Critical Thinking
Semester 1: Social Science Assessment
Reflection: By working on and preparing for this assessment, I was able to take apart my knowledge of each particular social science and apply it to come up with four unique activities that a particular social scientist could do on a daily basis. Before taking this assessment, I had learned about the social sciences, what they meant, and what someone in that particular social science might do on a normal day. While taking this assessment, I was also able to explain what types of evidence may be used in a certain science and how that would apply to what each social science is known for. By critically thinking about and determining the possible activities and jobs a certain social scientist may complete, I was able to create many different ideas that would be supported by prior knowledge and factual evidence from former research. Despite all of the tasks that I was able to accomplish, I would still like to further improve my discovery of how each social science relates to each other, as well as how the types of evidence and sources correspond to each of the social sciences. In order to improve this skill, I can research each social science in a more in-depth manner, including Internet research, various books, and articles written by specific social scientists, in order to fully comprehend how they intertwine with each other and are able to somehow relate to the types of evidences and sources.
Artifact 1: Social Science Assessment
Semester 2: Socratic Seminar- Violent vs. Nonviolent Protests
Reflection: During this project I had to annotate six articles regarding the Civil Rights Movement and answer the questions with each corresponding reading. After annotating, I had to take a stance as to whether violence or non-violence was the philosophy that made the most sense for civil rights activists in the 1960s. While taking a stance, I had to list evidence and quotes that supported each side and form an argument, which I then argued in a group of about 15 people. Each of us were graded on the ideas we shared, the evidence we presented, encouraging other people to share their ideas, and having sound ideas built off of others' information. With the information I encountered while annotating, I determined how it could go for, or against my reasoning, as well as the reasoning for the other side of the argument. This led me to be able to critically think about the overall argument and create a debate that draws from information and viewpoints of both sides. Or, in other words, the argument would be sound because it was created from information from both sides. I was also able to critically think about the counter-arguments that the other side may use against my stance and how to refute their ideas based on other evidence that I had acquired. I was able to accomplish all of this by thinking deeply about what someone on the other side of the argument might believe and the loopholes that could be found in my own argument. By using the information I had gathered and placing myself in the viewpoint of both violent and nonviolent protesters, I was able to form conclusions and ideas that each side would use and determine sound reasoning that could be used to question each sides' ideas. I also had to use critical thinking during the seminar because no matter how much I prepared, I had to be able to think on my feet and quickly use my critical thinking to form a response, ideas, and facts to someone's statement. I was able to effectively annotate several articles and pick out the important pieces of information to form a well-supported conclusion as to what method of violence verses nonviolence made sense. I was also able to deeply think about the information and form a standpoint for each side of the argument and support the overall explanation as to why people should feel that way. Throughout the future, I hope to improve upon my ability to think deeply in high-pressure situations, such as explaining my point of view and adapting it to others' statements as they say them, all while maintaining with my thoughts. I hope to do this by no other way than by being in more debates and adapting my brain to think critically at all times, for you never know when a bright idea may hit.
Artifact 2: Socratic Seminar- Violent vs. Nonviolent Protests