UOP PHL458 full course (week 1-5 all assignments)

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.

Reading

Read Ch. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of The art of Thinking.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

10/3/13

3

Individual

Critical Thinking and Society Exercise

Write 150- to 200 words on each of the following topics:

· 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.

10/3/13

10

Week Two: The Creative Thinking Process

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

2

2.1 Describe the stages in the creative process.

2.2 Apply techniques to develop curiosity.

2.3 Formulate original solutions to issues and problems.

Reading

Read Ch. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of The Art of Thinking.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

10/10/13

3

Learning Team Instructions

Evaluating and Refining Resolutions Presentation (Draft of presentation)

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

By the end of Week 1’s class, the team should have met to search for societal issues, picked one issue team would like to resolve, and obtained faculty approval of the choice. The team selections must be unique.

Create draft paper that documents the results of your activities on each of the following sections:

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.

Produceideas 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.

Submit draft presentation in Word format to the assignment section.

10/10/13

5

Individual

Solve a Problem Paper

Write a 1,050- 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.

10/10/13

10

Individual

Famous Thinker Paper – Select Famous Thinker

At the start of class, Week 2, you will sign up for the famous thinker about whom you will write and present in week 4. No duplicates are allowed so come to class prepared with your top three choices.

10/10/13

Week Three: The Critical Thinking Process

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

3

3.1 Apply critical thinking to refine solutions to problems.

3.2 Apply critical thinking to refine resolutions to issues.

Reading

ReadCh. 10, 11, 12, and 13 ofThe Art of Thinking.

Reading

Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

10/17/13

3

Individual

Famous Thinker Paper – References and Draft Outline

Week 4’s assignmentis to write a paper and create a 10-15 minute presentation on a famous thinker of your choice.

Week 3’s assignmentis to start Week 4’s paper by completing and submitting the following:

· List of 4-10 references that will be used in the paper. Even though 4 references are required, it is advisable to secure additional resources to be sure that at least 4 will be able to be used in the paper.

· Draft paper containing short bullet points of information (bullet points only, no sentences or paragraphs at this time) to address each of the following sections of the paper.

o Why this person was selected, including a ‘critical’ evaluation of why you consider this person a famous thinker.

o Information about the thinker’s contributions to society.

o The thinker’s personal/ social/ political environments and how you think these factors contributed to his or her creativity.

o The problems or issues that his or her ideas sought to solve.

o A description of the solutions, and how his or her ideas were implemented.

o The creative process of the thinker.

o A critique of the thinker’s ideas and what the thinker could have done differently.

Each section must have at least one bullet point. However, it is expected that information will be added, changed, deleted and/or reorganized by Week 4 when the final paper is submitted.

Submitdraft paper to the assignment section.

10/17/13

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 an 8- to 12-slide Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation.

· Present your resolution process in a 15- to 20-minute presentation during Week 3’s class.

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

10/17/13

10

Week Four: Famous Thinkers

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

4

4.1 Recognize the creative process among famous thinkers.

4.2 Critique famous ideas.

Reading

Readthe Electronic Reserve Readings that pertain to your Famous Thinkers Paper.

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

10/24/13

3

Individual

Famous Thinker Paper and Presentation

Complete the paper from the draft submitted in week 3.

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper. Include the following:

· Why you selected this person, including a ‘critical’ evaluation of why you consider them a famous thinker.

· Information about the thinker’s contributions to society.

· The thinker’s personal/ social/ political environments and how you think these factors contributed to his or her creativity.

· The problems or issues that his or her ideas sought to solve.

· A description of the solutions, and how his or her ideas were implemented.

· The creative process of the thinker.

· A critique of the thinker’s ideas and what the thinker could have done differently.

Includeat least four references.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Create a 10-15 minute presentation addressing the bullet points.

Submitthe paper and PowerPoint to the assignments section.

Note: The presentation will be given during Week 4’s class.

10/24/13

10

Week Five: Communicating Ideas

Details

Due

Points

Objectives

5

5.1 Devise strategies for persuading others.

5.2 Communicate solutions to issues.

Reading

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

Participation

Participate in class discussion.

10/31/13

3

Individual

Final Examination

Complete the Final Examination.

The final is an ‘in-class’ final.

10/31/13

15

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 comprehensive political pamphlet, an interactive game, a website, and so forth.

Explain why you chose your format for your intended audience.

Createa 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 Week 5’s 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.

10/31/13

15