"Critical thinking skills and habits are life skills. Learning to use them on a consistent basis can help you become more actively involved and more effective in your studies. It may even make what you’re learning more stimulating and enjoyable. These skills are also transferable, that is, they can help you deal more thoughtfully and rationally with issues you encounter in your personal or professional life and even as a member of your community. Indeed, many people consider critical thinking to be the basis of a healthy democratic society."
"Critical thinking involves intentionally applying reasoning processes. You use these reasoning processes unconsciously on a daily basis when you compare things, analyze other people's perspectives, or arrive at conclusions inductively. Applying these processes on a conscious basis to your area of study is an effective way to develop your critical thinking skills and, in turn, deepen and broaden your knowledge base"
"The first step in any successful college writing venture is reading the assignment. While this sounds like a simple task, it can be a tough one. This handout will help you unravel your assignment directions and help you begin to craft an effective response. Much of the following advice will involve translating typical assignment terms and practices into meaningful clues to the type of writing your instructor expects. "