Critical thinking
Name: Malek Muskan Naushadbhai
College: Maharanishree Nandkuverba Mahila Arts And Commerce College
Year: T. Y. B. A.
Sem:5
Subject :skill Enhancement Course (SEC)
Topic: critical thinking, creative thinking
Assignment:Home assignment, class assignment, essay writing
Submitted to : Insiya ma'am
Qualities of Well-Cultivated Critical Thinking
Introduction
Critical thinking means thinking carefully, clearly, and fairly before accepting or rejecting ideas. A well-cultivated critical thinker shows certain qualities.
1. Clarity – Being clear in thought and expression
Meaning: Understanding and explaining ideas in a way that is not confusing.
Example: If someone says, “This solution will work”, a critical thinker asks, “Can you explain how it works step by step?” instead of just agreeing.
2. Accuracy – Checking facts before believing them
Meaning: Making sure information is true and correct.
Example: If a friend says, “Drinking 10 cups of coffee a day is healthy”, you don’t just accept it—you check reliable health sources first.
3. Fair-mindedness – Avoiding bias and listening to all sides
Meaning: Not favoring your own opinion blindly, but respecting other viewpoints.
Example: In a class debate, instead of saying “My side is always right,” a critical thinker listens to the opposite argument to see if it has value.
4. Open-mindedness – Willing to change when new evidence appears
Meaning: Being ready to accept new ideas if they are reasonable.
Example: You may believe online learning is useless, but after experiencing a well-organized online course, you admit it can be effective.
5. Depth – Looking beyond the surface
Meaning: Not settling for shallow answers, but exploring deeper issues.
Example: If students score poorly, instead of only blaming them, a critical thinker also considers teacher methods, study materials, and learning environment.
6. Relevance – Focusing on what matters
Meaning: Paying attention only to information connected to the issue.
Example: If the question is “How to reduce exam stress?”, a relevant answer is “Practice time management and relaxation techniques,” not “Buy a new phone.”
7. Logical reasoning – Following sound arguments
Meaning: Thinking in a step-by-step, sensible way.
Example: If the premises are “All humans need water. I am a human,” then the logical conclusion is “I need water.”
8. Curiosity – Asking questions and seeking truth
Meaning: Wanting to know more instead of just accepting things as they are.
Example: If you hear, “This medicine cures headaches,” you ask, “How does it work? Has it been tested?”
9. Self-reflection – Examining your own thinking
Meaning: Checking if your beliefs are reasonable or based on assumptions.
Example: You may think “I am bad at math,” but on reflection, you realize you never practiced regularly, so the problem is effort, not ability.
10. Problem-solving ability – Applying thinking to real issues
Meaning: Using reasoning skills to find solutions.
Example: If there’s traffic on your usual route, instead of getting angry, you analyze alternate routes, departure times, or public transport options.
Conclusion
Critical thinking is more than just thinking hard; it is about thinking clearly, fairly, and wisely. A well-cultivated critical thinker shows qualities like clarity, accuracy, fairness, open-mindedness, depth, relevance, logic, curiosity, self-reflection, and problem-solving. These qualities help us avoid mistakes, make better decisions, and handle real-life challenges effectively. In short, critical thinking is a lifelong skill that leads to smarter choices and responsible actions
Class assignment:
Characteristics of critical thinking:
1. Clarity – Clear understanding and expression of ideas.
Example: If someone says “This movie is great,” a critical thinker asks, “What makes it great—story, acting, or visuals?”
2. Accuracy – Checking facts before believing.
Example: Before sharing a WhatsApp message about health, you confirm it on a trusted medical website.
3. Fair-mindedness – Judging without personal bias.
Example: A teacher gives marks only based on the quality of answers, not on how much they like the student.
4. Open-mindedness – Willing to accept new ideas.
Example: You believed online learning was useless, but after attending a good course, you admit it can work well.
5. Depth – Looking beyond the surface.
Example: If a company is losing money, instead of just blaming employees, you also look at market demand, pricing, and competition.
6. Relevance – Focusing only on what’s important.
Example: In a discussion about reducing exam stress, talking about study habits is relevant, but discussing favorite TV shows is not.
7. Logical reasoning – Following sensible steps in thinking.
Example: “All fruits have seeds. Mango is a fruit. So, mango has seeds.”
8. Curiosity – Asking questions to learn more.
Example: When told “This app saves battery,” you ask, “How does it work? Who tested it?”
9. Self-reflection – Checking your own thinking.
Example: You think “I can’t do math,” but later realize you never practiced enough, so it’s effort, not ability.
Source:
https://share.google/images/uUb8DqwZ8LH66PaCs
10. Problem-solving – Using thinking to find solutions.
Example: If your bike breaks on the way, instead of panicking, you think of walking, taking a bus, or calling for help
ConclusionCritical thinking is not just about finding faults; it is about thinking carefully and wisely. Its characteristics—like clarity, accuracy, fairness, open-mindedness, curiosity, and problem-solving—help us avoid mistakes and make better decisions. A person who develops these qualities becomes more reasonable, balanced, and effective in dealing with studies, work, and everyday life.
Essay writing:
Characteristics of a Creative Individual
1. Imagination – Ability to see things beyond the ordinary
Meaning: Creative people think of new ideas that others may not notice.
Example: J.K. Rowling imagined the magical world of Harry Potter when most people would only see an ordinary train ride.
2. Curiosity – Desire to ask questions and explore
Meaning: They constantly wonder “Why?” or “What if?” and seek to learn more.
Example: A child asks, “Why is the sky blue?” and keeps searching for answers, leading them toward science and discovery.
3. Originality – Ability to create something new and unique
Meaning: They don’t just copy; they invent or add their own twist.
Example: Picasso created paintings in a completely new style (Cubism), unlike anything before.
Source:
https://share.google/images/ApxCTtWGviniJHuEf
4. Risk-taking – Willingness to try new things, even if they fail
Meaning: Creative people experiment without fearing mistakes.
Example: Thomas Edison made thousands of attempts before inventing the electric bulb—he treated each failure as a step forward
5. Persistence – Not giving up easily
Meaning: They keep working on an idea until it succeeds.
Example: Walt Disney was rejected many times, but he kept pursuing his vision until Disneyland became a reality.
6. Flexibility – Ability to adapt and see problems from different angles
Meaning: They change their approach if one method doesn’t work.
Example: If a designer’s first product fails in the market, they adjust the design to fit customer needs instead of quitting.
7. Sensitivity to Problems – Ability to notice issues others overlook
Meaning: They see gaps, needs, or problems in society and try to solve them.
Example: The creator of the wheelchair-friendly ramp noticed how difficult it was for disabled people to move around and invented a solution.
8. Playfulness – A joyful and experimental approach
Meaning: They enjoy exploring ideas in fun, light-hearted ways, which leads to innovation.
Example: Google allows employees “play time” to work on personal projects—this gave birth to Gmail.
9. Independence – Confidence to think differently from the crowd
Meaning: They are not afraid to stand apart or challenge traditional ideas.
Example: Galileo defended his idea that the Earth moves around the sun, even when most people disagreed.
10. Vision – Ability to imagine future possibilities
Meaning: They can see how today’s ideas may shape tomorrow’s world.
Example: Steve Jobs imagined a phone that could also be a computer, music player, and camera—the iPhone.
Conclusion
A creative individual is someone who thinks differently, explores new ideas, and brings fresh solutions to problems. Their qualities—like imagination, curiosity, originality, persistence, and vision—help them turn ideas into reality. Such people not only express themselves in unique ways but also contribute to progress in society by inspiring change and innovation.
Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_skills
