Creative and Critical Thinking
Step 1: Preparation – Selection of a Problem
Identify a complex problem that may have many solutions. The problem you select may be related to your personal, community, and/or work life.
The problem must include at least two of the following factors: historical, social, ethnic, economic, technological, or geographic. For
example, School District X is facing economic troubles and is forced to cut programs (economics), but is challenged to develop Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs that require a need for computers and iPads (technology). In another example,
there is an increase of homeless in your home town (community), and, at the same time, a major business has downsized (economic)
resulting in a shortfall in the city budget for social services.
Step 2: Write the Paper
Part I: Summary of Complex Problem
Begin the paper by writing a summary of your problem. Include a minimum of the following information:
1. Events leading up to problem.
2. Description of players in the problem (i.e., people, company, organization, etc.).
3. Factors that are involved in the problem (historical, social, ethnic, economic, technological, or geographic).
4. Purpose or reason for solving the problem.
5. This summary should be 1- 1.5 pages.
Part II: Demonstrate Your Critical Thinking Process
To demonstrate your critical thinking process, write 4-5 pages addressing the following questions:
(1) What assumptions have you made about the problem?
(2) What biases or points of view do you have that may impact your critical thinking in solving this problem?
(3) How will you apply the universal standards of critical thinking (clarity, precision, accuracy, relevance, depth, breadth, logic, significance, and fairness) to solve the problem?
(4) Find at least two resources that can help you to solve the problem. List them here.
(5) Why are these resources helpful?
(6) What affective factors (curiosity, fair-mindedness, emotions, intellectual humility, intellectual courage, intellectual integrity, perseverance, or confidence in reason) may be associated with the problem (either your own or others)?
(7) How do these affective factors impact the critical thinking process?
(8) Identify any errors (emotional appeals, propaganda, logical fallacies, or misleading statistics) that are made in the understanding of the problem.
(9) Identify any errors that are made in the application of solutions.
(10) Describe potential solutions (minimum of 4) for the problem.
(11) What are the implications for yourself and others by implementing these solutions? Discuss a minimum of 2 factors (historical, social, ethnic, economic, technological, or geographic) implications.
Part III: Identify a Solution and Create a Plan for Implementation
Select one coherent solution to your problem. Summarize your proposed solution and rationale. Create a plan on how you would implement
that solution including steps and a timeline. Write 3-4 pages.
