PHI210 Week 1 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 1 Discussion
"Critical Thinking in the Workplace" Please respond to the following:
- The video clip “Thinking on the Job” in the Webtext this week illustrates the importance of critical thinking, especially in work contexts. Define the concept of critical thinking in your own words. Discuss a time in either your work or personal life in which you needed to be able to use critical thinking to either solve a problem or acquire a skill.
- Determine the manner in which you would show a potential employer that you possess solid critical thinking skills. Give your opinion on whether or not you believe that individuals can increase their critical thinking skills. If you believe that they can, explain certain steps that individuals can take to improve this skill.
PHI210 Week 2 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 2 Discussion
"Understanding Barriers to Our Own Thinking" Please respond to the following:
- From the www.procon.org Website, select one (1) topic of your choice and read the Pro section and the Con section on the selected topic. Next, choose three (3) reasons listed under the Pro section and three (3) reasons listed under the Con section. Based on the biases discussed in Chapter 2 and the reasons presented at the Procon.org website:
- State your position on the selected topic. Determine the biases you experienced as you examined the reasons for and against your position.
- Describe your reaction to your experience of these biases.
PHI210 Week 3 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 3 Discussion
Use the internet to search an example of an enthymeme in the media (e.g., Internet, television, radio, newspapers, etc.). Next, explain the example you searched and identify the implied premise in the enthymeme example.
PHI210 Week 4 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 4 Discussion
"Fallacies and Errors in Sound Reasoning" Please respond to the following:
- There are several types of fallacies – equivocation, false authority, ad hominem, appeal to ignorance, and bandwagon. Please provide two (2) different examples of advertising that show any of the above topics. Which of the above fallacies is used in each advertisement? Why do you think the advertisers used that fallacy in the ad? Did the advertisers use the fallacy effectively? If you were an advertiser, what would you have done differently to better use the fallacy?
PHI210 Week 5 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 5 Discussion
"Identifying Misleading Information in an Argument" Please respond to the following:
- Consider the following argument: There are many arguments for the elimination or modification of current U. S. drug laws, but one of the most persuasive involves what negative effects drug laws are having on society in comparison with the effects of the drugs themselves. In the past ten years, most forms of drug use have dropped significantly, especially among teens. Despite this, non-violent drug offenders accounted for 21.1 percent of the federal prison population. First time drug offenders serve, on average, a sentence three months longer than kidnappers, nine months longer than burglars, and thirty-three months longer than sex abusers. In 1992, the average cost of keeping an inmate in either state or federal prison was about $20,000 per prisoner per year. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with 455 prisoners per 100,000 population. It is maintaining these prisoners at great expense in an environment where they are unlikely to develop a socially constructive attitude. Perhaps it is time that we reconsider our attitudes toward those who choose to use drugs; failure to do so may cost society even more than it already has.
- Determine whether or not the argument uses any deceptive statistics. Give your opinion on whether or not the argument has persuaded you. Explain why or why not.
- Determine the primary ways in which statistics or authority are used in your current position in developing persuasive arguments, and provide examples of such use.
PHI210 Week 6 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 6 Discussion
"Identifying Truth or Fiction" Please respond to the following:
- The video clip ‘The Baloney Detection Kit’ in the Webtext this week discusses the many ways in which an effective critical thinker assesses the claims made by others. Explain what you believe is the real difference between ‘science’ and ‘pseudoscience’.
- Examine the key reasons why so many people might seem to be attracted to more pseudoscience-type claims. Describe at least two (2) such claims that you have heard people make, and analyze the main reasons why such claims do or do not meet rigorous scientific methodology standards.
EXTRA-CREDIT (5 POINTS)
Explain at least two (2) ways in which the material discussed this week has changed your own thinking about science and pseudoscience. (Extra credit 5 points.) .
PHI210 Week 7 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 7 Discussion
Problem Solving Interview Question (20 points)
Consider the following:
- Respond to this typical interview question:Explain a specific example in which you utilized problem solving strategies to resolve a real world problem.
- Provide your feedback from the perspective of an interview coach to at least three (3) of your classmates.
