To sum up, here are the take-away points:
1. While reading, always try to ask, "how does this apply to my life?" Try to apply to your everyday experiences.
2. Learn by doing. Get out there and examine the world around you. The world is your sociological laboratory. Don't be afraid to fail.
3. Keep an open mind about society and the new views you'll encounter, both from the reading and instructor, and from your fellow classmates.
4. Approach from a critical perspective, try to absorb the different perspectives with an open mind. A critical perspective will help you in any field you choose.
Also, because we tend to throw the word "critical" around without really explaining what it means, I wanted to briefly define it for you.
To engage in critical thinking means to develop your ability to make judgements about ideas and information, in a deliberate and thorough manner, rather than jumping to conclusions or making judgements based on your immediate experience, or anecdotal evidence.
From Wikipedia (which I don't like to cite often, and don't want you to either, but it has its uses):
“a well cultivated critical thinker":
- raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
- gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively
- comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
- thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and
- communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems; without being unduly influenced by others thinking on the topic.
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