One idea might be to read Q&A columns in magazines like This Rock, The Catholic Answer, Our Sunday Visitor, and others (including the Ask an Apologist forum here at CAF). Read the question with the answer covered and try to answer it yourself. Think out (or, better yet, write out) your answer, including any substantiation from relevant documents of which you are aware. When you’re satisfied that your answer is as good as you can make it, look at the answer given by the author.
Now, just because your answer differs in some respects from the author’s answer doesn’t mean you’re necessarily wrong. But see where the answers differ – both in substance and in tone – and see if your answer can be improved. If you think the author may be wrong – either in substance or tone – try to figure out why and substantiate your reasons. Learn from the author’s answer whatever information you did not know before, and be prepared to think critically about the response given to see if it really is the right response. You should strive to be both teachable and constructively critical, so that your own mastery of apologetics may improve.