EXTRA CREDIT FOR WEEK 7 (Up to 5 Extra Points)
Last week you had an extra-credit question for which you can earn at most five points that would be added to your discussion thread total. Not many of you took the opportunity to earn those extra points. You have the same opportunity this week. I will be adding the question today to the Week 7 Discussion Thread and you have until Friday November 24 of next week to respond in the discussion thread. I encourage to respond meaningfully to this extra-credit question not just because you will be earning at least one point, which can always come in handy in getting you over the boundaries of an A grade or a B grade and so on, but also because gives the opportunity to practice the skill of defining a problem in a difficult scenario which is culled from current newscasts it is not something contrived or made up.
Scenario: You are the elected representative of the American people in a legislative body that is soon to take a decisive vote on a very important issue. You can belong to either political party and have any of many occupations, interests, you may have or not have a family. friends and belong or not belong to all sorts of associations. You may belong to any of several ethnic minorities or majorities and your be of either gender. Recently people that seem credible have made serious allegations that you sexually harassed them in the past and there has been an uproar in the press and people are calling for your resignation and others are saying you should not resign. You obviously have a problem. How would you define that problem. You are allowed describe the scenario in more detail specifying gender, party, interests, occupation etc. etc. as long as it helps you define the problem. Remember that in finding a definition of a problem you must 1) Decide you are committed to finding a solution; 2) Explain why such a solution is necessary: 3) state the problem as clearly as possible: 4) rephrase the problem in a new way, 5) detect any subproblems underlying the main problem.
PHI210 Week 8 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 8 Discussion
The Relationship Between Language and Thinking (20 points)
Consider the following quote by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who believed that thought without language was impossible.
“The limits of my language are the limits of my life.”
For more information on Wittgenstein and his analysis on the importance of language, watch the video
Watch Video PHILOSOPHY - Ludwig Wittgenstein
User: n/a - Added: 5/8/15
Now, examine whether it is possible to think without using language. If you believe it is possible, describe the primary ways in which a person might enact so-called “languageless” thinking. If you believe it is not possible, describe what you foresee as major problems with the idea we can think without language.This is your discussion prompt for the Discussion Thread.
Next, if you want to try for 5 extra credit points, go to this week's Instructor Insight tab and watch those to videos on problem solving crows and ask yourself if they think when they are doing in solving their problems in getting their lunch? Do they need language to do that? Could they still have some system of communication we might call language whose presence is necessary for problem solving? Get into the specifics of the example in answering these question.
PHI210 Week 9 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 9 Discussion
Ethics and Trust in Critical Thinking Decisions (20 points)
- Imagine you’re thinking about buying a new car. Before making this important decision, you’ll want to gather as much information as possible to help make the right choice. Determine the level of trust that you would place in information provided by the following sources: a salesman at the car lot, the dealer’s Website, social media (i.e. Facebook), an associate from work, and a close friend. Discuss the key factors involved in assessing the amount of trust that you put into each source.
- Imagine you’re in a position to persuade another person. You sincerely believe that your position is 100% right. Explain whether or not you would slant information in such a way as to make your point(s) seem more credible. Discuss the primary ethical dilemmas that this scenario could cause for both you and the person whom you are trying to persuade.
PHI210 Week 10 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 10 Discussion
The Value of Critical Thinking (20 points)
- First - Give your opinion on whether being an effective critical thinker makes decision making easier or more challenging. Talk about concrete decisions you had to or will have to make. Justify your response.
- Second - Consider the following statement: “The major difference between a successful person and one that is not successful is that the successful person, over time, tends to make better decisions than the less successful person.” Discuss whether or not you believe this statement to be true. Explain the fundamental ways in which effectively applying critical thinking concepts has helped you to become more successful.
PHI210 Week 11 Discussion Latest 2017 December
Week 11 Discussion
Reflection (20 points)
- Reflect on what you have learned in this class. Describe the significant ways in which you can now utilize critical thinking in your personal and professional life.
- Discuss at least two (2) key concepts that you believe were most impactful to you this term, and the manner in which you might use these concepts in the future.
