Critical & Creative thinking (HUM 111) Syllabus

Syllabus College of Humanities HUM/111 Version 5 Critical and Creative Thinking

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Course Description

This course focuses on developing the critical and creative thinking skills necessary to analyze and solve problems, make decisions, implement strategies, and formulate well-supported points of view on key academic, social, and professional issues. The principles of creative thinking are essential to critical thinking skills. Students will learn how to evaluate their ideas and how to communicate their points of view persuasively.

Policies

Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents:

·         University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document.

·         Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality.

Course Materials

Ruggiero, V. R. (2012). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought (10th ed.). New York, NY: Longman.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2008). The thinker’s guide for conscientious citizens on how to detect media bias & propaganda in national and world news. Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.

Paul, R., & Elder, L. (2008). The thinker’s guide to fallacies: The art of mental trickery and manipulation. Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.

All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Developing and Establishing a Foundation for Thinking
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	1.1  Describe critical thinking. 1.2  Identify your state of development in critical thinking. 1.3  Identify strategies to develop and improve your thinking.
Course Preparation	Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.
Reading	Read Ch. 1 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ·         “Are you a critical thinker?” ·         “Critical Thinking: A Stage Theory of Critical Thinking” ·         ”Critical Thinking: Nine Strategies for Everyday Life, Part I”   ·         “Critical Thinking: Nine Strategies for Everyday Life, Part II”
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 1 of The Art of Thinking.(pg. 18) Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete Application 1.3 at the end of Ch. 1 of The Art of Thinking. (pg. 20) b Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Application.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 1 of The Art of Thinking. (pg. 21)
Individual What Kind of Thinker Are You?	Resource: Week One Electronic Reserve Readings Review the following articles by Linda Elder and Richard Paul: ·         “Critical Thinking: A Stage Theory of Critical Thinking” ·         ”Critical Thinking: Nine Strategies for Everyday Life, Part I” ·         “Critical Thinking: Nine Strategies for Everyday Life, Part II” According to Elder and Paul, people progress through six stages during their development as critical thinkers. It takes commitment and self-analysis to develop into a master thinker. Part A: Complete Appendix A: Stages of Critical Thinking located on the student website. b Part B: Complete Appendix B: Strategies to Develop Critical Thinking located on the student website. b		60

Week Two: The Perception Process and Evaluating Thinking
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	2    2.1  Identify perceptual blocks that hinder thinking. 2.2  Compare methods for overcoming perceptual blocks that hinder thinking. 2.3  Explain how thought processes are changed or manipulated by perception.
Reading	Read Ch. 3 of The Art of Thinking.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 3 of The Art of Thinking. (pg 62) Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 3 of The Art of Thinking. (pg 64)
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Means of Persuasion	Read the “Habits That Hinder Thinking” section in Ch. 3 of The Art of Thinking. Use your favorite Internet search engine to find videos of commercials for luxury cars. Watch, read, and listen to the information presented in the commercials. Consider how these commercials target habits that hinder thinking as a means of persuasion. Consider how these commercials utilize the habits that hinder thinking as means of persuasion.
Individual To Drill or Not to Drill?	Many people are debating how to best meet energy needs in the United States. Some argue that the country must decrease its dependence on oil and invest in alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar power. Others argue that changing to new power sources is unnecessary and expensive. They state that the United States should search for oil in Alaska, the Gulf Coast, and other currently unexplored areas within the country. Write an approximately 350-word essay in which you do the following: ·         State your position on the issue. ·         Explain the perceptual blocks and habits that hinder your thinking when looking at the opposing view and defending your own view. ·         Describe what you can do to overcome those perceptual blocks and habits that are hindering your thinking and explain how your thought processes can be manipulated by perception. Use the University Library to find two credible sources that support your position on the energy debate. Format your essay consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.		60

