This document discusses the author's journey in learning about and applying critical thinking skills. Some key points made include: - Critical thinking is self-directed thinking that allows one to improve the quality of their thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing ideas. - Learning critical thinking helps one become more open-minded, accept different answers, and think more objectively by overcoming biases. - Applying critical thinking involves identifying what is known vs unknown, researching to add to one's knowledge, and eliminating prejudices to rationally analyze issues. - The author finds critical thinking has changed their thinking for the better, made them more confident, and helped them make more well-reasoned decisions.

1. My Journey into
Critical Thinking
Ariana Garcia Sanchez

2. Critical Thinking
A definition
Critical thinking is that mode of thinking — about any subject, content, or problem — in which
the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and
reconstructing it.
Critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking.
It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use.
It entails effective communication and problem-solving abilities, as well as a commitment to
overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism.
Our Concept and Definition of Critical Thinking, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/our-
concept-of-critical-thinking

3. Critical thinking is a new word which I now know more about and have become
familiar with in taking this course. Some of what I’ve learned:
• One can become a cultivated thinker if our mind opens up to new ideas. With an
open mind one can expend my knowledge about new concepts or add to ones
that one already knows of as well.
• Thinking critically helps open up the mind to new possibilities. It becomes easier
to problem solve. Being open-minded allows one have not just one answer to a
problem but various ones.
• By thinking critically one can also learn to accept different types of answers then
from when one originally knows.
• Having an open-mind depends on one not assuming that our approach to a
situation the only best and right way.
• Critical thinking also helps one learn how to rationalize and find all the information
based on fact rather then opinion. Rational thinking aids in identifying and
eliminating prejudices so that there is a new objective approach to a problem.

4. Prerequisites: Critically
thinking
• A want to learn and know more
about anything being questioned.
• Pinpoint the various information in
relation to the topic at hand.
• Form and idea of standpoint to
make decision on whether it is
reasonable or not.
• Come up with reason as to why
an argument is valid.
• Recognize inconsistencies in
relation to topic

5. How to apply it
• Identify what is know and not known about subject.
• Research can now be revised and learn from the
information that is already known from the subject.
• This will serve the propose so that when thinking
there is a focus to eliminate prejudices and
preconceive convictions.
• By looking at the information in a rational
perspective it aids in making it simple for one to
suppress an immediate emotional reaction and
that way deal with the situation in a better way.
• These steps in critical thinking can aid one in
allowing one to continue to strengthen our thinking
critically!

6. Using those Critically
Thinking Skills
When you think critically you:
can understand better the relationship between different ideas
determine the importance and/or cogency of different type of arguments or
ideas
identify, create, and analyze of arguments & concepts
are able to eliminate inconsistencies and preconceived opinions
can approach a problem with better reasoning and consistency
question a not just assume there is one answer to a problem
can be open to new ideas and/or information and accepting that not everything
is as it is told

7. My curiosity has taken me to learn more on how to think critically.
I like to learn new concepts and this course has helped me bring to
think more by making positive decisions.
I still continue and noticed that I have become more confident in
the way I communicate with others. I have not gotten there
completely but I have made more efforts to try and make changes
that will eventually get me to one hundred percent. The steps to be
a well rounded critical thinker seem simple but in my personal
experience can and do become difficult to achieve because I was
so use to being really quiet not speaking up for myself.

8. Life Changing!
• Thinking critically has definitely changed the way
I think and what I want know about the various of
information that we get today.
• I like that that this learning experience has
helped boost my confidence. I like I have
mentioned I don’t like to talk to much and was
very negative but now this has changed into a
great positive in my life.
• In the past I would think that when making
decisions I had really thought out all possible
answers or options, I wasn’t. Now I look for all
the information needed to make a decision in
which I will later will not regret like in the past.
• It really serves its propose when having an open-
mind because otherwise you only focus on what
your opinions are rather than facts. which has
aided me because now I am not quick to decide
instead I take my time to really think.

9. Achieve greatness
• Aim a clarified topic in which there is consistency and you can
use continuously
• In future situations the thinking processes with become easier
not only that decision among as well
• One will make the intension pf pursuing that clear aim wanted
• Discipline instilled to keep track of the various skills and how
to use them will continue with consistency.
• Making changing circumstances better to handle in the future
as well.

10. Benefits
The best possible outcomes.
Assessment of strengths and
weaknesses.
Development of foresight in
keeping an open mind to
new concepts and ideas.
Taking into consideration of
all possible outcomes.
Reviewing those outcomes
and making the necessary
changes where needed.