PHI210 Week 2 Assignment 1.1 Latest 2017 December
Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay - Part I
Prewriting
Due Week 2 and worth 30 points
When looking for information about a particular issue, how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view? This assignment asks you to engage in this aspect of critical thinking by playing the "Believing Game." The Believing Game is about making the effort to "believe" - or at least consider - the reasons for an opposing view on an issue.
The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.
In Part I of the assignment (due Week 2), you will first read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes: "The Believing Game and How to Make Conflicting Opinions More Fruitful" at http://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/believinggame.pdf. Next, you will review the Procon.org Website in order to gather information. Then, you will engage in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
Note: In Part II of the assignment (due Week 4), you will write an essay geared towards synthesizing your ideas.
Part I - Prewriting: Follow the instructions below for this prewriting activity. Use complete sentences and adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
1. Select one (1) of the approved topics from the www.procon.org Website and state your position on the issue.
2. From the Procon.org Website, identify three (3) premises (reasons) listed under either the Pro or Con section - whichever sectionopposes your position.
3.For each of the three (3) premises (reasons) thatoppose your position on the issue, answer these "believing" questions suggested by Elbow:
- What's interesting or helpful about this view?
- What would I notice if I believed this view?
- In what sense or under what conditions might this idea be true?"
The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:
- Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
- Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
- Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
- Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
- Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.
- Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
- Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.
PHI210 Week 4 Assignment 1.2 Latest 2017 December
Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II
Synthesizing and Writing
Due Week 4 and worth 100 points
When looking for information about a particular issue, how often do you try to resist biases toward your own point of view? This assignment asks you to engage in this aspect of critical thinking.
The assignment is divided into two (2) parts.
For Part I of the assignment (due Week 2), you read a book excerpt about critical thinking processes, reviewed the Procon.org Website in order to gather information, and engaged in prewriting to examine your thoughts.
* Remember that in the Week 2 Discussion, you examined the biases discussed in Chapter 2 of the webtext.
In Part II of the assignment (due Week 4), you will write a paper to synthesize your ideas.
Part II – Writing
Write at three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
1. State your position on the topic you selected for Assignment 1.1.
2. Identify (3) three premises (reasons) from the Procon.org website that support your position and explain why you selected these specific reasons.
3. Explain your answers to the “believing” questions about the three (3) premises opposing your position from the Procon.org website.
4. Examine at least two (2) types of biases that you likely experienced as you evaluated the premises for and against your position.
5. Discuss the effects of your own enculturation or group identification that may have influenced your biases.
6. Discuss whether or not your thinking about the topic has changed after playing the “Believing Game,” even if your position on the issue has stayed the same.
The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:
- Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
- Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
- Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
- Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
- Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Identify the informal fallacies, assumptions, and biases involved in manipulative appeals and abuses of language.
- Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
- Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.
PHI210 Week 9 Assignment 2 Problem Solving Latest 2017 December
Assignment 2: Problem Solving
Due Week 9 and worth 150 points
When faced with a problem, what do you do to solve it? This assignment asks you to apply a six-step to problem solving process to a specific problem scenario. You will write a paper that presents a synthesis of your ideas about solving the problem using this systematic approach. As Voltaire said, "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking."
Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as a topic choice for your paper (Note: Your professor must approve your topic choice before you begin work on the assignment.)
Scenario 1: You have worked at your company for eleven (11) years. You have returned to college to earn a Bachelor’s degree in order to increase your chances for a promotion. You are nearly finished with your degree, when a supervisor’s position in a competing company becomes available in another state. The start date is in two (2) weeks, during your final exam period for your courses. The position offers a $15,000 per year salary increase, a car allowance, and relocation expenses. Your former supervisor works for the company and is recommending you for the position based on your outstanding job performance; if you want the job, it’s yours. All of the other supervisors at this level in the company have Master’s degrees, so you know that you would be expected to earn your Bachelor’s degree and continue on to a Master’s degree. Your present company offers tuition reimbursement, but the new company does not.
