unit 3

HUM 1020, Critical Thinking 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Use an organized process to solve problems. 2. Assemble questions to determine the depth and breadth of a problem. 3. Brainstorm to generate solutions. 4. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of possible solutions. 5. Make choices as solutions are implemented. 6. Evaluate and adjust solutions.

Reading Assignment Chapter 3: Solving Problems

Film Assignment Films (Choose 1):

 Apollo 13

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apollo_13/

 Hugo

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hugo/

 Moneyball

 http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/moneyball/

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210166/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/moneyball/

 My Cousin Vinny

 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104952/

 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_cousin_vinny/

Note about films: These have all been chosen based on how they help illustrate and enhance the main focus of each unit.

Unit Lesson

Solving problems is a common and important kind of decision; you have already been called on to make these kinds of decisions and you will be asked to help solve problems in the future. In fact, the further you advance in your careers or in the hierarchies of an institution, the bigger and more complicated the problems become.

UNIT III STUDY GUIDE

Problem Solving

HUM 1020, Critical Thinking 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

As you solve problems, there are lots of questions: W hat’s the best solution for a problem? What are the options? W hat are the consequences of this or that solution? What if you do nothing? Can you do too much?

The answers to all of these questions are important, but so is the order in which you address them. Effective problem-solving is organized, starting with analysis of the problem or problems and ending with monitoring and evaluating the solution. That is what this unit focuses on, via a five step process that is presented and explained in detail.

Film Themes:

 Developing an organized approach to analyzing difficult problems

 Five step method for problem solving