“What’s He Building In There? -Tom Waits

Bloom’s Taxonomy

What is Critical Thinking? First, read the textbook excerpt (pages 3-4) to yourself, highlighting anything that you think helps define what critical thinking is. Stop to clarify points if you are not sure about what you’ve read. Discuss with classmate, look in a dictionary, or consult with the teacher. In groups of 2-3, work to create a ONE sentence definition that captures the meaning of critical thinking. Be prepared to share.

Why Bother Refining Our Thinking Skills? You have 10 minutes to brainstorm as many reasons as you can think of for honing your critical thinking skills? What benefits could it have for you?

Evaluate Yourself Fill in the self assessment (page 15) to gauge where your critical thinking skills fall. What areas are you strong in? Where could you stand to improve?

The Task: In groups of three or four read the excerpt from Jonathon Swift’s A Modest Proposal. Fill in the Reaction Card after you’re sure you’ve understood what you’ve read.

Some Background Written by Jonathon Swift. Jonathon Swift was born in Ireland of English parents. He lived in England for many years in the first half of his life, then settled in Ireland for good. He is one of the most brilliant satirists to have written in the English language. He was a generous man – he gave much of his income to the poor – and he risked imprisonment for some of his political writings. He is best remembered for Gulliver’s Travels (1726). In this satire in the form of a travel book, Swift attacks many aspects of life in England, including the political system, religious conflicts and business life – indeed, he satirizes human weakness generally. This is an extract from Jonathan Swift’s pamphlet, published in 1729, suggesting a “remedy” for poverty in Ireland – poverty which Swift believed was largely the result of the English government’s policies. The pamphlet was written at a time when the government in London was destroying important areas of the Irish economy, such as agriculture and the wool industry. For Irish Catholics – the majority of the population – things were even worse, as they were discriminated against simply for being Catholic.

Definition of Satire: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Definition of Irony: the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Revisit Your Reaction Has the background information added to your understanding or interpretation of the excerpt? Fill in the second part of the reaction card. Be prepared to discuss your reactions.

Barriers to Critical Thinking Read the textbook pages which outline some of the barriers to critical thinking. Complete the following: Create a study note which summarizes each barrier in one or two sentences Complete the self-assessment Choose one barrier, and complete the reflection regarding that barrier specifically