Week 2: Creative and Critical Thinking

This week, you will examine how language affects your critical and creative thinking. Fortunately, there are tools to use that help to facilitate this process. This week, you will be introduced to techniques such as using metaphors, brainstorming, and starbursting. How these techniques can lead you from creative to critical thought, is presented.

You will also begin to learn how to build different types of basic arguments including those using example, analogy, authority, and cause. These types of arguments can be used to demonstrate the results of your critical-thinking process.

Recall the last time that you participated in a group meeting to discuss a new idea. It may have been a meeting with classmates, team members, or any group. What types of questions were raised? How was critical thinking used as your group was formulating new ideas?

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Pose an argument using various methods

Photo Credit: [Martin Barraud]/[Caiaimage]/Getty Images

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Learning Resources

Required Readings

Course Text: Kirby, G., & Goodpaster, J. (2007). Thinking (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

• Chapter 5, “Language: Our Thinking Medium”

This chapter presents how language acts as an integral mechanism in the brain for formulating ideas. It also discusses the different uses and limitations of language. The power of language and the use of metaphors in language are also presented.
Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples and anecdotes provided in the chapter that provide a better understanding of how language influences the thought process. Consider the difficulties encountered when translating metaphors between languages. In a global business environment, what challenges does this present for a manager?

• Chapter 6, “Feeling”

Chapter 6 explores how feelings can influence thinking. Different sources of feelings are discussed along with the perception and outcomes that result from feelings. In addition, the influence of culture on the expression of feelings is presented.
Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples of how feelings influence your thoughts and language. Consider how feelings can alter the outcome of a project, assignment, or speech. Think of a time when your emotions influenced your actions. Ask yourself how managers can consciously use feelings constructively.

• Chapter 7, “Creative Thinking”

In this chapter, creative thinking is defined and various kinds of creative thinking are presented. Factors that affect creativity and its process are also explored. The steps of the creative process are also presented.
Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples of creativity and the processes involved in being creative. Consider how personal experiences influence your ability to think creatively. Now, keeping your own experiences in mind, ask yourself whether using a process such as “coaxing creativity” hinders or helps to promote creativity.

Course Text: Weston, A. (2009). A rulebook for arguments (4th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company.

• Chapter 2, “Generalizations”
• Chapter 3, “Arguments by Analogy”
• Chapter 4, “Sources”
• Chapter 5, “Arguments About Causes”

Chapters 2–5 present four different types of short arguments. Examples are presented for each form and the rules that govern each type of argument are discussed. Numerous examples that illustrate each specific argument form are presented.
Focus on the definitions provided throughout the chapter. Review and think about the examples of each type of argument. Consider how each form is used. Ask yourself when a manager would choose one form of argument over another.

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Assignment 1: Language and Feeling

Based on your reading for this week:

• Complete Activities 5.2 (pp. 94–95), 5.3 (p. 102), 6.1 (p. 118), and 7.1 (p. 127).
• Form a metaphor that describes your current understanding of critical thinking, and describe it for your classmates.

By Day 7

Post your response in this week’s Assignment 1 Forum. Submit this assignment via the Discussion. While you are not required to respond to others’ postings, you are encouraged to do so.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment 1 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment 1 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn1+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 2 Assignment 1 Rubric

Post by Day 7

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Assignment 1 Discussion

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment 1 draft and review the originality report.

Additionally, please paste your initial Assignment post into a Microsoft Word document, save it and submit it via the link below.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment 1

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Discussion 1: Basic Arguments

The readings this week explore the different forms of arguments and the purpose of each type. With these thoughts in mind, develop an argument using each of the following forms. Separate each argument with a heading as to the type, i.e. Argument by Example, Argument by Analogy, etc. Be sure to use the structure presented in your course text, A Rulebook for Arguments.

• One argument by example
• One argument by analogy
• One argument from authority
• One argument about cause

By Day 3

Post a brief statement that presents each type of argument.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings and critically discuss their arguments with a goal of improving each argument. In addition, you may:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and the insights you gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from the Learning Resources and any additional sources.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion 1 Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion 1

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Discussion 2: Portfolio Project Topic

Your Portfolio Project for this course is to develop an Argumentative Essay. Complete instructions are presented in the Portfolio Project area. This week, you are required to post the issue that you will argue for your essay and why you are selecting that argument. You must receive instructor approval on your argument topic.

Include the following in your post:

• A clear statement of the issue.
• What is your position on that issue?
• What is your basic argument on the issue? (You will expand this in detail in your paper.)
• What is a possible rebuttal of the argument? (Be brief, you will expand this in detail in your final paper.)

Avoid ambiguity, vagueness, and other sources of confusion. You may ask for comments from each other to help you narrow the focus of your topic.

Review the Portfolio Project instructions located on the left navigation bar prior to beginning this assignment.

By Day 3

Post the issue that you will argue for your essay and why you are selecting that argument.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion 2 Rubric

Post by Day 3

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion 2

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Assignment 2: Reflection

Post your Reflection assignment which summarizes what you learned from the readings, research, and Discussion activities. Detailed instructions and a template are provided in the Reflection Instructions and Template document located in the Doc Sharing area. Use references with APA formatting as needed. You may also want to review the Reflection Grading Rubric located on the Course Information page before posting your assignment.

While you are not required to read and respond to your classmates’ postings, you are encouraged to do so.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:
Week 2 Assignment 2 Rubric

Post by Day 7

To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Assignment 2 Discussion

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment 2 draft and review the originality report.

Additionally, please paste your initial Reflection post into a Microsoft Word document, save it and submit it via the link below.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment 2