Advanced Research The Trivium and Quadrivium The Liberal

Advanced Research The Trivium and Quadrivium

The Liberal Arts • Core curriculum • “Liber” = free person, not a slave • From Plato, Socrates, and Pythagoras • The Trivium and the Quadrivium

The Trivium • Grammar (learning information) • Logic (evaluating information) • Rhetoric (expressing your conclusions) • (constitute basic learning skills)

The Quadrivium • • Arithmetic Geometry Music Astronomy • (the arts and sciences) • Philosophy is the synthesis of all

Grammar • First stage of research and learning. • Must come before evaluation or opinions. • You must first read and learn the information. • Must be open-minded; avoid prejudice and mental filtering. • In research, narrow the subject so that you can read everything available about it.

Logic • Evaluate the value and meaning of what you have read. • Use critical thinking skills. • Identify fallacies in thinking. • Make connections between cause and effect. • Identify bogus information

Rhetoric • Analyze and synthesize all information read; make connections. • Write a rough draft. • Fully document; develop a Works Cited page. • Re-write several times, polishing your ideas and your paper. • Have a friend read your paper; edit.

Reading Principles • Read through the material. • Note difficult passages. • Read the publication information and the table of contents • Do not read the preface unless the author wrote it (avoid preconceptions) • Summarize each chapter or substantial section in one sentence.

Reading Cont’d • Note questions, reflections, connections as you read. • Underline or note important passages. • When finished, go back over notes and summarize what the author has done. • Question the validity and reliability of the material. • What questions should you ask?

Reading Research Articles • Typical pattern – Introduction – Methodology – Data collected – Statistical analysis – Conclusion

Research Articles cont’d • Questions to ask – Does the question make sense? – Is the methodology valid? – Is the data representative? – Is the sample big enough? – Was the correct analysis method applied? – Does the conclusion make sense? – Does the conclusion follow from the data? – Beware of averages.

Critical Thinking • • Keep an open mind. Insist on reasons being given. Demand sources. Compare different sources. Watch for errors in thinking. Watch for historical mistakes. Be suspicious.

Strategies for CT • • Know yourself; be honest and open to new ideas. Be observant like Sherlock Holmes. Clarify issues. State the issue in a clear, precise question Conduct an inquiry into facts and opinions. Interpret the evidence carefully. For details see http: //lonestar. texas. net/~colby/Phil 1301/ctstrate gies. htm

Synthesis • • • Involves combining, not taking apart Combining alternatives – win/win The Quaker approach – new alternatives Mind mapping Mind shift – metanoia – Once you have reached metanoia you actually have something to write about. For more on autodidactism, see http: //lonestar. texas. net/~colby/$trivium/autodidact. ht m and http: //lonestar. texas. net/~colby/$trivium/trivium. htm