Is critical thinking about being critical in the usual sense of being negative, or is it about "thoughtful thinking"?
Generally the word 'critical' is considered as being a negative concept. However when applied to thinking and analysing, being critical is about more than just being negative. To think critically is go in depth, to question, explore and consider. I agree with the idea of "thoughtful thinking". Although a short statement, this describes the concept quite clearly to me. It says that you need to do more than just react to something impulsively. Although sometimes that approach can be the best in a creative manner, when comes to analysis, you must look further than the surface. To me, critical thinking is about scratching through the layers of something, a text for example, to reveal the meanings, opinions and underlying research. Done correctly, critical thinking can open up your own mind to not only see more, but gain more from what is analysed.
After reading Jennifer Moon's chapter, do you think you knew what critical thinking was? Do you think you could use critical thinking as a learning tool?
Having come from a background of art & design, I have had experience with the concept of critical thinking in the past. Before reading the chapter, I felt I had a fairly good understanding of what critical thinking involved. For the most part my ideas were on track. However reading the chapter has encouraged me analyse my own use of critical thinking more. Whereas I had an understanding of what it involved, I'm not sure that I would always use it. Reading about the subject and gaining a deeper understanding of what it is has encouraged me to use it further and to a greater extent. I will definitely be using it as a learning tool.
Write a short report on plagiarism based on the following literal quote: "Plagiarism is intellectual theft" (Breach, 2009, 124). Please finish your report by including your own experience regarding plagiarism and using a reference system. Were you aware of the relevance of acknowledging sources?
The quote of "Plagiarism is intellectual theft" (Breach, 2009, 124) states very clearly a fact of academic writing. Intellectual theft refers to stealing the ideas of another, often to be claimed as one's own. Whether the theft be intentional or accidental is irrelevant, the outcome is still the same.
An original idea presented in a book, for example, may have come from the author. This idea is theirs. If this idea is wished to be portrayed in an essay then it must be acknowledged as belonging to that author. Whether the idea is quoted or paraphrased, or simply mentioned in passing, the source of this idea must be acknowledged. If citation s not performed, then intellectual theft has occurred. In an academic environment plagiarism is taken very seriously, as is collusion. This is to say that it is not only the copying of an idea which can be deemed wrong, but also the sharing of an idea under the wrong circumstances. Sharing an idea from an essay with a friend can be a more dangerous thing to do than may be originally considered. In a sense, this encourages the friend to plagiarise because the idea is not theirs, it does not belong to them. The literal concept of stealing intellectual property may, at first, seem an odd one. But it is an unfortunately common one, more so than many may realise. It is always important to bare in mind the usefulness and importance of utilising a referencing system, and to acknowledge all sources and the ideas provided by them.
I have had to write several essays in the past. With every step up in academic level, there has been an increase in the importance of referencing. It becomes a deeper and deeper process which at university level requires the documentation of every source used. Before university I did an Foundation Diploma In Art & Design, this course aimed to prepare us all for university life and the ways in which things are done there. As part of the course we were required to write an essay, and as part of that we needed to reference. I had referenced in the past, but never at the level required by that essay. I was required to reference every source in detail using the Harvard referencing system. I was surprised at this method needing so much detail, such as dates accessed and the publisher and edition. I was aware of the importance of referencing before this point, but had no idea how detailed it needed to be. However, as it was explained to us, I began to understand the importance of it more. The reading of 'Chapter 8: Plagiarism - avoidance and detection' from 'Dissertation Writing For Engineers And Scientists' (Breach. M, 2009) has further informed me on the importance of it and helped me to realise just how necessary it is.
An original idea presented in a book, for example, may have come from the author. This idea is theirs. If this idea is wished to be portrayed in an essay then it must be acknowledged as belonging to that author. Whether the idea is quoted or paraphrased, or simply mentioned in passing, the source of this idea must be acknowledged. If citation s not performed, then intellectual theft has occurred. In an academic environment plagiarism is taken very seriously, as is collusion. This is to say that it is not only the copying of an idea which can be deemed wrong, but also the sharing of an idea under the wrong circumstances. Sharing an idea from an essay with a friend can be a more dangerous thing to do than may be originally considered. In a sense, this encourages the friend to plagiarise because the idea is not theirs, it does not belong to them. The literal concept of stealing intellectual property may, at first, seem an odd one. But it is an unfortunately common one, more so than many may realise. It is always important to bare in mind the usefulness and importance of utilising a referencing system, and to acknowledge all sources and the ideas provided by them.
I have had to write several essays in the past. With every step up in academic level, there has been an increase in the importance of referencing. It becomes a deeper and deeper process which at university level requires the documentation of every source used. Before university I did an Foundation Diploma In Art & Design, this course aimed to prepare us all for university life and the ways in which things are done there. As part of the course we were required to write an essay, and as part of that we needed to reference. I had referenced in the past, but never at the level required by that essay. I was required to reference every source in detail using the Harvard referencing system. I was surprised at this method needing so much detail, such as dates accessed and the publisher and edition. I was aware of the importance of referencing before this point, but had no idea how detailed it needed to be. However, as it was explained to us, I began to understand the importance of it more. The reading of 'Chapter 8: Plagiarism - avoidance and detection' from 'Dissertation Writing For Engineers And Scientists' (Breach. M, 2009) has further informed me on the importance of it and helped me to realise just how necessary it is.