Page 38 - TPGFBAO First Draft (5th Ed)

ESSAY #10:

HOW TO IMPROVE

REASONING ABILITY?

Reasoning ability means using reason or logic in thinking out a problem

in accordance with the principles of logic or reason. Reasoning ability also

implies using rational thinking and not getting affected by emotions. Ratio-

nal thinking would imply having a scientific temper of inquiry and reliance

on empirical evidence rather than blind faith in accepted social and religious

norms.

Popular belief is that reasoning ability is largely genetically determined. This

is not true. Genetics determine reasoning ability to some extent. Reason-

ing ability, like practically all human endowments, can be improved. In this

chapter we will discuss how to improve reasoning ability?

Understanding the Reasoning Process

Unless we know how someone arrived at a conclusion, we can critique only

the answer or conclusion. If we break the process of thinking into individual

steps, we are better able to critique both our own thinking process and that

of others. Math teachers often advise their students to show their work. If all

that counts is the answer, the work (or process) is irrelevant. Showing the

work allows teachers (and students) to know just where the students may

have gone wrong. Did they totally miss a concept or did they make a simple

transposition error? This helps in future guidance and improving reasoning

ability.

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