Week Three: Critical Reading, Listening, and Viewing
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	3    3.1  Clarify the importance of making distinctions in critical evaluation. 3.2  Compare strategies for critical reading, listening, and viewing. 3.3  Use techniques to detect bias and propaganda.
Reading	Read Ch. 4 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read The Thinker’s Guide for Conscientious Citizens on How to Detect Media Bias & Propaganda In National and World News located on the student website.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ·         The Thinkers Guide for Conscientious Citizens
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Women in Afghanistan Turn to Self-Immolation Over Abuse	Watch the “Women in Afghanistan Turn to Self-Immolation Over Abuse” video in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 4 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete Application 4.3 at the end of Ch. 4 of The Art of Thinking. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Application.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 4 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Toolwire® Learnscape: Assessing the Validity of Varying Points of View	Access the Toolwire® Learnscape: Assessing the Validity of Varying Points of View located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Save your assessments as a Microsoft® Word document.		80
Individual Detecting Media Bias	Use your favorite Internet search engine to find a recent headline news story in one of the following areas: local or national politics, economics, or business news. Write a 350- to 700-word paper clarifying the importance of making critical evaluations of news stories. Use the following questions to help develop your paper: ·         Was the reporting of the news story clear and accurate, with sufficient depth and breadth? ·         Were some facts reported while others were ignored? ·         Did the story consider alternative perspectives and worldviews? ·         Were there any questionable assumptions implicit in the story? ·         Were any implications ignored while others were emphasized? ·         Why is it important to make distinctions when undertaking a critical evaluation? Format your paper consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.		50

Week Four: Creative Thinking
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	4    4.1  Evaluate strategies to promote creative thinking and curiosity. 4.2  Explain key methods for producing ideas.
Reading	Read Ch. 5 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read Ch. 9 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ·         Creative Reading:  The Antidote to Readicide ·         Critical Thinking:  The Nature of Critical & Creative Thought (Part 1) ·         Critical Thinking:  The Nature of Critical & Creative Thought (Part 2) ·         How to Build a Curious Child
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 5 & 9 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from each chapter.      Chapter 5      Chapter 9 Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercises you chose.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete the following Applications at the end of Ch. 5 & 9 of The Art of Thinking: ·         Ch. 5 – Application 5.4 ·         Ch. 9 – Application 9.3 Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Applications.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 5 & 9 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Creative Thinking	Resources: Ch. 5 & 9 of The Art of Thinking and the Detecting Media Bias assignment from Week Three Suppose you are a newspaper columnist who will address, in the next editorial blog of your newspaper’s website, the same topic from the article in the Detecting Media Bias assignment. Write a 150- to 200-word answer to each of the following questions: ·         How might you use the strategies for applying creativity to problems and issues in addressing this topic? ·         How might you use the strategies for promoting curiosity in addressing this topic? Why do you think these strategies might be effective? ·         How might you use the various methods for producing ideas to eliminate the bias from the original article and still present a factual and persuasive case? Format your responses consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.		60

Week Five: Problem Identification
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	5    5.1  Distinguish problems from issues. 5.2  Describe how to express problems and issues.
Reading	Read Ch. 7 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read Ch. 8 of The Art of Thinking.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Reflections	Watch and reflect on the following videos in the Toolwire® Learnscape: Examining Different Arguments Related to the Choice of a Career located on the student website: ·         Stay Up and Study ·         Party All Night
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 7 & 8 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from each chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercises you chose.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete the following Applications at the end of Ch. 7 & 8 of The Art of Thinking: ·         Ch. 7 – Application 7.3 ·         Ch. 8 – Application 8.9 Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Applications.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 7 & 8 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Issues and Problems	Toolwire® Learnscape Access the Toolwire® Learnscape: Discerning the Difference Between Issues and Problems located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Save your assessments as a Microsoft® Word document.		80

