CHAPTER 2
HOW TO THINK
Studying is a very essential characteristic of obtaining excellent grades. Even with proper study techniques, one must develop a thinking mind. When a question is asked on an examination, you must put your self into your instructor’s mind to understand his way of thinking and how you should respond with the correct answer.
Every student should take a course in logic for it helps one to understand logical and illogical reasoning, deductive and inductive thought.
The area we will be concerned with is deductive reasoning, especially when faced with multiple-choice questions on an examination. Some multiple choice questions might be answered by development so that by answering one (1) question correctly in a series of questions, you can extrapolate from the known answer to get the unknown answers correctly for those you are not familiar with.
On any test where your instructor allows you to write on, take advantage of this. For example, on multiple choice questions, look at the questions carefully to see if any sequential logical deductions can be made.
Before circling the correct answer, read each one carefully and place an (F) or (T) near each question in pencil so that it can easily be erased when you determine the correct answer. Let us do a practice exercise.
The question is as follows. Circle the correct answer(s).
IN GEOGRAPHY, ABSOLUTE LOCATION REFERS TO POSITION IN TERMS OF:
A. A grid system
B. Relationship between (2) places
C. Distribution of surface features
D. Major transportation lines
By a process of deductive reasoning, we will look for the key elements in the Premise, which is in the question. Your Conclusion will be the one best suited from the Inference in the Premise. In the above question, we must find the Key Word. Is it location, position, or absolute? If your choice was absolute, then you are absolutely correct for the whole question is based upon the word Absolute. Now we must look
within the four (4) choices to see what is relative to absolute. Let us analyze which is the correct answer out of the four choices.
Let us start with choice C, Distribution of surface features. The term (distribution) is relative and not absolute. This eliminates choice C. You will put (F) in pencil next to choice C because it is not the correct answer.
Our next choice will be choice D, Major transportation lines. This is incoherent and not specific suggesting that it is not absolute. You will put (F) in pencil next to choice D because it is not the correct answer.
Choice B says a relationship between two (2) places. Relationship can mean anything with reference to something and is not absolute. You will place (F) in pencil next to choice B because the answer is incorrect.
This leaves choice A. Before we choose the last choice, check the previous ones to make sure your choices are as intended. By choosing choice B, we will circle or place and X in the box and erase the pencil marks next to the previous selections. You might wonder why the choice is a grid system. A grid system is based upon mathematical computations so that each grid is directly proportional to each other. This in essence makes them absolute and not relative. This is how we use deductive analytical reasoning on multiple choices and true and false questions when a specific answer is asked for.
Remember to erase the (F) placed on your paper and leave only your correct choice answered.
On true and false questions, using a pencil, adjacent to the choices, we put (F) until you have deduced the correct answer. Then erase the penciled (F’s) and circle the correct answer with (T) or (F).
There are certain terms you must familiarize yourself with during your assessment of a question. Certain terms might be, always, never, only, only if, irrespective, regardless and must. This is not an all-inclusive list, but some of the more commonly used. Watch the wording of the question carefully and usually when these words are inserted the answer generally is false. For example: A question might read as this—The Federal Court System specifically handles federal taxes, bankruptcy, copyrights and patents, and diversity of citizenship cases IRRESPECTIVE of monetary damage amounts.
The answer to this question would generally be true , but the inclusion of the word irrespective makes this statement false. You must watch these catchy phrases. They are deliberately included to test your knowledge to see if you know the correct answer and reduce the chances of guessing the correct one.
Thinking is a process that requires intense effort. You might have taken tests and after it had been graded and returned, you look at the ones wrong and say that you knew the answer and still got it wrong.
Why did you get it wrong? It might not be so obvious but it can be traced to the fact that you did not ponder over your choices by thinking carefully and analyzing it so as to determine the proper choice. You read the first few words without finishing the question and replied with an answer. You didn’t even look at the other questions before you selected your first choice. You must take your time when you are taking a test rather than running through it. Many times you will notice students are finishing their test papers early and leaving and you might be only half way through. This may cause you to feel uncomfortable and you start reasoning that if the test was that easy why are you sitting here when most of the class has left. You begin to lose focus and tend to make errors trying to finish because you do not want to look dumb. DO NOT LET THIS IRRITATE YOU. Take your time and answer each question deliberately and accurately being fully conscious of the time remaining. Only the instructor and you might be left but don’t panic. Utilize the full clock if necessary. It is not about looking dumb; it is about doing your finest work and getting that “A”.
We will explore more about “How to excel on an exam” later in this manual with measures on how to think. On any course of study, you must master the concept of how to think in order to avoid the pitfalls that comes with not being familiar with some material.
You must be aware that when outside forces fluster and cluster your thinking, then you put yourself in jeopardy of assessing the answer by reasoning on the wrong content of the question.
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