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Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Through Reading Poessays

Critical Thinking Through Re-Writing Comics

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Getting your students to read and think through a poessay - a combination of the creative and the critical - will give them an insight into the working of the language and show them how to communicate more effectively.

Here, then, are six poessays by John Pereira which were published in the Seika Times. Students need to select the correct answer and explain why it is so. Let's begin!

For more on poessays: ポエッセイPOESSAYS

For more about Critical Thinking: もっとクリティカル思考 Critical Thinking Through Poesssays

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist thinks that ...

a) everybody should laugh and live merrily
b) we laugh at everybody except ourselves
c) we should not laugh at other people

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist wants to say that when the economy is ...

a) strong, Buddha looks fat
b) weak, he looks slim
c) bad, we lose our dignity

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist thinks that ...

a) good teachers always ask their students to bring sashimi to class
b) students should bring their homework to class on time
c) students should do their homework while they are fresh

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist is of the opinion that ...

a) Zen monks are practical people with a lot of common sense
b) Zen monks don't believe in God but are greedy
c) it is wrong for Zen monks to charge an entrance fee

If God lives in temples, then Zen monks couldn't ask us to pay an entrance fee - in front of God! But, since they know that God does not live in temples, they ask us. It also costs so much money to look after the temples that they have to charge us. And, they also have to live. Yau Murayama

Some old Zen temples are sightseeing places for a lot of Japanese and foreign tourists. These temples have to be well-kept and safe. Zen monks need money to maintain these temples and live too. They may not actually think that God does not live in temples, but originally Zen is like that! Shinya Yokomaku

Zen monks say that God does not live in temples. And, we do, too. We and Zen monks are no different. We work in offices and Zen monks work in temples. We expect to get paid, and so do they! Yuki Takenaka

God doesn't need money. But Zen monks do. Without money, they can't live or repair their temples. So they jokingly say God does not live in temples. If God exists, He is everywhere. In the temple and outside. So people needn't pay! But, if people want to visit the temple or garden, which are often very beautiful, they should pay an entrance fee. Etsuko Saito

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist thinks that the ...

a) Kosovo problem was much more important
b) media should pursue Clinton and Monica
c) masses should pursue Clinton and Monica

Critical Thinking Exercise
What's the key-point? And why?

The poessayist seems to think that ...

a) students should always wear clean shoes in class
b) good teachers wear shiny shoes when they teach
c) teachers sometimes say things which are not true