PHL 458 university of phoenix

Week One: Developing Awareness

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1  Describe the importance of critical and creative thinking in today’s society.

1.2  Explain conceptual foundations of thinking.

1.3  Determine methods to overcome hindrances to the critical thinking process.

1.4  Distinguish between perception and reality in messages.

6/27/13

Reading

Read Ch. 1 – 4 of The Art of Thinking.

6/27/13

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

6/27/13

2

Quiz

Quiz on Readings

6/27/13

2

Individual

Critical Thinking and Society Exercise

Write 150 to 200 words on each of the following topics, using APA format:

·       Describe a situation in which critical and creative thought could have been used for a better outcome. Describe why it is important to think critically and creatively in similar situations.

·       Define free will, truth, knowledge, and opinion. Explain how we use them to form thoughts.

·       Identify three hindrances to the critical thinking process. Determine methods for overcoming these hindrances. Identify a time in which you experienced a hindrance in critical thinking. Describe a method you could use to overcome the hindrances.

·       Identify a message in advertising. Describe how you perceive the message of the advertisement. Try to determine the reality of the advertisement. Distinguish between your perception and the reality of the message.

6/29/13

10

Week Two: The Creative Thinking Process

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1  Describe the stages in the creative process.

1.2  Apply techniques to develop curiosity.

1.3  Formulate original solutions to issues and problems.

7/11/13

Reading

Read Ch. 5 – 9 of The Art of Thinking.

7/11/13

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

7/11/13

2

Quiz

Quiz on Readings

7/11/13

2

Learning Team Instructions

Evaluating and Refining Resolutions Presentation (Preparation)

In preparation for the Learning Team assignment due in Week Three, perform the following activities:

Search for societal issues and pick one issue you would like to resolve.

Obtain faculty approval of your issue.

Express the issue you found in your search. Refine your expression, and include both the original and the refined version. Justify your revision. 

Investigate the issue by obtaining necessary information. List the questions you must answer to understand the issue. Identify a source of information to answer each question.

Conclude your investigation with a thorough explanation of the issue, including answers to each of the questions you identified.

Produce ideas toward solution of this issue. List all of your ideas—whether they are ridiculous or serious is not important.

Discuss the two ideas that you think are the most imaginative, original, and positive potential solutions to the issue.

Share your process and solutions to the class in an informal presentation.

7/11/13

5

Individual

Solve a Problem Paper

Write a 1,000 to 1,400 word paper in which you use the creative process to solve a problem with which you have experience. Include the following:

•      Describe each stage in the creative process using Ch. 5 of your text.

•      Search for a personal challenge. Explain how you used the techniques to develop curiosity in your search (see Ch. 6).

•      Express the problem created by this personal challenge (see Ch. 7). Refine your expression of the problem by considering multiple perspectives and deciding which expression is best. Include both the initial and the refined version. Justify your revision.

•      Investigate the problem by obtaining necessary information (see Ch. 8). List the questions must answer to understand the problem. Identify a source of information to answer each question.

•      Conclude your investigation with a thorough explanation of the problem, including answers to each of the questions you identified.  

•      Produce ideas toward solution of this problem (see Ch. 9). List all of your ideas—whether they are ridiculous or serious is not important.

•      Discuss the two ideas that you think are the most imaginative, original, and positive potential solutions to the problem.

•      Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

7/13/13

15

Week Three: The Critical Thinking Process

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1  Apply critical thinking to refine solutions to problems.

1.2  Apply critical thinking to refine resolutions to issues.

7/18/13

Reading

Read Ch. 10 – 13 of The Art of Thinking.

Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

7/18/13

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

7/18/13

2

Quiz

Quiz on Readings

7/18/13

2

Individual

Refining Solutions Paper

Most great solutions to problems begin with some initial flaws. Quality solutions arise by refining ideas. Refine your solution to the problem defined in your Week Two Individual Assignment by following the Three Steps in Refining process in Ch. 10 – 11.

Write a 700 to 1,000 word paper. Include the following:

•      Original issue

•      Initial solutions

•      Critical examination of best solution

•      Evaluation of the argument

•      Revised argument

•      Refined solution with implementation plan

•      Final solution

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

7/20/13

10

Learning Team

Evaluating andRefining Resolutions Presentation

Refine your team’s solution to the issue defined in the Week Two Learning Team Instructions by following Ch. 12 (overcoming errors in reasoning) and Ch. 13 (refining resolutions) of the text.

Create 8 to 12 Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® slides and deliver your resolution process in a 10- to 15-minute presentation.

Include one or two slides on each of the following:

•      Original issue

•      Initial resolutions

•      Critical examination of best resolution

•      Evaluation of the argument

•      Revised argument

•      Refined resolution with implementation plan

•      Final resolution

7/18/13

10

Week Four: Famous Thinkers

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1  Recognize the creative process among famous thinkers.

1.2  Critique famous ideas.

7/25/13

Reading

Read the Electronic Reserve Readings that pertain to your Famous Thinkers Paper.

7/25/13

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

7/25/13

2

Quiz

Quiz on Readings

7/25/13

2

Individual

Famous Thinkers Paper

Select and read the articles about two famous thinkers in the Week Four Electronic Reserve Readings. Find additional articles in the University Library or on the Internet.

Write a 1,000 to 1,400 word paper. Include the following:

•      Information about the thinkers’ contributions to society

•      Each thinkers’ personal/ social/ political environments and how you think these factors contributed to their creativity

•      The problems or issues that their ideas sought to solve

•      A description of the solutions, and how their ideas were implemented

•      The creative process of each thinker and a comparison of the two creative processes

•      A critique of their ideas and what could they have done differently

Include at least four references.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

7/27/13

15

Week Five: Communicating Ideas

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

1.1  Devise strategies for persuading others.

1.2  Communicate solutions to issues.

8/1/13

Reading

Read Ch. 14 -15 of The Art of Thinking.

8/1/13

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

8/1/13

2

Quiz

Quiz on Readings

8/1/13

2

Learning Team

Persuasive Communication Presentation

Use the issue addressed in your previous Learning Team Activity and Assignment.

Select the most appropriate format to persuade your intended audience of the resolution to your issue. Possible formats include a political campaign, a city council proposal, an editorial article, a commercial, a radio-style podcast, a political pamphlet, an interactive game, a website, and so forth.

Explain why you chose your format for your intended audience.

Create a presentation of your message as you would present it to your intended audience. Include the following in your presentation:

•      Consider possible reasons your audience might reject your ideas. Address anticipated audience objections to your proposal.

•      Devise strategies for persuading your audience to accept your proposal and incorporate that persuasion in your presentation of the message.

•      Strategically organize your material to deliver your message with the ultimate effect.

Present your Persuasive Communication Presentation in class. Your presentation must be 15-20 minutes in length.

Discuss how you and your classmates respond to different messages and how you think the intended audiences might receive each of the Learning Teams’ messages.

8/1/13

15