critical thinking

Although writing a hypertext essay requires a different form of writing than the traditional form that most of us are more familiar with, the thought process is still rather similar. I agree with Maiorana’s interpretation of critical thinking which suggests that in order to think critically, one must be inquisitive. If one were to write solely about that which is already known, what would that essay accomplish? Writing is intended to be informative and oftentimes thought-provoking, and neither can be accomplished if the author does not first ask the difficult questions. Ultimately, as the quote suggests, these questions will lead to a greater understanding of the topic at hand, and will therefore allow the author to better evaluate and ultimately resolve the issue that his topic initially presents.

Additionally, I support Kurland’s interpretation of critical thinking which suggests that one must remain emotionally uninvolved in the subject matter, and must keep an open mind. This concept goes hand in hand with the notion that critical thinking involves inquiry. If one were to become emotionally involved, he risks not looking into more than one perspective, and therefore is unable to fully resolve the issue presented. Moreover, to become involved emotionally suggests that the author is not keeping an open mind, which is critical when one is asked to write an unbiased piece.

Finally, I agreed with Stahl’s definition of critical thinking. In any piece of writing, it is imperative to first observe “cohesive and logical reasoning patterns” in order to create a cohesive and logical product.