Critical Thinking Habits

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Olga Dul Mr. Snider English 101-21 February 23, 2011 Critical Thinking Habits There are many critical thinking habits used to get a better understanding of The Yellow Wallpaper. Some critical thinking habits are used more frequently than other and are more helpful. The critical thinking habits most helpful to understand The Yellow Wallpaper are asking questions, examining evidence, and accepting uncertainties. Asking questions was a very useful critical thinking habit when trying to understand The Yellow Wallpaper. This critical thinking habit helps reveal what the author is trying to get across. For example, is the mansion mentioned in the story a summer home or an insane asylum? As the story begins, the house is described by the narrator as “the most beautiful place… makes me think of English places that you read about”. Later in the story it is described as hideous and in need of remodeling. The narrator mentions the fact that there are many rooms and that there are bars on the windows and the beds are nailed to the ground. It is never mentioned in the story that it is an insane asylum, but the way it is described makes it easy to be assumed as one. Another good question being asked in The Yellow Wallpaper is whether John is a physician, husband or both? At the beginning of the story it is mentioned that John is a physician. It states “John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious… I am glad my case is not serious”. Throughout the story she refers to him as dear. When it mentions “John laughs at me… but one expects that from a marriage,” that shows that John can also be the narrator’s husband. At the end of the story, when the narrator is has her mental breakdown, John ends up fainting after seeing how far gone the narrator has gone. This also makes it seem like John is the narrator’s husband because he is so
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