Scenario 2: Your child comes home from school with an assignment sheet for a school project. He / she is very excited about the project and begins work immediately, doing research on the Internet and gathering materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that your child is not including all of the required items in the project, and you have some ideas for how to improve the quality of the presentation. You recently read an article in a parenting magazine about the importance of a child developing responsibility for his/ her own learning. You recall the many ways in which your parents took over your school projects. You, on the other hand, want to encourage your child’s confidence in his / her ability to complete a project independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store when you see a parent of a student in your child’s class. That parent has spent over $30 in supplies for the science project and is taking a day off of work to put the pieces of the project together.
Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during the week from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. You are taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and one class online. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and one who is in band. You have two elderly parents who no longer drive. You have two siblings—one who lives two (2) miles away, and one who lives in another state. You have two (2) papers due in your classes the same week that one (1) of your children has a soccer tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are coaching the soccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for the band. You have a goal to complete your degree in two (2) years. Your doctor tells you that your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your weight are too high and recommends several medications that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance co-pay.
Scenario 4: You are a sales representative for a company that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from the office. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office. You notice that each day when you arrive and return another co-worker is already there, and you wonder whether this person spends most of his / her time at the office. At your weekly sales meeting, you are informed of your co-workers’ outstanding sales performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more time flattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a result is getting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers have steadily decreased since this other sales representative was hired.
Scenario 5: Professor’s Choice – problem scenario presented by your professor.
Scenario 6: Student’s Choice – Problem scenario presented by you.
Review the six-step problem solving process outlined in the webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process” located at http://www.gdrc.org/decision/problem-solve.html:
- Step One: Define the problem
- Step Two: Analyze the problem
- Step Three: Generate options
- Step Four: Evaluate options
- Step Five: Make your decision
- Step Six: Implement and reflect
Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:
1. Define the problem in the scenario that you have chosen.
2. Analyze the problem in the scenario.
3. Generate options for solving the problem in the scenario.
4. Evaluate the options for solving the problem.
5. Decide on the best option for solving the problem.
6. Explain how you will implement the decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective.
The paper should follow guidelines for clear and organized writing:
- Include an introductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.
- Address main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
- Adhere to standard rules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
- Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
- Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Recognize the hindrances to the decision-making process in order to apply problem-solving skills to a variety of situations.
- Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
- Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.
PHI210 Week 6 Assignment Exam 1 Latest 2017 December
Question 1
Aaron is choosing his classes for the upcoming college semester and making sure they align with his future career plans. Which BEST describes the habit of critical thinking he is practicing?
Question 2
You can strengthen the quality of your opinion on an issue by ______ people who think differently than you.
Question 3
Which of these questions has the most potential for debate?
Question 4
Which habit of critical thinking do individuals who keep food diaries and practice daily exercise BEST represent?
Question 5
A rule of thumb for using to critical thinking to find solutions and make decisions is to seek which of the following?
Question 6
Which statement BEST summarizes the barriers to critical thinking explained in this chapter?
Question 7
Which of the following BEST summarizes the relationship between groups and culture and critical thinking?
Question 8
Which statement BEST describes the role of emotions in political issues and/or elections?
Question 9
Which strategy helps combat hostility?
Question 10
Ever since she was in high school, Tamille has been deeply committed to her belief that animal testing in all forms is wrong. One day she gets into a debate about this topic with her classmate Carissa, a strong proponent of animal testing, and she finds herself getting angry and emotional during the conversation. Which is the MOST likely explanation for Tamille's reaction?
Question 11
Which of the following is TRUE of an inductive argument?
Question 12
In what way can evaluating inductive arguments be more difficult than validating deductive arguments?
Question 13
Vicky is trying to convince Todd that he should eat at the new Thai restaurant in town because the food is tasty, affordable, and healthy. She then explains that the food at the restaurant is healthy because the chefs avoid hydrogenated oils and use natural sweeteners when possible. Vicky's argument about why the food is healthy serves as which of the following?
Question 14
An inductive argument USUALLY starts with which of the following?
Question 15
Blaise wants to convince his manager to allow well-behaved pets in the office. His inductive argument would be strongest if he provided which of the following support?
