One of the five learning objectives for the school of IAS is critical and creative thinking, where students are expected to demonstrate this skill through their ability to analyze multiple perspectives and look at the bigger picture. As a Culture, Literature, and Arts major, I have had to use this skill multiple times throughout my time at the University of Washington. English is a subject that relies on the use of critical thinking as, unlike other subjects such as math or science, there isn’t a correct answer, nor are they consistent; instead, the answers are up to the writer, who is required to both create and defend their positions. For this reason, I want to teach high school English, as I believe this skill is an essential skill one needs as it pushes one to look at an issue through multiple perspectives before forming one's own opinion and using evidence to defend one opinion. Not many people use this skill today, often allowing others to dictate their thoughts rather than thinking for themselves.
I demonstrate this skill in almost all my writing, from my English papers like “The Importance of Connecting with a Story” to my research papers like “The Mexican American Experience: Healing Through Ethnic Studies and Bilingualism.” My research papers are the best examples of achieving this objective, as I often answered questions or highlighted issues through multiple disciplines. Of all my projects, the latter mentioned above best demonstrates my skill in this objective, as I saw this significant issue and then tried to explain why, and instead of sticking with the basic sociological approach, I branched out, allowing me the space and flexibility to talk about this complex issue.
As an aspiring teacher, I want to pass on these skills to my future students, making them think outside the box and showing them how to look at an issue from multiple perspectives. My “GWG Chicano Lesson Plan” from my portfolio best demonstrates how I plan to introduce these concepts to my students; for that plan, I bring in various outside sources that relate to the text in some way. Sources that bring in a historical perspective and a cultural perspective help set a standard for students to gain understanding. High school age is when children begin to develop into the adults they become, and by teaching them to think for themselves, do their research, and keep an open mind, I prepare them how to live in a world that wants to turn them into machines.