Directions for Discussion: A successful initial discussion post will, be about 250 words in length, make use of appropriate (no Wikipedia, Yahoo answers, encyclopedias, and the likes) sources, if required, and use proper grammar and style.
Discussion Question:
Define critical thinking. Use your textbook and any other academic sources to give at least three different definitions of critical thinking. How can we apply critical thinking skills at home and at work? Be sure to give specific examples.
Assignment Directions:
The ASSIGNMENT section in this course has two components: 1) Essays and 2) Journal Entries.
1) Essays are more formal and academic. A successful essay will:
– Correctly utilize appropriate sources, including the assigned reading and lecture.
– Be well organized and clearly written. You should make sure that you have a short introduction and conclusion, and that you clearly answer each part of the assigned question. You also should write in paragraphs. If you have questions about essay organization, please let me know. Please proof read your essays to ensure the use of proper spelling and grammar.
– Be of proper length. Each essay should be 200-300 words in length.
– Follow APA style.
2) Journal Entries are less formal, and require that you interact with and reflect on your own thinking process.
– Make sure that you address each part of the Journal assignment.
– Journal entries do not need to include research. Just reflect well on your own thinking process in a clear and grammatically correct writing style.
Assignment:
1.a) Before reading our reading assignment for this week, describe your thinking process as completely as you can. Focus on describing how you make decisions and how you think through new information you encounter.
b) After reading the assigned reading, describe what you have learned about your thinking.
2. What are the intellectual virtues that are necessary for the development of fair-minded critical thinking skills? How can each of these qualities be put into practice to improve our thinking?
3. What are some of the challenges of becoming a critical thinker in our contemporary world? In what ways do these challenges also make it important to develop critical thinking skills?
4. Journal: Paul and Elder recommend completing a journal and analyzing the answers. Therefore, answer the following questions each week and record how your thought process is developing:
When did I do my worst thinking today?
When do I do my best thinking?
What did I actually think about today?
Did I figure out anything?
Did I allow any negative thinking to frustrate me unnecessarily?
If I had to repeat today, what would I do differently? Why?
Did I do anything today to further my long-term goals?
If I were to spend every day this way for 10 years, at the end, would I have accomplished something worthy of that time?
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