Week Six: Problem-Solving Processes
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	6    6.1  Identify sources of information when investigating a problem or issue. 6.2  Compare the steps in refining solutions to a problem and resolutions of issues.
Reading	Read Ch. 11 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read Ch. 13 of The Art of Thinking.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Reflections	Watch and reflect on the following videos in the Toolwire® Learnscape: Examining Different Arguments Related to the Choice of a Career located on the student website: ·         One Hit ·         They Said They Lied
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 11 & 13 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from each chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercises you chose.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete the following Applications at the end of Ch. 11 & 13 of The Art of Thinking. ·         Ch. 11 – Application 11.4 ·         Ch. 13 – Application 13.6 Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Applications.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 11 & 13 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Problem or Issue Investigation and Solution	Toolwire® Learnscape Access the Toolwire® Learnscape: Investigating a Problem and Refining a Solution located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Save your assessments as a Microsoft® Word document.		80

Week Seven: The Role of Questioning and Criticism
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	7    7.1  Explain types of questions that lead to critical thinking. 7.2  Apply strategies to foster criticism in problem solving.
Reading	Read Ch. 10 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 10 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete Application 10.3 at the end of Ch. 10 of The Art of Thinking. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Application.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 10 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Together We Stand Letter Outline	Resource: Ch. 10 of The Art of Thinking Complete Appendix C: Together We Stand Letter Outline located on the student website.		60

Week Eight: Argument Analysis and Evaluation
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	8    8.1  Explain how assumptions interfere with critical thinking. 8.2  Identify errors in reasoning. 8.3  Summarize the steps to evaluate arguments. 8.4  Identify fallacies used in written, oral, and visual arguments.
Reading	Read Ch. 12 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read The Thinker’s Guide to Fallacies: The Art of Mental Trickery and Manipulation located on the student website.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address	Watch the “John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address” video in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Read “John F. Kennedy ‘A New Generation of Americans’” in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 12 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete Application 12.1 at the end of Ch. 12 of The Art of Thinking. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Application.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 12 of The Art of Thinking. Complete Appendix D: Assumptions and Fallacies located on the student website.
Individual Examining Different Arguments Related to the Choice of a Career	Toolwire® Learnscape Access the Toolwire® Learnscape: Examining Different Arguments Related to the Choice of a Career located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape activities. Complete the Toolwire® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Save your assessments as a Microsoft® Word document.		80

Week Nine: Communicating Your Ideas
	Details	Due	Points
Objectives	9    9.1  Explain techniques to present ideas and persuade others effectively. 9.2  Recognize approaches to achieve effective writing and speaking.
Reading	Read Ch. 14 of The Art of Thinking.
Reading	Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Participation	Participate in class discussion.		15
Discussion Questions	Respond to weekly discussion questions.		15
Nongraded Activities and Preparation “I Have a Dream” Speech	Watch the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Proclaims ‘I Have a Dream’” video in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Read “I Have a Dream Speech” in this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Warm-Up Exercises	Review the Warm-Up Exercises at the end of Ch. 14 of The Art of Thinking. Choose one Warm-Up Exercise from the chapter. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Warm-Up Exercise.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Applications	Complete Application 14.3 at the end of Ch. 14 of The Art of Thinking. Write a 150- to 200-word response to the Application.
Nongraded Activities and Preparation Issues for Extended Analysis	Complete the Issue for Extended Analysis at the end of Ch. 14 of The Art of Thinking.
Individual Personal Reflection Paper	Resource: What Kind of Thinker Are You? assignment from Week One Review your week one assignment and reflect on what you learned about critical thinking during the course. Write a 350- to 700-word paper in which you reflect on the following questions: ·         What is critical thinking? ·         What are the three most significant things that you learned about critical thinking during this class? ·         How has your critical thinking changed since starting this course? ·         Reevaluate your stage of development in critical thinking and why you placed yourself in that stage. If your rating has changed since Week One, explain why you think this change occurred. ·         How do you plan to move yourself from your current stage of development in critical thinking to the stage of master thinker? Format your paper consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.		60
Individual Persuading Your Audience	Suppose you are a newspaper columnist asked to address the issue of global warming and energy in the next editorial blog of your newspaper’s website. Create a 6- to 8-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation that includes the following: ·         Which techniques should you use to present your ideas and to persuade your audience effectively? ·         Which approaches should you use to communicate your ideas effectively? Cite and reference any sourced material consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.		60