Critical Thinking Comment

Is it just me or does anyone else have a sore brain? I understand that many things should be questioned and verified - however, there are certain things that we accept as "constants" because they are the exact same everyday we encounter them. I have a psychology class and Speech 1A class at the same time I am taking this class and all three utilize critical thinking. I have such a headache after working on research for all three classes! Needless to say that I love my American Sign Language Class!
Ok, on to the matter at hand - if we studied a poem, that has 11 lines, for hours - how are we going to get through, let's say, Thoreau's "On Civil Government" by the end of the semester? I know it is important to analyze materials and determine what is more than likely accurate, and what is a fallacy. I also realize that by the end of this class I will be able to write a more convincing and supported paper regarding an idea or concept. I must say it is very interesting to see the different ways that people think, and the different ways people perceive the same message. I always thought that Thoreau was a naturalist, I never realized that he had something to say about the government. The writing was definitely an eye opener. I question how someone can actually determine what someone was thinking when they wrote a particular piece without actually talking to them. Seeing the different ways that each of us interpret a "message" reinforces that question even more. Mr. Crandall makes the question even stronger when he points out that there are many ways to define a particular item, such as a chair. When reading something - how do we know what the writer envisioned, unless they spell out every single little detail? I know I will get a lot out of this class (including some potential counseling sessions) and look forward to the rest of the semester.