Week 6: Thinking: Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Critical thinking is a life-long skill that takes time and practice to enhance. As you have learned throughout this course, there are many strategies and processes that can be used to guide critical thinking and decision making. Consider how you can incorporate some of these techniques into your personal and professional life. Think about the steps that you can take to become a better critical thinker.

In this final week of the course, you will examine ways in which you can continue the process being a skilled critical thinker. Thinking is a life-long endeavor. This week summarizes how old thinking habits and patterns can be changed in favor of more powerful thinking patterns.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Synthesize the nature and purpose of critical thinking and logic
• Translate complex arguments into written form; examine the persuasive elements using critical thought

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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 15, "The Challenge to Go on Thinking"

This chapter concludes with a recapitulation of what you have learned about thinking. You will also read about the future of thinking and its future implications.
Focus on what you have learned throughout the course and how you will implement the concepts, ideas, and strategies to continue to develop your critical-thinking skills. Consider how adopting more powerful thinking patterns can help you grow as a manager.

• Review Chapters 9–14 in preparation for the final exam.
  • Chapter 9, "Logical Thinking"
  • Chapter 10, "Scientific Thinking "
  • Chapter 11, "Persuasive Thinking"
  • Chapter 12, "Problem Solving "
  • Chapter 13, "Evaluating"
  • Chapter 14, "Decision & Action"

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

• Resources
  In this final section of the textbook, additional readings are suggested based on areas of interest.

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Assignment 1: Action Plan

Based on your reading for this week and the Resources and Applications from the previous weeks:

Develop a ten-step action plan for what you will do to become a better critical and logical thinker.

• Be specific in your action steps
• Make sure that the steps are achievable
• Assign a certain date by which you will reach each step

By Day 7

Post your response in this week's Assignment Response thread in the Discussion area.

Discussion: Summary

Throughout this course you have been learning about the importance of critical thinking and logical thought. Reflect on the course readings and discussions. Consider what you have learned about the nature and purpose of critical thinking and logic.

With these thoughts in mind:

Summarize the characteristics and objective of critical thinking and logic.

Discussion – Week 6

COLLAPSE

Summary

Throughout this course you have been learning about the importance of critical thinking and logical thought. Reflect on the course readings and discussions. Consider what you have learned about the nature and purpose of critical thinking and logic.

With these thoughts in mind:

Summarize the characteristics and objective of critical thinking and logic.

Post a brief statement by Day 3 that summarizes the characteristics of critical thinking and logic. Include in your summary the purpose of using critical thinking.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond by Day 5 to two or more of your colleagues' postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’r 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.

Assignment 2: Reflection

Postyour Reflection assignment which summarizes what you learned from the readings, research, and Discussion activities. Recall that your Week 6 Reflection must be an expanded summary that includes course comments. Expand your responses by 50 words per section, to include both the final week and the course as a whole.

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 Expanded Week 6 Reflection Assignment Grading Rubric located on the Course Information page before posting your assignment.

Final Portfolio Project

Shortly after posting your Portfolio Draft in Module 4, your Course Instructor will have provided feedback. Use this feedback wisely, as it will help you revise your paper and create a final submission of which you can be proud.