Java Resource Link

http://www.download.com/Java-2-Platform-Standard-Edition-J2SE-Runtime-Environment-JRE-5-0/3000-2417_4-10495818.html?tag=lst-0-1

Inference discussion items

Humans automatically "fill-in the blanks" whenever we hear a story, and don't usually try to separate what we know "for sure" from what we infer "for sure". Once a person makes an inference, s/he is reluctant to accept that it might not be true.
Uncritically accepting an inference makes it easier to accept related inferences as true.
Uncritically accepting an inference makes it likely a person will reject conflicting inferences.
Arguments, even wars, can result from a failure to examine and verify inferences.
Any given inference can prove to be true.
Any given inference can prove to be false.
Once you begin thinking about an observation, many possible inferences from it come to mind.
Contradictory inferences can be drawn from the same observation.

Uncritical Inference Test: Billy and Tom

The Story
Billy and Tom were lifelong friends. Everything they did was with the other in mind. They had even considered going into the ministry together, but had decided against it at the last minute.
Both were happy with the way things had worked out for them in the army. They had joined on the "buddy system" to insure that they could stay together, and that their friendship would continue. Currently, they were stationed at Camp Bingo, a minor supply base in a war zone, miles away from enemy action.
Things couldn't have been more perfect for the two of them.
One day while the two were on a routine patrol just outside the camp, an enemy soldier suddenly appeared in the bushes and opened fire. At least one of the bullets hit Billy.
Seeing Billy fall, Tom turned just in time to witness the sniper run off. Tom raised his rifle and took aim. He pulled the trigger, but there was no shot. His rifle had jammed. In an instant, he was in pursuit.
Moments later, he spotted the sniper who lay writhing in pain on the ground. The sniper had fallen after breaking a leg when he tripped on a prominent tree root overgrown with weeds. As Tom approached, the sniper began to yell, "I surrender! I surrender!"
Tom glanced over his shoulder in Billy's direction, then approached the sniper.
The Statements
____ 1. Billy and Tom had been friends all of their lives.
____ 2. Both had doubts about their religious beliefs.
____ 3. The sniper spoke English well.
____ 4. Tom and Billy graduated high school together.
____ 5. When the sniper opened fire, Billy and Tom were side by side.
____ 6. Tom walked with a limp.
____ 7. In his anger over Billy's death, Tom wanted to kill the sniper with his bare hands.
____ 8. Tom and Billy were unhappy in the Army.
____ 9. Had the sniper not lost his rifle when he tripped, he would not have wanted to surrender.
____ 10. Tom cleaned his rifle regularly.
____ 11. Camp Bingo was not in the United States.
____ 12. Camp Bingo was a dangerous place.
____ 13. The sniper was working alone.
____ 14. Another member of Billy and Tom's patrol stopped the sniper by shooting him as he was running off.
____ 15. Tom approached the sniper as he lay writhing in pain on the ground.

Critical Thinking Links from Text

Text Online site:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072473762/information_center_view0/

