Monday, April 20, 2009
CRCB Ch. 11 Reading, Understand and Creating Visual Aids
Ch. 11 is about the importance of visual aids in textbooks or in any reading. Visual aids can help a person better understand what they are learning. They show you how ideas can connect to each other in a quick and easy way. They are learning aids that enhance learning and comprehension. When previewing a text, it is helpful to preview the visual material in it as well. There are six steps when previewing visuals. The first step is to read the title and explanation. Then next step is to check the source of the material. The third step is to look for clues of the purpose of the visual in the headings and labels used. The fourth step is to circle key words and phrases associated with the visual. The next step is to ask yourself what the purpose of the visual is and what information is being presented. The final step is to highlight the main ideas and points to review for an exam. Now there are many different type of visual aids that you will come across as a student and they are used for different purposes. A popular visual aid is charts and tables. These are used a lot in history, economics and psychology. Charts and tables present a large amount of information in a format that makes it easy to decipher. Another visual aid is diagrams. These are drawings that show relation between items. Illustrations are drawings that are detailed and allow you to see parts of a bigger item. Illustrations are used a lot in science and biology books. Graphs are used often as well and the purpose of graphs is to hold very large amounts of information and show differences over time. When studying, it may be helpful to create your own visual aids for study purposes. I never created my own visual aids until this class because we had to make mind maps. I had never even heard of them or encountered them before so I wasn’t sold on them. But surprisingly, they really do work. When I make a mind map, all of the information on it I can recall very easily later and they work very well for studying before tests.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Journal
It is Monday and I've had a long day. I'm just doing my homework for critical thinking and its going pretty slow, slower then usual but hey atleast its going. I should be done soon. The sememster is almost over, and I can't be happier. I need a break. But for my first semester back in school, I think Im doing alright.
TFY Ch. 11 Inductive Reasoning
Ch. 11 is about the process of inductive reasoning. The word induction comes from the Latin inducere, which means to lead in. Inductive reasoning is to reason to a conclusion about all members of a class on the basis of an examination of a few members of a class. It is going from the specific to the general. Inductive reasoning is essential in the sciences, and it is analogous to the scientific method. One must observe, gather data and information, then come to meanings or conclusions. Some of the methods that have been used in inductive reasoning are sensory observation, enumeration, analogical reasoning, pattern recognition, and statistical reasoning. Sensory observation is observing with the use of your senses. This includes sight, taste, touch, smell and hearing. Simply observing and recording your observations can lead to correct inferences and have in the scientific world led to scientific breakthroughs. Reasoning from enumeration can just be a simple counting of parts to come to a conclusion about the whole. You use extrapolation to come to that conclusion. Extrapolation is a probability estimate or projection. Analogical reasoning is coming to conclusions based on making comparisons or analogies between two seemingly different things. Analogical reasoning is crucial in the legal system in the United States, where legal precedents can affect the decision of a case. Patterns are also important in inductive reasoning. If patterns are recognized, then this can help in drawing conclusions about the nature of them and why they might be important. Statistical reasoning is using enumeration to predict on the basis of an estimate of probabilities. This method is used when it is impossible to examine all of the available data. There are five basic rules about the reliability of the conclusions that come from statistical sampling.
1. The greater the size of the sample, the more representative the sample will be of the whole.
2. The more representative the sample is, the more likely it is that accurate conclusions will be drawn about the whole.
3. One counterexample can refute a generalization.
4. If statistical evidence is offered, it should be offered in sufficient detail to permit verification.
5. When polls are taken, it is important to know whether a reputable organization took the poll and the exact formulation, or wording of the question.
Inductive reasoning is vital for us in academia and normal, everyday life. We use inductive reasoning when we don’t know something or are confused to figure out what it is.
1. The greater the size of the sample, the more representative the sample will be of the whole.
2. The more representative the sample is, the more likely it is that accurate conclusions will be drawn about the whole.
3. One counterexample can refute a generalization.
4. If statistical evidence is offered, it should be offered in sufficient detail to permit verification.
5. When polls are taken, it is important to know whether a reputable organization took the poll and the exact formulation, or wording of the question.
Inductive reasoning is vital for us in academia and normal, everyday life. We use inductive reasoning when we don’t know something or are confused to figure out what it is.
Monday, April 6, 2009
TFY Ch. 10 Summary - Fallacies
TFY Ch. 10
Fallacies
Ch. 10 is about the different kinds of fallacies and how to recognize them. The chapter defines a fallacy as a statement or argument that presents itself as soundly reasoned when it is not. If we want to be better critical thinkers, we have to realize when someone’s argument contains fallacies and make sure not to use them ourselves. This chapter specifically discusses twelve fallacies. These twelve are divided in three categories. The following is the list of the twelve fallacies.
Manipulation through Language
1. Word ambiguity - the use of vague or undefined words for an advantage
2. Misleading euphemisms - hidden meaning due to word play that makes it seem positive or unrecognizable.
3. Prejudicial language - use of loaded words that convey bias
Manipulation through Emotion
4. Appeal to fear - persuade by instilling fear
5. Appeal to pity - persuade by causing pity
6. Appeal to false authority - citing fake or inappropriate authority
7. Appeal to bandwagon - persuade by appealing to popular momentum
8. Appeal to prejudice - attacking a person and not his argument and poisoning the well which is seeking to prejudice others against a person.
Manipulation through Distraction
9. Red herring - diverting attention to other issues
10. Pointing to another wrong - highlighting another wrong and saying how that went unnoticed or unpunished.
11. Straw man - misrepresents opponent, then refutes this false misrepresentation. Also focuses in on a minor point and says this invalidates the entire argument.
