Assignment
Introduction
The head of your organization pulled you aside and asked you to review a workplace dispute. She said, “Apply your best critical
thinking to figure out what happened and a what decision is called for to remedy this situation.” She wants your analysis in the next
two weeks.
To begin, let’s consider what it means to engage in critical thinking. While the application of critical thinking may vary across
disciplines, the steps are universal. Adapted from the writings of Bassham, Irwin, Nardone, and Wallace (2011); Lau (2011); and Lau
and Chan (2015), critical thinking involves thinking clearly and systematically, and encompasses
formulating ideas succinctly and precisely
identifying the relevance and importance of ideas
understanding the logical connections between ideas
identifying, constructing and evaluating arguments, claims, and evidence
recognizing explicit and implicit assumptions, arguments, and biases
detecting inconsistencies and common mistakes in reasoning
formulating clear defensible ideas and conclusions
evaluating the pros and cons of decisions
reflecting on one’s own beliefs and values
applying ethical decision making
The steps involved in critical thinking can be employed universally, in the analysis of all thoughts and actions —whether you are
analyzing documents, ideas, assertions, or the quality of decisions/solutions. In this assignment, you’ll be applying them to a case
study.
Most importantly, critical thinking is purposeful. It is not restricted solely to information gathering, nor is it about being
“negative and fault-finding” (Bassham et. al., 2011 p. 1). As Lau and Chan write, “A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences
from what he knows, and he knows how to make use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant sources of information to
inform himself” (2015). While the process of critical thinking may involve exposing untruths and poor reasoning, it also involves
engaging in cooperative reasoning for the purposes of shared goals and decision making. We engage in the steps of critical thinking to
learn deeply, to improve our ideas, to strengthen arguments and to “enhance work processes and improve social institutions” (Lau,
2011).
Critical thinking aligns with and informs ethical reasoning and decision making. Internet marketing expert Nick Melillo (2010) writes:
Critical thinking plays a large role in ethics because it is the process by which we determine for ourselves whether or not something
is right or wrong. In a sense, critical thinking is a form of analysis and determination of fact vs. fiction, identifying the unknown,
coming to an understanding, etc… By taking the path of a critical thinker, a person develops a mental process of evaluation which
helps to determine their ethical standards. (p. 1).
The process of critical thinking helps us weigh and verify information, assess intent, and consider consequences, thereby enabling more
effective ethical decision making.
Hereford (2015), suggests critical thinking requires a particular mindset that includes being able to
Rely on reason instead of emotions
Assess a broad range of perspectives and viewpoints
Consider new evidence, explanations, findings, and alternative interpretations
Reassess information
Suspend personal prejudices and biases
Contemplate all reasonable possibilities
Avoid quick judgments
In this assignment, you’ll take some time to adopt a framework for critical thinking. Then you’ll put the steps of critical thinking in
practice by responding to the company head’s request for a critical analysis of the ongoing dispute.
The Assignment
Step 1: Review the TGS Critical Thinking Rubric (found in its own module on the class’s Content page). This rubric is intended to
serve as a framework for critical thinking. Use it to structure your thinking for this assignment and for others in your studies at
UMUC.
The framework (as delineated in the rubric) is based on FOUR key steps, each of which has several sub-steps.
Identify and clearly explain the main issue or problem under critical consideration.
Gather and analyze information to explore/investigate the issue or problem.
Consider and analyze other possible viewpoints, conclusions or decision/solutions to the issue or problem
Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions and/or decisions/solutions, checking them against relevant criteria and benchmarks
Step 2: Read the attached case, and analyze it using the framework provided by the TGS Critical Thinking Rubric. Use the rubric’s
four key steps as the format framework of a short position paper (details in the “Deliverables” section). Employ the sub-steps within
each of the four key steps to further direct your analysis.
Assignment Deliverable
Write a short paper (no more than 4 pages/1,000 words, excluding the cover page and references) that critically analyses the ideas or
position presented in the case reading. The major sections of your paper should include the following:
Introduction
Explanation of the Issue or Problem
Analysis of the Information
Analysis of Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions or Solutions
Personal or Summarized Conclusions and Proposed Decisions
Conclusion
Follow these guidelines:
Use the TGS Critical Thinking Rubric to guide your analysis.
Use the TGS Written Communications Rubric to guide your writing.
Draw in references from at least one reputable outside resource related to the topic to support your conclusions or proposed
decisions.
Employ APA Style 6ed for format and citation guidance.
Include a cover sheet with your name and the Turnitin.com originality score.
An effective introduction grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone and direction for the rest of the paper. In reading an
introduction, the reader should have a clear idea of what will follow. Supporting paragraphs move the reader from the general
introduction to the more specific aspects of your analysis in the paper.
The body paragraphs show how the information you are providing supports and relates to your thesis. Paragraphs across and within
sections need to effectively transition from one to the next.
Each paragraph should include a topic sentence, which contains the main point of the paragraph.
The Conclusion (#6) brings to a close what you have presented in your paper.
You have moved the reader from the general introduction (“The intent of this paper is to critically analyze…) to the specific
supporting paragraphs (the details under headings #2-5), and now to the conclusion, which briefly summarizes the issue or intent and
restates the main points of your analysis (“detail analysis of the issue of … resulted in conclusions that indicate… and suggest
proposed decisions to…”).
Assignment Submission
Submit your essay to your Assignment Folder on the due date. Label it in this manner: LAST NAME_Analysis_Spring 2016.
References
Bassham, G.; Irwin, W.; Nardone, H.; & Wallace, J. (2011). Critical thinking: A student’s introduction. 4th Ed. New York, NY: The
McGraw Hill Companies.
Fisher, A. (2011). Critical thinking: An introduction. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Hereford, Z. (2015). How to think critically and problem solve. Retrieved from
http://www.essentiallifeskills.net/thinkcritically.html
Lau, J. (2011). An introduction to critical thinking and creativity: Think more, think better. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lau, J., & Chan, J. (2015). What is critical thinking? Retrieved from http://philosophy.hku.hk/think/critical/ct.php
Melillo, N. (2010). What is the relationship between critical thinking and ethics? Retrieved from
http://www.triadsearchmarketing.com/
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