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Journal Entries
Keep a written "journal" that shows your thoughts about the material in each of the chapters. The purpose of these journals is to let you "step back" and reflect on the material that you are learning (Meyers & Jones, 1993). For each chapter, set aside at least two different times when you will think about the material and write your thoughts. There is no single best way to think about these topics. The journal is a record of your discussions with yourself. For example, write down which concepts seem unclear, which seem especially useful, or how you used a particular concept when reading the newspaper or listening to a discussion on the bus or at your kitchen table. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters and from class to the "real-life" that happens out of class. Add any relevant thoughts that came from class, or another text, or from you. Active reflection on the material you are learning is an excellent habit that will promote critical thinking and long term retention of the material. You should find it interesting to review your journal sometime in the future. It can provide a snapshot of what and how you are thinking as you go through the text.
This is a very open exercise where you can be analytic, creative, or even critical. This is a place to reflect on your learning, judge how well it is going, and relate new material to other topics. Students often find that they gain insights into what they know by setting aside two separate times to write about each chapter. Sometimes these journals are wonderfully creative, and almost always they are useful tools for learning and thinking.
Click on the tabs below to view the content for each chapter.
Chapter 1 - Thinking: An Introduction
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the introductory chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and contemplate the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 2 - Thinking Starts Here: Memory as the Mediator of Cognitive Processes
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Memory: The Acquisition, Retention and Retrieval of Knowledge chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and contemplate the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 3 - The Relationship Between Thought And Language
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the The Relationship Between Thought And Language chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page, for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 4 - Reasoning: Drawing Deductively Valid Conclusions
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Deductive Reasoning chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page, for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 5 - Analyzing Arguments
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Analyzing Arguments chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page, for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 6 - Thinking as Hypothesis Testing
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Thinking as Hypothesis Testing chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 7 - Likelihood and Uncertainty: Understanding Probabilities
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Likelihood and Uncertainty: Understanding Probabilities chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 8 - Decision Making: It Is a Matter of Choice
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Decision Making chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 9 - Development of Problem Solving Skills
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Development of Problem Solving Skills chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry
Chapter 10 - Creative Thinking
Record your thoughts as you reflect on the material in the Creative Thinking chapter. The purpose of this journal is to let you step back and reflect on the material that you are learning. It is a place to record your discussions with yourself. Write about topics that are unclear or seem particularly useful to you. This is the time to make your own connections between and within chapters, from class, and the real-life that happens out of class. Use the next page for your second entry.
Date of first entry