Critical Thinking
for
Academic Success
&
Personal Well-Being
Professor Steve Piscitelli
FYE 2012
San Antonio, Texas
Thank you for taking time to participate in this session. If you
would like to exchange ideas after the session, feel free to
contact me.
____________________________
 Email: [email protected]
 Website: www.stevepiscitelli.com. On the bottom of my
homepage, you can link to me via:
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www.facebook.com/stevepiscitelli)
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(http://www.youtube.com/user/PiscitelliSings)
 Blog: http://stevepiscitelli.wordpress.com/
 Bibliography: www.stevepiscitelli.com.
o Click on the “Programs” tab.
 Videos:
o Go to www.stevepiscitelli.com. Click on the “Video”
tab.
o Go to my YouTube Channel
 Music: www.stevepiscitelli.com
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• CLARITY
• ACCURACY
• RELEVANCE
• LOGIC
Linda Elder and Richard Paul, “Universal intellectual standards,” The Critical Thinking Community. Three other
standards may be used as well: precision, breadth, and depth.
http://www.criticalthinking.org/page.cfm?PageID=527&CategoryID=68.
www.stevepiscitelli.com * [email protected] ©Steve Piscitelli 2012
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Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, Forms A/B (WGCTA). Copyright © 2007 NCS Pearson, Inc. Reproduced
with permission. All rights reserved. “Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal” is a trademark, in the US and/or
other countries, of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates(s). Found in Steve Piscitelli, Study Skills: Do I Really
Need This Stuff (3rd edition). Boston: Pearson Education, 2013.
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Piscitelli, Steve. Choices for College Success. Boston: Pearson Education, 2011
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How Can Video Enhance
Critical Thinking Skills?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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WHAT IS “The Social Media
Revolution” TEACHING US?
CRITICAL THINKING
STANDARD
APPLICATION TO
“Social Media”
Recognize
Assumptions
Evaluate
Information
Draw
Conclusions
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WHAT ARE “Tara & Bella”
TEACHING US?
CRITICAL THINKING
STANDARD
APPLICATION TO
“Tara & Bella”
Recognize
Assumptions
Evaluate
Information
Draw
Conclusions
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Image by: Tina Phillips
Using Text to Enhance
Critical Thinking Skills
The Case of Jayne
Examining Personal Resonsibility
Jayne is close to graduation and has begun applying for jobs. She has diligently
built a portfolio that shows examples of her talents and skills. The campus career
center has helped her develop a dynamic resume. She just completed a workshop
on interviewing strategies. “I am ready to tackle the job market,” she recently told
her advisor. While she has a solid academic record and an impressive portfolio,
she is concerned about something NOT reflected in her college transcript or
resume.
Last week one of her professors did a presentation on “digital tattoos.” Not
the kind that people put on their skins--but the kind that mark people on the
Internet. Jayne constantly uses social media sites. She “tweets” regularly;
updates her social networking site hourly; and she regularly posts photos and
videos of her outings with friends. She always said, “I only share this stuff with
people I am ‘friends’ with. So, there is no harm as they would never do anything to
hurt me. Anyway, I can always delete items I don’t like. And if someone ‘tags’ me
in a photo, I can always “untag” that photo. No big deal at all.”
Now she is reconsidering. Her professor shared news stories of how
employers now turn to Internet searches to find out about applicants. He even
showed the class how a few clicks on a popular search engine could turn up
photos and tweets--things Jayne thought were private on the Internet. While she
has not done anything illegal or unethical, she is now concerned that an employer
will view her photos and words out of context--and that could have a negative
impact on her job hunting and future career.
Critically Thinking About Jayne’s Situation. You are Jayne’s career counselor.
What strategies would you suggest for Jayne to follow?
rd
Piscitelli, Steve. Study Skills: Do I Really Need This Stuff, 3 edition. Boston: Pearson Education, 2013.
www.stevepiscitelli.com * [email protected] ©Steve Piscitelli 2012
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HOW CAN R.E.D. HELP JAYNE?
CRITICAL THINKING
STANDARD
APPLICATION TO
Jayne
Recognize
Assumptions
Evaluate
Information
Draw
Conclusions
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Am I doing this as fast as I think?
L
#
L
#
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Image by: Salvatore Vuono
How Can Music Enhance
Critical Thinking Skills?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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End-of-the-Semester Blues
Steve Piscitelli © 2010
Teacher don’t, please don’t fail me
Would it really be a crime
To give me that “C”?
I did most of the work
It was usually mine
But with the parties and dates, who had the time?
I need some good news
Yes, I do
I got the end of the semester blues
You don’t understand
Your class is a bore
But I woke up most times you,
You walked thru the door
There’s too much work
And can’t you see
I paid my tuition
Gimme my degree!
I know now if you snooze
You’re gonna lose
And sing the end of the semester blues
I know I failed tests
I know I skipped class
But I know with your help
I’m can still pass
I wanna start now
I’m anxious to learn
And we still got 2 days
Before the end of the term
I thought you liked me, you know I like you teach
There’s gotta be an arrangement we both can reach
Don’t mess up my plans, whattaya say
No I can’t do the work, but I plan to graduate in May
I need some good news
Yes, I do
Got the end of the semester blues
But I know I won’t lose
If you chose
To end my end of the semester blues
My end of the semester blues
My end my end of the semester blues
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USING R.E.D.
TO ANALYZE E.O.S.B.?
CRITICAL THINKING
STEP
APPLICATION TO E.O.S.B.
Recognize
Assumptions
Evaluate
Information
Draw
Conclusions
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A FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD FOR YOU!
Would you like to use “End-of-the-Semester Blues” in your
classroom?
As a token of my appreciation for your participation in today’s
session, please enjoy a free download of my song “End-of-theSemester Blues.”
Here is all you need to do:
 Go to www.stevepiscitelli.com
 Click on the “Music” tab
 Click on the “Music Downloads” link
 Enter the special password for this offer: Piscitelli-Texas.
(Please note that the password IS case sensitive.)
This is a time-limited offer. It WILL expire on Wednesday,
February 22 at 6:00 p.m.
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Academic
Success
Image by: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
C.A.R.L.
Image by: Tina Phillips /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Personal
Well-Being
Image by: Salvatore Vuono /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Steve Piscitelli (c) 2012. www.stevepiscitelli.com
www.stevepiscitelli.com * [email protected] ©Steve Piscitelli 2012
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Using Music to Enhance Critical Thinking!
Extra credit: Lyrics submission.
From time to time, this class will use music to emphasize a point, raise an issue, or
reinforce a concept. Each song has a connection to the topics of the course; there
is a point for each song. Throughout the term, you will have the opportunity to
submit your favorite songs for possible use during the class. You can earn up to
three points for each submission (maximum of one submission per chapter).
Submissions are due by the 10th week of the semester. Here are the guidelines:
 The song must directly relate to one of the topics in your class textbook.
Use the table of contents to become acquainted with the material you will
cover this term.
 You will submit (by email) the typed title, recording group/songwriter, full
lyrics, and a one or two sentence explanation as to how the song relates
to a topic of the course. No obscene or inappropriate lyrics will be
accepted. Your instructor will need to hear a CD or view a video of the song.
Have fun with this one!
[From Steve Piscitelli’s class syllabus for SLS 1103. January 2011.]
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NOTES
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