12. Circular reasoning - this is when someone makes a conclusion or point without evidence and just keeps repeating it in different words but without any reasoning to it.
The chapter states that there are eight more fallacies but those will be discussed in a later chapter. After reading all of these fallacies, I came to realize how often people use fallacies and how widespread it is. I’m sure that I sometimes probably have used them without even realizing it. I’ll try to make a conscious effort from now on not to use them. If you are confident in your view or opinion, you should not need manipulative and deceitful tactics to get your message across.
Fallacies
Ch. 10 is about the different kinds of fallacies and how to recognize them. The chapter defines a fallacy as a statement or argument that presents itself as soundly reasoned when it is not. If we want to be better critical thinkers, we have to realize when someone’s argument contains fallacies and make sure not to use them ourselves. This chapter specifically discusses twelve fallacies. These twelve are divided in three categories. The following is the list of the twelve fallacies.
Manipulation through Language
1. Word ambiguity - the use of vague or undefined words for an advantage
2. Misleading euphemisms - hidden meaning due to word play that makes it seem positive or unrecognizable.
3. Prejudicial language - use of loaded words that convey bias
Manipulation through Emotion
4. Appeal to fear - persuade by instilling fear
5. Appeal to pity - persuade by causing pity
6. Appeal to false authority - citing fake or inappropriate authority
7. Appeal to bandwagon - persuade by appealing to popular momentum
8. Appeal to prejudice - attacking a person and not his argument and poisoning the well which is seeking to prejudice others against a person.
Manipulation through Distraction
9. Red herring - diverting attention to other issues
10. Pointing to another wrong - highlighting another wrong and saying how that went unnoticed or unpunished.
11. Straw man - misrepresents opponent, then refutes this false misrepresentation. Also focuses in on a minor point and says this invalidates the entire argument.
12. Circular reasoning - this is when someone makes a conclusion or point without evidence and just keeps repeating it in different words but without any reasoning to it.
The chapter states that there are eight more fallacies but those will be discussed in a later chapter. After reading all of these fallacies, I came to realize how often people use fallacies and how widespread it is. I’m sure that I sometimes probably have used them without even realizing it. I’ll try to make a conscious effort from now on not to use them. If you are confident in your view or opinion, you should not need manipulative and deceitful tactics to get your message across.
CRCB Ch. 8 Summary - Textbook Methods of Organization
CRCB Ch. 8
Textbook Methods of Organization
This chapter is about the methods of organization in textbooks and how to recognize them and the advantages of that. Authors use different organization methods depending on what they want the reader to take from the book and depending on the subject matter. You can use organization word clues (owc) to help you recognize the different methods. There are six different classical organization methods. The first is Listing. The list is organized alphabetically, numerically, or by order of importance. Some of the organizational word clues for this method are the phrases “first of all”, “secondly” and “finally”. The next method is Analysis. In this pattern, the author breaks down the concept into different parts to show characteristics or properties. Some of the OWCs’ for this are: types, characteristics, aspects and properties. The next organizational method is the cause/effect method. This shows why something happened or the effects of it. OWCs for this method are: since, therefore, results, because, impacts, effects and then. The fourth method is the comparison/contrast method. This goes over the differences or similarities between two or more things. OWCs for this method are: compared with, similar to, as, but, like, although and however. The fifth method is the definition/example style. Authors use this to clarify meanings by using analogies and clear examples. Some OWCs for this are: defined as, another meaning, synonymous with and also referred to as. The final method the chapter discusses is the sequence method. This is showing the steps in a specific process or the order of events in their chronological sequence. Knowing how to recognize an authors method will help with a readers understanding of the text and help with remembering the information more efficiently. Authors may use a different method for each chapter in a book so you must be proficient in recognizing all six of them. I think this can help me in the future when I read textbooks in other classes. By knowing and recognizing an authors organization method, I can better predict what type of questions I should prepare for on tests and quizzes.
Textbook Methods of Organization
This chapter is about the methods of organization in textbooks and how to recognize them and the advantages of that. Authors use different organization methods depending on what they want the reader to take from the book and depending on the subject matter. You can use organization word clues (owc) to help you recognize the different methods. There are six different classical organization methods. The first is Listing. The list is organized alphabetically, numerically, or by order of importance. Some of the organizational word clues for this method are the phrases “first of all”, “secondly” and “finally”. The next method is Analysis. In this pattern, the author breaks down the concept into different parts to show characteristics or properties. Some of the OWCs’ for this are: types, characteristics, aspects and properties. The next organizational method is the cause/effect method. This shows why something happened or the effects of it. OWCs for this method are: since, therefore, results, because, impacts, effects and then. The fourth method is the comparison/contrast method. This goes over the differences or similarities between two or more things. OWCs for this method are: compared with, similar to, as, but, like, although and however. The fifth method is the definition/example style. Authors use this to clarify meanings by using analogies and clear examples. Some OWCs for this are: defined as, another meaning, synonymous with and also referred to as. The final method the chapter discusses is the sequence method. This is showing the steps in a specific process or the order of events in their chronological sequence. Knowing how to recognize an authors method will help with a readers understanding of the text and help with remembering the information more efficiently. Authors may use a different method for each chapter in a book so you must be proficient in recognizing all six of them. I think this can help me in the future when I read textbooks in other classes. By knowing and recognizing an authors organization method, I can better predict what type of questions I should prepare for on tests and quizzes.
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