Incisive Thinking & Tough-mind nessIncisive Thinking & Tough-mind ness

I was intrigued by the story I read in Phli Detta Kappan I was intrigued by the story I read in Phli Detta Kappan Educational magazine of Nov.1994Educational magazine of Nov.1994 Describing a young man who wanted to drop out of Describing a young man who wanted to drop out of college to join the army because he believed he was a college to join the army because he believed he was a failure in examination presentationfailure in examination presentation

The writer’s adviceThe writer’s advice

Bruce’s advice to the young man that worked Bruce’s advice to the young man that worked effectively was “ when you are confronted effectively was “ when you are confronted with a seemingly insoluble problem;with a seemingly insoluble problem;

Write down everything you knowWrite down everything you know Then try to make connections relating to Then try to make connections relating to

everything you know with a seemingly everything you know with a seemingly insoluble problem. In other words Bruce insoluble problem. In other words Bruce stressed the significance of incisive thinkingstressed the significance of incisive thinking

Identified ProblemsIdentified Problems Men/women some times lose the love and trust in Men/women some times lose the love and trust in

GOD/ALLAH their sole providerGOD/ALLAH their sole provider We some times have low self esteem, self belief and We some times have low self esteem, self belief and

actualizationactualization There is little or inadequate application of logical thinking, There is little or inadequate application of logical thinking,

creativity and imaginationcreativity and imagination There is universal norm for lack of bearing to future direction There is universal norm for lack of bearing to future direction

or vision for the futureor vision for the future Negative attitudes and values feature in our every thoughtNegative attitudes and values feature in our every thought Most of us are soft minded thus fear change and challengeMost of us are soft minded thus fear change and challenge Henceforth we eventually lack the zeal to firmness of purpose Henceforth we eventually lack the zeal to firmness of purpose

and solidness of commitmentand solidness of commitment

Problems’ AttributesProblems’ Attributes

According to Martin.R.King (1964), rarely do According to Martin.R.King (1964), rarely do we find men-women/students who willingly we find men-women/students who willingly engage in hard, solid thinkingengage in hard, solid thinking

There is an almost universal quest for easy There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half baked solutions. Nothing answers and half baked solutions. Nothing pains man/woman more than having to think. pains man/woman more than having to think.

Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment

Clear vision for the futureClear vision for the future Self esteem and actualization (self believe and Self esteem and actualization (self believe and

determination)determination) Positive attitudes and valuesPositive attitudes and values Independent incisive thinking, creativity and imaginationIndependent incisive thinking, creativity and imagination Tough mind-nessTough mind-ness Approach to the question or challenge(identifying and Approach to the question or challenge(identifying and

understanding the important concepts, translating the understanding the important concepts, translating the question or challenge to the best language known to you, question or challenge to the best language known to you, providing alternatives, writing down what you know and providing alternatives, writing down what you know and then connect to the question/challenge) then connect to the question/challenge)

Tough mind-nessTough mind-ness

Tough mind-ness is one of the man-woman/students’ Tough mind-ness is one of the man-woman/students’ greatest needgreatest need

Tough mind man/woman or students is characterized by Tough mind man/woman or students is characterized by incisive thinking, realistic appraisal and decisive judgmentincisive thinking, realistic appraisal and decisive judgment

He or she is sharp and has penetrating brains to break He or she is sharp and has penetrating brains to break through challengesthrough challenges

Has a strong and outstanding quality that makes firmness Has a strong and outstanding quality that makes firmness of purpose and solidness of commitment to the visionof purpose and solidness of commitment to the vision

Tough minded man/woman or students always examine Tough minded man/woman or students always examine the questions/challenges before drawing or reaching the questions/challenges before drawing or reaching conclusions conclusions