Memo 3B: Continuing Down the Path

So... as I am digging into more research on critical thinking and its connections to writing, I have inadvertently found more information.
My prompt to Gita DesBender's Critical Thinking in College Writing: From the Personal to the Academic had discovered the following:

1) criticism is the process of responding to and evaluating ideas, argument, and style so that readers understand how and why you value these items;
2) CT-is fundamental to all disciplines.Really, no matter what area of study you are dealing with, "the application of critical thinking skills leads to clear and flexible thinking and a better understanding of the subject at hand";
3) be an attentive reader.To be a critical thinker you need to pay a close attention to WHAT you are reading, in other words, to put your "thinking" hat on: . "Instead of simply glossing over this important passage, you have actually stopped to think about what the writer means and what she expects you to get from it" (Des Bender 39);
4) stop and reflect. A critical thinker usually stops ever so often ans ask him/herself questions to check her/his understanding (metacognitive function);
5) pay attention to the language. Critical thinker pays attention to the language, idioms, key words being used;
6) list main Ideas. When reading a text, it is a good idea to jot down a list of  ideas or quotations in the notebook: this way you keep a track of all most important points of the reading. "These quotations give you a cumulative sense of what [author] is trying to get at in her essay, that is, they lay out the elements with which she builds her argument." (Des Bender 40).
7) Create personal response. "[...] if you have some clear thoughts about how you feel about the essay this is the time to write them down. As you look at the quotes you have selected and your explanation of their meaning, begin to create your personal response to the essay" (Des Bender 42).

Some writing strategies for personal response:

1) tell a story. Has the essay reminded you of an experience 

you have had? Write a story in which you illustrate a point that 

[the author] makes or hint at an idea that is connected to her/his essay.

2) focus on the idea that is personally important to you. Write down your thoughts about this idea in a 

first person narrative and explain your perspective on the issue.

3)If you are uncomfortable writing a personal narrative or using 

“I” (you should not be), reflect on some of the author's ideas that seem 

important and meaningful in general. Why were you struck 

by these ideas?

4) Write a short letter to the author in which you speak to her/him about 

the essay. You may compliment her/him on some of the ideas by 

explaining why you like them, ask the author a question related to the essay and what came up to you, start a conversation with the author.

Works Cited:

DesBender, Gita. "Critical Thinking in College Writing: From the Personal to the Academic."Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 2. N.p.: Parlor, n.d. 38-51. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. <http://wac.colostate.edu/books/writingspaces2/dasbender--critical-thinking.pdf>.