Critical Thinking Pt. 2: A new way to link material

Fundamentally, the information in your essays, assignments and examinations needs to be linked.  In the last blog we talked about how information is linked in paragraphs like this:
Sentence 1 - A topic sentence that discusses/outlines the information that you are going to discuss in this paragraph
Sentence 2 - A sentence that backs up the topic sentence with evidence or data that illustrates the value of the argument in your first sentence.
Sentence 3 - A sentence that analyzes or examines how the evidence backs up the argument you're making.  This may take 2 sentences.
Sentence 4 - Summarize what you've discussed & anticipate the next argument.

The writing process can be likened to making a strong mesh comprised of appropriate information and good arguments.  In Bloom's Taxonomy, Bloom presents the reader with a hierarchy of learning:

1. Knowledge - This is information, data and details.  The reason the "devil is in the details" is because it is on knowledge that all the rest of learning rests.  This is why it is so important to choose your source materials well and not rely on poor information from the internet or badly written materials.

2. Comprehension - Before you move on you must understand your material and your assigned question.  Students often do not realize the importance of taking time to think though the question.  This help you to discover the information you are going to need before proceeding further.  At this point, students can still fix errors in thinking that later will become issues if they affect assignments.  Moreover, students who understand the topic or question, can be sure that they are using the right data and materials in an assignment.

3. Application - This is shown in every stage of your work.  For example, relevant data quoted in an essay shows the way in which students apply facts to assignments.  Additionally, when a student writes a bibliography for an assignment using bibliography page on Harvard at the University of Leicester, they demonstrate the correct use of this form of citation and use application in their paper.

4. Analysis- This term, analysis, describes and examines the process by which data/evidence is used to backs up the arguments.  Analysis takes place in every paragraph to link data/evidence to the arguments that are presented.

5. Synthesis - Synthesis is a process whereby two forms of information or data are linked together to form a new pattern of thought.  This is really what every good essay should be trying to do.  The new pattern of thought at the end of an assignment or essay should present a new way of looking at things.  Of course, synthesis occurs on many level and becomes more sophisticated das we advance educationally.

6. Evaluation - Evaluation, of course, is something that takes place when an assignment is handed in or an exam is over.  Nevertheless, students who develop deep knowledge about their topic will know the value of their assignments.  Many times I've heard a student say "Well, I knew I hadn't really done my best work" after reviewing a grade.  Similarly, when a student weighs and judges the value of quoted material and chooses only the best quotations, they will find their assignment have added value.

When an assignment or essay includes all of the elements above, knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation, the student is on the way to thinking critically and understanding more.  

KB