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CRITICAL THINKING FOR �JAPANESE STUDENTS

Construct Academic Papers with Global Mind

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Weakness of Japanese Writing

  • Most writing exercises focused on summarizing author’s view – 読書感想文
  • Japanese logic - 起承転結 – Raise issue – Elaborate – Overturn – Conclusion
  • Global logic – 起転証証結起 - Raise issue – Overturn – Proof (pro) – Proof (con) – Conclusion (with area of further study)
  • Finding opposing views and proofs for both pro and con – creative writing – not taught much in Japan
  • Too much focus on language errors – technique for articulating views and approach for debate are absent
  • Critical views – multiple angles to examine existing theories – not appreciated – considered negatively as arrogant and rude

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Process of Academic Thesis Writing

Purpose -Theory to examine

Issues on the subject

Introduction

Pro – existing views and studies

Reasoning – evidences

Credibility – contradictions, how it’s researched

Pro

Pro – existing views and studies

Reasoning - evidences

Credibility – contradictions, how it’s researched

Con

Conclusion – your own assessment

Credibility – example of your own experience

Conclusion

Areas of further studies

Improvement

起転

証

証

結

起

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Elements of Critical Thinking

Intellectual Standards

    • Clarity - understandable
    • Accuracy – free from errors
    • Precision – necessary details
    • Relevance – relating to subject
    • Depth - complexities
    • Breadth – multiple viewpoints
    • Logic – no contradiction
    • Significance – important
    • Fairness – not one-sided

Elements of thought

    • Purpose – goal, motives, intentions
    • Question – problem, issue
    • Information – facts, evidence
    • Inference – interpretations, conclusions
    • Concepts – ideas, theories, laws, principles, hypothesis
    • Assumptions – beliefs
    • Implications – claims, truths. Consequences
    • Point of view – who’s point of view is it?

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How to Apply Critical Thinking to Writing

  • Examine your claim, hypothesis, evidence, conclusion – against Elements of CT
  • Ask yourself if your paper is strong enough to the questions from Elements of CT – clear, accurate, relevant, non-biased, and so on
  • Write more initially, and reduce according to your priorities
  • Look at a broader picture – don’t focus on the serial order – you’ll be exhausted at Introduction
  • Think 24/7 – best idea pops up when you’re…
  • Make your paper your own – especially around the examples and areas of improvement
  • Don’t be shy! Appreciate other people’s constructive critical opinions. They are not judging you. We all bring the better world by critically examining things.
  • Remember – the earth is round! Or is it?

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Elements of Critical Thinking

Q&A

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Exercise: Debate over something small or big with your friends – that’s what college is for!