know with the writing allows the writing to make sense within your life.

               
The sentences that I have highlighted from the Discussion board are good examples of my ability to analyze a reading. For example, the sentence highlighted in the paragraph titled “What are the rules?” is a good example because I connected what I learned about the Amish from the reading to what I already knew about being a part of a religious group. The Amish Charter essay described the rules of what the Amish required to be a part of their organization. Learning that the Amish have strict guidelines that a member must follow and knowing what it means and requires to be a part of a church; I was able to connect my experience with the text to say that if a person does not agree with, or live according to the guidelines set in place by the church, then they do not fit in with the other members and do not belong in the group. This is true in any group, if one does not agree with or have similar beliefs on very important topics with the other members of their group; there is probably a better group out there for them.