Research Ability: Research is primarily the ability to go out there and find information that can be used to produce other, more conclusive information. Being an English student and having taken a Research course at the University of Prince Edward Island (ENG-2040 Research Methods in English), I can say that I have an adept and profound understanding, as well as the ability to engage in research. However, beyond just the ability to engage in research, I believe I also have the underlying urge that motivates one to engage in research in the first place. Which is the need to prove a point.
Public Speaking (Oratory): The ability to engage an audience in the moment can be defined as public speaking. It is the ability to garner attention and keep it, and ultimately give something back to your listeners, for effectively placing their trust in you. I took a course of the same name at the university, and participated in classes, more than two hands full of them, that had one speaking publicly to a room full of students.
Communication: In line with the collaborative effort is the ability to communicate. Working on group projects, as well as engaging with faculty members and participating in intimate classes such as those of the Humanities, has fostered my ability to communicate intricately and effectively. Being a Literature student has also broadened my vocabulary, which in turn has given me not only the courage to use the diverse vocabulary but also the ability to communicate with precision
SKILLS CATALOGUE
Critical Questioning, Listening, and Feedback Skills: In line with critical thinking, is the ability to listen more critically, question more, and provide feedback that is critically thought out. It is a spontaneous ability, and one that evolves from spending hours listening to your fellow students who, in turn, had spent hours prepping their critically worked-on essays and speeches. Such skill is necessary in the classroom, where discussions are ongoing rapidly, and feedback is needed for participation marks.
Collaboration: Spending four years at the university has meant that I have, one way or the other, worked with course mates on projects and presentations. Throughout my experience, what has been most important in the process of collaboration is the leadership and stewardship found in ensuring that everyone is able and willing to make a contribution to the effort.
Critical Creativity: The most essential of all the critical skills is the ability to produce your own. Critical creativity is the product of multiple creative classes and classes that have urged one to think for oneself. It is the ability to create artistic works that go beyond mere engagement and entertainment. These are artistic works that are able to penetrate beyond the figment of imagination and leave a lasting effect on readers and society as a whole.