Critical Thinking and Writing
			Critical thinking is the first key skill that the interdisciplinarian must master.  Critical thinking is the mental discipline of actively being able to conceptualize, analyze, synthesize and apply one's knowledge.  This is  based on one's experiences, reflections, and reasoning.  Critical thinking is a guide to belief and action, based on one's values and knowledge. As implied it is description, such thinking is critical because it allows you to integrate knowledge from a transdisciplinary perspective and to creatively solve problems while still adhering to your own personal values.  I constantly develop these skills by honing my reasoning ability.  Continued learning is the key to critical thinking.  By constantly taking in and evaluating your experiences and the world around you, it is possible to sharpen your critical thinking ability.  By remaining steadfast in your personal values, it is possible to have a benchmark against which all other actions can be judged.  I develop these skills through reading and interaction with other people.  I hope to become more effective in this regard by actively participating in the world around me, and taking stock of my experiences instead of casting them by the wayside.				Critical writing is the next stage of interdisciplinary mastery.  To be able to apply past experiences and knowledge towards problem solving is incredibly important; even more valuable is the power of the written word to put critical thinking in action.  By taking the abstract of a thought and committing it to paper, you are cementing the idea not only in your own mind, but in the minds of others.  Writing opens doors towards the implementation of your goals and dreams.  Without the ability to translate your thoughts into a tangible medium, your dreams and desires have no way to reach fruition. I develop my writing skills constantly in my daily life.  I craft assignments for my college classes, and for many job applications.  Writing is a benchmark of critical thinking ability.  I additionally take time to write about the world around me.  For two years, I authored a column for the college newspaper in order to hone my prose and to delineate some of my thoughts to the world around me. To become more effective in such a skill, I have found that the best method is practice, practice, and more practice.  We cannot know that which we do not do on a regular basis. Return to Homepage Return to Transferable Skills Email: [email protected]