Elements of Critical Thinking

  

Ashford 5: - Week 4 - Discussion 1

Elements of Critical Thinking

     

Prepare: In preparation for discussing the importance of critical     thinking skills, please read the following articles: Critical Thinking and     the Challenges of Internet     and Common Misconceptions     of Critical Thinking. You     may also read other applicable sources found under the Week Four Resources     tab to gain a better understanding of what it takes to be a critical     thinker. 

 

Reflect: Reflect on the characteristics of a critical thinker.     What makes you a critical thinker? Critical thinking gets you involved in a     dialogue with the ideas you read from others in this class. To be a     critical thinker, you need to be able to summarize, analyze, hypothesize,     and evaluate new information that you encounter.

 

Write: For this discussion, you will address the following     prompts. Keep in mind that the article or video you’ve chosen should not be     about the topic “critical thinking,” but should be about someone making a     statement, claim, or argument. One source should demonstrate good critical     thinking skills and the other source should demonstrate the lack or absence     of critical thinking skills. Personal examples should not be used. 

• Explain at least five          elements of critical thinking that you found in the reading material. 
• Search the Internet, media,          or the Ashford University Library, and find an example in which good          critical thinking skills are being demonstrated by the author or          speaker. Summarize the content and explain why you think it          demonstrates good critical thinking skills. 
• Search the Internet, media,          or the Ashford University Library and find an example in which the          author or speaker lacks good critical thinking skills. Summarize the          content and explain why you think it demonstrates the absence of good,          critical thinking skills.

Your initial post should be at     least 250 words in length, which should include a thorough response to     each prompt. You are required to provide in-text citations of applicable     required reading materials and/or any other outside sources you use to     support your claims. Provide full reference information of all sources     cited at the end of your response. Please use correct APA format when     writing in-text citations and references.

 

Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts, and respond to at least     two of your peers by Day 7. When responding to your classmates, please     provide feedback on their examples of good and poor critical thinking     skills. Discuss additional ways one can think more critically. Each     participation post should be a minimum of 75 words.

 

Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this     Discussion Thread.