Thinking and Writing Reflectively in the Humanities
Workshop Abstract
Marva A. Barnett, Director and Professor, Teaching Resource Center, University of Virginia
Faculty, Department of French

Reflective thinkers consciously react to texts and concepts by generating, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating ideas. Somehow we learned to think reflectively and expect that our students also will. In fact, some will and others won’t. Can we improve the situation?

By comparing perspectives from an ongoing study, participants learn something of what dozens of American, French, and English teachers and students value as effective thinking. We consider how such skills develop, focusing on writing as a means of clarifying thinking. Participants should gain a clearer idea about what they value as effective thinking, as well as some new techniques for teaching reflective thinking skills.