Thinking out of the Box

Wade (1995) identifies 8 characteristics of

critical thinking. Critical thinking involves:

asking questions,

defining a problem,

examining evidence,

analyzing assumptions and biases,

avoiding emotional reasoning,

avoiding oversimplification,

considering other interpretations, and

tolerating ambiguity.

To think creatively, we need to step outside the framework of

what we see or hear. We have to observe, ask questions

and analyze so that we can open up new thoughts and

ideas on old matters or commonly-accepted arguments.

Some fool once said, “The earth is round!” People shot down

that conclusion without even looking at the supporting

premises. “Of course it isn’t,” they shouted back. “That

makes no sense!” Others tried to refute the claims. “The

Earth can’t be round,” they put forth. “The ground is flat.

See?”

But the believer pointed out that there was a slight curve to the

horizon. The world wasn’t flat. He set aside his biases and

opened his mind to analyzing what he’d been told all his life.

Why should he believe it? What made it true? What made it false?

He asked questions and demanded proof. He examined the

arguments of authorities who made sweeping statements and

claims that didn’t hold water. This round-world believer didn’t

just refute what others said. He brought up premises to support

his own ideas.

He was thinking creatively, and then he took world-changing

action after critically evaluating his innovative idea.

Critical thinking and creative thinking go

hand in hand. Creative thinking means

generating ideas and processes; critical

thinking evaluates those thoughts, allowing

for rational decision.

So how do you think critically to think more

creatively? Here are a few quick tips:

Pay attention to words like ‘may’, ‘can’, and

‘will’. There’s a huge difference between

something that will [insert marvelous benefit

here] and something that might do the same.

Never accept anything at face value.

If a piece of content quotes an expert to help

support the argument or conclusion, ask

questions. What qualifies the individual to

give advice? What credentials does the

person have to make claims? Why is he or she

an authority on the subject?

Over-generalization usually discredits an

argument’s validity from the get-go.

Knock down sentences that use words like ‘all’

and ‘everyone’. Not all people do, and not

everyone knows.

More careful wording such as ‘most’ and

‘some’ pass muster more easily.

Whenever we attempt to do something and

fail, we end up doing something else. As

simplistic as this statement may seem, it is

the first principle of creative accident. We

may ask ourselves why we have failed to do

what we intended, and this is the

reasonable, expected thing to do.

But the creative accident provokes a different

question: What have we done? Answering

that question in a novel, unexpected way is

the essential creative act. It is not luck, but

rather creative insight of the highest order.

Even when people set out to act purposefully

and rationally to do something, they wind up

doing things they did not intend.

John Wesley Hyatt, an Albany printer and mechanic,

worked long and hard trying to find a substitute for

billiard-ball ivory, then coming into short supply. He

invented, instead, celluloid— the first commercially

successful plastic.

B.F. Skinner advised people that when you are

working on something and find something interesting,

drop everything else and study it. In fact, he

emphasized this as a first principle of scientific

methodology.

In principle, the unexpected event that gives rise to a

creative invention is not all that different from the

unexpected automobile breakdown that forces us to spend

a night in a new and interesting town, the book sent to us

in error that excites our imagination, or the closed

restaurant that forces us to explore a different cuisine.

But when looking for ideas or creative solutions, many of us

ignore the unexpected and, consequently, lose the

opportunity to turn chance into a creative opportunity.

By limiting your creativity, it needs to stretch

beyond its comfort zone to find a solution. It

goes through a warm-up process while your

brain neurons start firing. Then you’ll get the

burst of an idea that suddenly sparks a fire.

For example, on the next slide is a mental

challenge to break the creativity barrier:

Choose three random words. It doesn’t matter what they are.

They could be sheep, lilac and dragon, for example.

Write a three-paragraph blog post on copywriting, with each of

your chosen words the focus of one paragraph.

Devote all your resources. Unleash your creativity inside the

restrictions to wander loose. Find ways to relate the words to the

subject. Use metaphors. Use examples. Use history. Tell a story.

Impossible? Not at all.

Demanding? Sure.

Worth it? Oh yeah.

By limiting your creativity, it needs to stretch beyond

its comfort zone to find a solution. It goes through a

warm-up process while your brain neurons start

firing. Then you’ll get the burst of an idea that

suddenly sparks a fire.

You’ll write. You’ll feel the rush.

And then you’ll enjoy the satisfying cool-down as you

polish off you’re your post – lilacs, dragons and all.

You’d be amazed at what your creativity can come up

with. Are you up for the challenge?

Remember, when you are completing an assignment,

use your creative and critical thinking skills.

Think differently about what you’re asked to write.

Don’t just write the same old tired ideas. See

something in a new way!

Analyze, problem-solve!

When you’re writing about common concepts that

anyone can find in a textbook or a resource, you

aren’t being original.

Use what you know and apply it in a whole new

way.

You’ll be surprised at how exciting it is to come

up with something new and fresh-- something

that only you could have thought of.

Go get ‘em!

http://www.copyblogger.com/fresh-content/

http://www.copyblogger.com/creative-

accident/