Learning Style Inventories http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/ilsweb.html Fill out this questionnaire, submit responses and receive feedback. This site can be used to help confirm your learning style preference. http://www.chelt.ac.uk/gdn/discuss/kolb1.htm Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (for faculty) http://www.ntlf.com/html/pi/9511/article1.htm McKeachie's article on learning styles (for faculty) http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Papers/LS-Prism.htm Matters of Learning Styles (for Faculty) http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Papers/Secondtier.html Learning Styles in Science http://cyg.net/~jblackmo/diglib/styl-a.html Learning Styles and Pedagogy (for faculty) Concentration http://www.loyola.edu/studycenter/studyskills.html Provides general study skills information, including concentration and learning styles. http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/humanities/english/memcon.htm Provides quick information on memory and concentration strategies. Good for review purposes. http://www.k-state.edu/counseling/concentr.html Offers explanation and practice of concentration strategies including the spider technique. http://adulted.about.com/library/weekly/aa091601a.htm Study Time! How to Make the Most of It http://www.ipfw.edu/casa/txtr.html Pre-Reading Tips Test Taking Strategies www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/testskil.html Test Taking Skills -- Essay Questions http://www.glencoe.com/ps/peak/studyskills/pitfalls/pitfalls.html Study and Test Taking Skills for Peak Performance http://www.cs.gasou.edu/student/test10.html The Ten Commandments for Taking a Test http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/tests.htm The Basics of Effective Test Taking Vocabulary Enhancement http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/vocabulary.htm Building a Better Vocabulary http://www.smsu.edu/studyskills/new/vocabulary.html Tips for a Greater Vocabulary Memory http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html Strategies for Improving Concentration and Memory http://www.mtsu.edu/~studskl/mem.html Memory Principles http://www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/remread.html Remembering What You Read Mnemonics http://www.wm.edu/OSA/dostud/moresski/memory.htm Improving Your Memory Skills Time Management Tips http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/time-manage.htm Managing Your Reading Time http://www.rio.maricopa.edu/distance_learning/tutorials/study/time.shtml http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/acad/strat/time_manage.html Time Management Tips http://www.usu.edu/arc/idea_sheets/time.htm Utah State Time Management System http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/patsm96.htm Self-Management http://www.mheso.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=688 Managing your Time Speed Reading http://www.brainquicken.com/px_project_article.asp Brain Quicken - Speed Reading Technique Will it work for you? http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/suggest.html Suggestions for Improving Reading Speed http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/handouts/512.html Brief Suggestions for Increasing Reading Speed http://www.readingsoft.com/quiz.html Speed Reading Quizzes Main Ideas http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/counsel.php?id=2140 Top Ten Tips for selecting Main Ideas http://www.ccis.edu/departments/cae/studyskills/mainidea.html Reading for the Main Ideas http://users.dhp.com/~laflemm/reso/mainIdea.htm Main Idea Exercises http://vclass.mtsac.edu:920/readroom/Mainidea.htm Main Idea Exercises http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/topic.html Finding Main Ideas in Paragraphs Finding Details http://vclass.mtsac.edu/amla-51/Supporting%20Details/details.htm Supporting Details Textbook Reading Systems http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/sq3r.html SQ3R -- A Reading System http://www.arc.sbc.edu/sq3r.html Reading Methods http://www.mindtools.com/sq3r.html Mind Tools -- Increasing Your Retention of Written Information Textbook Marking http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html Study Skills Self-Help -- Textbook Marking http://www.psywww.com/mtsite/mindmaps.html Improving Notetaking with Concept Maps (also good for Chapter 11) http://www.hlnd.wnyric.org/diffinstruction/cornell%20note%20taking.htm Cornell Notetaking Method Using Visuals http://www.mindtools.com/mindmaps.html Mind Tools http://www.brazosport.cc.tx.us/~lac/mindmap.htm Mind Mapping http://www.ourtimelines.com/ Create Your Own Family Time Line http://www.lionden.com/using_outlines.htm Using Outlines Arguments http://www.mccallie.org/wrt_ctr/What%20Should%20Students%20Know%20to%20Succeed%20in%20College.doc %20to%20Succeed%20in%20College.doc What Should Students Know to Succeed in College http://www.intrepidsoftware.com/fallacy/ Logical Fallacies http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/ Fallacies http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/main.html Mission Critical -- a full-scale tutorial for critical thinking Advanced Critical Reading http://www.le.ac.uk/castle/resources/mcqman/mcqappc.html Helpful review and practice of Bloom's Taxonomy. http://www.litstudies.com/BloomTaxonomy.htm More on Bloom's Taxonomy Evaluating Websites http://www.google.com/help/features.html Tips on Mastering a Google Search http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/index.htm Evaluating Sites http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill26.htm Critically Analyzing Information Sources

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Student Blogs

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Irene's CT Blog:
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Arleigh's Blog:
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TFY Text Link

Companion site for TFY 7th Edition
http://www.heinle.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=141301772X&discipline_number=300