Objective 2: Use a critical thinking framework to evaluate alternative courses of actions and reach sound decisions in workplace situations.

See the Required business document in a separate file in this module.

Analyze the business document below (scroll down), applying all 8 steps of the critical thinking framework model discussed in the US Army Management Staff College AMSC Critical Thinking report (citing Dr. Richard Paul model) at http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/critical/roy.htm. Post this assignment in the assignment folder by the end of week 2.

You are using the 8 step method disseminated by Roy Eichhorn, Strategic Systems Department, Army Management Staff College, in the report entitled, DEVELOPING THINKING SKILLS: CRITICAL THINKING AT THE ARMY MANAGEMENT STAFF COLLEGE in section COMPONENTS OF CRITICAL THINKING AT AMSC.

From the ASMC report: "

THE AMSC PHILOSOPHY ON CRITICAL THINKING […] We are often asked why we go to the effort of trying to teach critical thinking; people already know how to think. The first answer to this question is that yes, we all think, but do we do it well and are we able to evaluate the quality of our thinking? […] Dr. Paul responded to this question with the statement that reflects our philosophy: "We are always thinking, the question is, are we in charge of our thinking, or is our thinking in charge of us?"

The following is one of Dr. Paul’s definitions of critical thinking that summarizes our approach:

• "Critical thinking is the ability to think about one’s thinking in such a way as:

1. to recognize its strengths and weaknesses and, as a result,
2. to recast the thinking in improved form.

Such thinking about one’s thinking involves the ability to identify the basic elements of thought (purpose, question, information, assumption, interpretation, concepts, implications, point of view) and assess those elements using universal intellectual criteria and standards (clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, and logicalness)."

Apply all 8 of the AMSC steps.of the critical thinking model to assess the arguments made in the memo (see attached). Leaving out discussion of steps will adversely affect your grade. As the final 9th step in the paper, use the content on fallacies in Almossawi, Ali (2013). An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments – https://bookofbadarguments.com/?view=allpages to identify any fallacies in the memo. Although not necessary for a passing grade, answers to some of the questions may be enhanced by doing additional research.

Remember that your task here is to evaluate the author's argument as objectively as possible, not to give your own opinions on the issue. Be sure to use the analytical points as set out in the critical thinking report, not your own thoughts on the issue.

The paper should be 7-9 double spaced pages. This number does not include the title page or the reference page(s). All your references should be listed at the end of the paper as required by the APA format. Please be very careful in your papers to use proper grammar, spelling and English language usage. The citations and the reference list in the paper should be formatted in accordance with the APA guidelines, and be sure to include all references where required. NOTE: FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT YOU DO NOT NEED TO INCLUDE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR THE PAPER.

Almossawi, Ali (2013). An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments [This source link offers entertaining pictures to illustrate common errors of logic.]

https://bookofbadarguments.com/?view=allpages

2) Roy Eichhorn, Strategic Systems Department. Army Management Staff College. DEVELOPING THINKING SKILLS: CRITICAL THINKING AT THE ARMY MANAGEMENT STAFF COLLEGE

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/critical/roy.htm

3) Critical Thinking: The SAGE Glossary of the Social and Behavioral Sciences

http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.umuc.edu/10.4135/9781412…

Here are a few tips related to this assignment.

Citing the Memo:

The memo is a personal communication. The APA Manual explains how to cite a personal communication in your papers. You should look this up in the manual.

In your text, you cite the author's name, personal communication and the date.

For example:

(F. Johnson, personal communication, October 20, 2014).

You do not include personal communications in your reference list.

Since the memo is the main document that is being analyzed, you only need to cite it one time. Then, when you refer to "the memo" or the author's name, it will be clear thereafter that you are referring to this document. If you had more than one memo, you'd have to be more specific and cite the memos more than once. You will need to cite the author and the page number if you use a direct quotation from the memo, and be sure to put the quotation in quotation marks.

Army Management Staff College Critical Thinking report methodology (citing Dr. Richard Paul)

You are using the methodology of the US Army Management Staff College Critical Thinking report (citing Dr. Richard Paul) to analyze the memo. Thus, you need to give the author credit. You should state clearly in your introduction that you are using the step method disseminated by Roy Eichhorn, Strategic Systems Department, Army Management Staff College, and cite the report (entitled, DEVELOPING THINKING SKILLS: CRITICAL THINKING
AT THE ARMY MANAGEMENT STAFF COLLEGE). The APA Manual explains how to cite and how to cite subsequent references to the content. If you paraphrase specific concepts or definitions from the report you will need an in-text citation. If you use a direct quotation from the text, you will need to cite the source.

The report should also be included in your reference list. The format for the reference list is included in the APA Manual resources