CLASS 2: Criticial
Thinking I/ Intro to Analysis
Quiz DEMO: (Check Cashing… 114-117)
1) Why don’t payday lenders fall under the
Community Reinvestment Act?
2)Why are pay day loan places financed by large banks
(part of the banking ecosystem) in economically deprived areas instead of just
setting up branches? (Hint: it's not primarily fear of bank robbery)
I.Newclassroom.com and your
id#
(attendance sheet)
II.ANALYSIS
Iphone vs Android: Which would you buy? Why?
Now what if…***You are contracting
for your company: ten for executives + 300 for salespeople who’s
job function depends on phone access?***
*You
just exercised analysis (specifically compare and contrast);
*You
just used Critical Thinking
What is Analysis?
“An
analysis is an argument in which you study the parts of something to
understand how it works, what it means, or why it might be significant. The
writer of an analysis uses an analytical tool: a principle or definition
(THESIS) on the basis of which an object, an event, or a behavior can be
divided into parts and examined. (Writing
and Reading Across the Curriculum, 11th ed)
ANALYSIS is Looking for the WHY
and the PARTS
EXAMPLES
of ANALYSIS
Academic Writing
Experimental and lab reports analyze the meaning
or implications of the study results in the Discussion section.
Research papers analyze information
in sources or apply theories to material
being reported.
Process analyses break down the steps
or stages involved in completing a
process.
Literary analyses examine
characterization, plot, imagery, or other elements
in works of literature.
Essay exams demonstrate
understanding of course material by analyzing
data using course
concepts.
Workplace Writing
Grant proposals analyze the issues
you seek funding for in order to
address them.E FIND WRITTEN ANALYSES?
Business plans break down and
analyze capital outlays, expenditures,
products, materials, and the
like.
Medical charts record analytical
thinking and writing in relation to patient
symptoms and possible
options.
Legal briefs break down and
analyze facts of cases and elements of legal
precedents and apply legal
rulings and precedents to new situations.
Case studies describe and analyze
the particulars of a specific medical,
social service, advertising, or business case.
THE
CHALLENGE:
(1)A thesis that appears
convincing and legitimate and well matched to the object being studied; and
(2) A thesis well supported
by actions/arguments and data/details/research
(184)
MOST
COMMON FAILURE OF AN ANALYSIS:
Presenting a summary.
Easily defeated arguments or actions that have more problems
than benefit.
Crappy research
data/details/research.
What is Critical Thinking?:
“Critical
thinking involves a mode of thinking about any subject, content, or problem in which
the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully taking
charge of each step in the process of
thinking and the conclusions reached as a result of that thinking (Richard
Paul, Foundation for Critical Thinking,
The bottom line is that you
must be aware of your own thoughts and how they affect your conclusions. How
can you do things better? How can you be
more efficient? How can you be more
precise and rigorous against opposition?
III. Steps
for [Critical Thinking] Analysis (of
anything): PTARP
A)
Problem: WHAT is the REAL question/problem: What is the REAL question/the
goal/the purpose/what are you try to prove or solve?
Be aware of SUBTEXT…the
motives and ‘side effects’ of the problem…
eg Hiring Committee mistake…Where do you see yourself
in five years? Real purpose was… example
2: lawyer: ‘how often do you beat children’
B)
THESIS: Your Thesis/Solution: Propose, from your
POV, an answer: this is your THESIS. Has
to take a stance/action. Can’t be
general/free of risk. Be careful in wording.
You are responsible for proving, doing, everything you say you will.
C)
ACTIONS: Actions/Arguments
are each steps towards solution/thesis: Identify the most common issues/risks/beliefs
for your ‘thesis’/ solution as arguments/impressions/opinions/and troubleshoots. These are the STEPS towards your solution or
action plan. In an essay, each argument
is its own paragraph or chapter.
D)
RESEARCH: Research and Identify
the expert knowledge/the quotes for or against your arguments/steps towards
your solution. What is the evidence, the
data, common belief, the most common praise or complaints for each argument/step.
E)
PRESENTATION: Present with interesting, accurate details
and images appropriate for your audience.
Make sure it leverages arguments supported by research to support Thesis
and doesn’t go off topic/off question!
Why do you need to be able to do Analysis via PTARP
steps?
Real
life doesn’t have a quick direct question-and-answer! It has scenarios?
70-100
Solutions Architecture exam
WORKPLACE SCENARIO to ANALYZE: (w/PTARP)
Problem
(the way reality puts it): Manager: I am
sitting here in front of the computer and a fly got trapped here somehow. There’s this one fly driving me crazy. I keep trying to hit him with this newspaper,
but he gets away every time. No, I don’t
want your help. It’s personal now: I’m
going to get him, even if I get no work done.
I have an appointment coming up.
I’m going to send you if I don’t catch this fly. It’s just to deliver some bad news to the
VP, so I wasn’t looking forward to it anyway. I’ll email you the presentation in a few
minutes. You can go in my place. You can figure it out as you present. Meetings in twenty minutes.
So now… PTARP: this scenario….
Problem is:???? **How do I swat a fly.**
Thesis: I’m
going to teach you how to get that fly
Why isn’t it, “I’m going to get that fly for you”
??
Because… ***He’ll say ‘you did that so well,
you are definitely
going to do
the presentation instead of me’ ***
Action/Argument: Flies
are fast, the best way is to get him is just as he’s flying away, using this
one fact about flies.
Research: Quote: “Flies take off backward.”
Presentation: So…(based on research): ***“in
order to swat one, you must strike slightly behind him”***
*Issue of Subtext….apply criticial
thinking: what’s the real problem issue with guy/scenario above?
IV. DISCUSS, give out: HW 1…. Use PTARP to analyze
ENG101 HW 1: Analysis
Breakdown
business scenario à Commercial solution
SCHOOL PAPER/WRITING when there’s little
time to PTARP analyze…
Give out cracking
essay handout…
V SAMPLE Analysis FOR A TIMED
ESSAY (w/tips): Artificial Skin Essay:
fast PTARP steps including SOCRAPR (for open
ended essays)
S
O
C
R
A
P
R
Exampl of SOCRAPR: Comparison:
[The Wizard of Oz] was originally
written as a political allegory about grass-
roots protest. It may seem
harder to believe than Emerald City, but the Tin
Woodsman is the industrial worker, the Scarecrow [is] the struggling
farmer, and the Wizard is
the president, who is powerful only as long as he
succeeds in deceiving the people.
SUMMARY:
1) Analysis=PTARP every
time before you ANSWER or do anything of consequence
P(roblem): IDENTIFY What’s the
real Problem and subtext
[Do these pants make
me look fat? ]
T(hesis): Your solution or
take on a problem
A(ctions/Arguments): Each step or reason
your Thesis is true/best solution
R(esearch) : research also includes polling staff, coworkers,
etc
P(resentation): detailed with examples and troubleshooting
(counterarguments) + right for audience
2)Cracking a timed essay:
a)Circle the things the assignment wants you to
answer.
b)Write the ‘right’ question in your own words before you read the ‘data’
c)show your work:underline or write down the answers
to the ‘right’ question as SOON as you
find it
d)then worry about quick intro, quick sentences,
quick conclusion
3)Cracking the open writing essay: (not very specific, write about A, B, C etc)
a)If
you have some idea that you are sure of, begin writing list of arguments, then
underline or
list examples on your scrap
paper
b)If stuck, consider SOCRAPR for thesis and then
analyze
NO
QUIZ NEXT CLASS….