Summary and response essay structure

Multiple Intelligence

Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Historically, intelligence has been discussed in highly monolithic and impersonal terms. Especially in the educational context, it has been traditional to rate individual intelligences according to a single uniform mode of reasoning. However, Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences serves as a counterpoint to this approach. In his groundbreaking discussion on the notion of intelligence, Gardner argues that we should be judged according to set of differing and overlapping intelligences and that only through this nuanced way of understanding individuals can we hope to cultivate the best educational, intellectual and personal growth in said individuals. I would describe myself as a perfect example of the need for such nuance. Indeed, I can see myself as very clearly falling on the higher end of the Linguistic, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Intelligences described by Gardner. In my particular propensity toward skills in these areas and my lesser aptitude in other dimensions of Intelligence identified by Gardner, I am a clear demonstration of the value in giving nuance to ways of evaluating intelligence.

Quite to this point, I have always had strong linguistic skills. These have contributed to my abilities in reading comprehension and in composition alike. And through educational pursuits that have allowed me to appeal to these strengths, I have experienced a rapid and dramatic improvement in literacy capabilities. Moreover, I have found that even in areas where I may not be as fundamentally strong such as logical-mathematical pursuits or the spatial pursuits required to succeed in certain vocational pursuits such as carpentry, I do find that through the use of linguistic strategies I can improve my performance in these areas. By reading written instructions or explanations for such disciplines, I am able to employ my linguistic skills as compensation for shortcomings in other necessary intelligences.

The same is true of my interpersonal intelligence, which serves me quite well in my daily pursuits, whether educational, personal or professional. There are few intelligences that will serve one more consistently in life than the ability to understand and account for the perceptions, feelings and needs of others. Interpersonal intelligence is a dimension that is often unmeasured in the context of education, however, I have personally found that this intelligence has been instrumental in the development of my negotiating skills, my ability to meet the expectations of others and my ability to navigate interactions with charm and charisma.

This intelligence interacts inextricably with intrapersonal intelligence. Knowing one's self is essential to doing well by others. Indeed, with a clear, humble and ever-probing understanding of myself and my own needs, I have found it far easier to interact with confidence and to present myself to others as I would like to be seen. In this regard, I have even come to view self-knowledge within the context of intelligence as analogous to identifying a thesis in compositional writing. Without this, it would be impossible to outline an argument, state one's supports or persuade readers of a certain intent. Lacking self-knowledge, one would prove to be equally without a compass in navigating the challenges of reading comprehension or comprehension of the needs of others.