Building Intellectual Character

Are you a fair-minded thinker? For this assignment, you will demonstrate your ability to apply effective thinking practices in your life. The following image from The Aspiring Thinker’s Guide to Critical Thinking displays the eight intellectual traits necessary for developing intellectual character. View this video and PowerPoint presentation to learn more about these intellectual traits before completing the assignment outlined below:

Think about the courses you are taking or have taken. Identify an assignment or life experience that best demonstrates your ability to use one or more of these eight intellectual character traits.

Examples:

· A student in a Sociology class could discuss a debate or class project that required the student to use the trait of fair-mindedness.

· An English student could discuss a difficult writing assignment that required the student to use intellectual perseverance.

· A student, who does not have a class assignment/experience to draw upon, could discuss a life experience like a disagreement with a friend or family member that required him to use intellectual humility.

Respond to the following questions (200-300 words):

1. What assignment did you choose and for which class did you complete it? Briefly summarize the instructions for the assignment so that the reader can understand the scope of the work involved.

2. Which of the intellectual character traits did you select to discuss?

3. Why did you select this assignment/experience to include?

4. How does this assignment reflect your ability to understand and demonstrate intellectual character?

5. What does this assignment/experience demonstrate that you are able to think, do, or show? Be specific.