NOvember/December's instructional focus is Error Analysis.

ERROR ANALYSIS is the act of finding and describing errors in your own thinking or performance, and to find and describe errors in the thinking or performance of others. To utilize the Higher Order Thinking Skill of ERROR ANALYSIS, follow the sequence of thinking below:

1. Determine if the information is attempting to persuade, change behavior, or if the information is based on facts.
2. Identify unusual claims or reasoning.
3. Look for errors in the claims or steps of the process.
4. If errors are found, ask for clarification or more accurate information.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does something seem wrong?
2. Are there errors in thinking or in the process?
3. What effect do these errors have?
4. Can the errors be corrected?
5. Is there better information to help?

October's instructional focus is Comparing and Contrasting. 

"Compare-Contrast" is the PROCESS of identifying how things are alike and different.  Comparison refers to how things are alike; Contrast refers to how things are different.  Comparing and Contrasting requires individuals to be able to evaluate and synthesize information in order to determine how things are alike and different.

SEPTEMBER’s instructional focus is DEDUCTIVE REASONING.

 Deductive reasoning is defined as “supporting generalizations with specific details”; reasoning from the general to    the specific;  deductions are based in facts and rules.  An example of a deduction is a “Syllogism”:

All poodles are dogs (major premise).

All dogs are animals (minor premise).

Therefore, all poodles are animals (conclusion). 

It is the opposite of INDUCTIVE REASONING where you use specific details to make a generalization.