Question 16
Which of the following represents a "post hoc propter ergo hoc" fallacy?
Question 17
William took a shower on a cold afternoon in winter. Promptly after getting out of the shower he put his bathrobe on and walked outside to get the newspaper. The next night he felt achy and feverish. His wife told him it was because he went out in the cold with wet hair. This is an example of the _________ fallacy.
Question 18
A 1987 Public Service Announcement showed a man who held up an egg and said, "This is your brain," then picked up a frying pan and added, "This is drugs." He then cracks open the egg, fries the contents, and says, "This is your brain on drugs." Finally he looks up at the camera and asks, "Any questions?" This is an example of a(n) __________ fallacy.
Question 19
Which of the following represents an "ad hominem" fallacy?
Question 20
_________ is characterized by trying to persuade the audience by arousing feelings such as pity, fear, patriotism, flattery, etc. in place of presenting rational arguments.
Question 21
A geologist has been studying a particular type of rock for almost 25 years. He recently had some ideas about cloud formations and shared them in a journal article. Which of the following led to a loss in the expert's credibility?
Question 22
Why should you evaluate claims against things you already know?
Question 23
Don was researching apple production for a farm stand orchard. He found a .com that discussed apple production and sold apple cider, a .com that discussed apple production and sold dried fruit, a .org that educated the community on growing apple trees, and a .org that advocated for removing genetically modified (GMO) trees from orchards. Based upon what you know about website types and target audiences, which site should Don consider the MOST credible?
Question 24
Kevin tells his coworker Luis that it is going to rain tomorrow. Which of the following scenarios would make Kevin's claim most credible to Luis?
Question 25
According to the text, which of the following is an essential question that should be asked while evaluating a source?
PHI210 Week 11 Assignment Exam 2 Latest 2017 December
Question 1
Which of the following is MOST likely to be a sign of pseudoscience?
Question 2
While sitting in a parking lot after work, Brandon witnesses someone step around a garbage bag on the ground. This leads Brandon to question people's reaction to litter. If Brandon were to conduct an investigation, which part of the investigation will he have already completed?
Question 3
A scientist is hired to do research for a tobacco company. Anyone reading the scientist's conclusions should be aware that the scientist may be which of the following?
Question 4
While scientific explanations provide compelling evidence for claims and produce verifiable insights, they are also _________.
Question 5
Steven has to produce a survey for his class project due tomorrow, although he really wants to go to the local high school football game tonight with his father. Steven decides to hand out a survey at the gate of the football stadium which holds roughly 1,000 fans. The survey reads, "Do you prefer sport activities that focus on group achievement or individual achievements?" Which of the following explains why this question could lead to obtaining poor data?
Question 6
Which of the following is MOST likely to lead to bad decisions?
Question 7
Clinton graduated college with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. While in school he turned down the option to stay an extra year and earn a master's degree in engineering. Currently, Clinton is having a difficult time finding employment as a mathematician, while all of his engineering friends easily found jobs. What question is Clinton likely asking himself when reflecting upon his decision to not get the master's degree, which has made it more difficult for him to find a job?
Question 8
Which of the following is something that can lead to making good decisions?
Question 9
Bryan is the manager of his company's IT department. One morning a server cluster loses power. Bryan first checks the power supply, the power cables, the wall outlet, and finally the circuit breaker to find what caused the power outage. What did Bryan do?
Question 10
Wallace is having a frustrating day at work after his manager changes deadlines on him, leaves him out of the loop in an important email chain, and turns down his time-off request. In the middle of a meeting that afternoon, Wallace stands up, announces that he's quitting, and walks out of the office. Which decision-making misstep did Wallace commit?
Question 11
What is sarcasm?
Question 12
"They saw the woman with the binoculars" is an example of which type of ambiguity?
Question 13
Which statement BEST describes the relationship between defining terms and clear thinking?
Question 14
Which list includes terms that are most often used as qualifiers or "weasel words"?
Question 15
A reader analyzes the four categories of meaning in order to do what?
Question 16
A bank states that its decision to offer home loans at an extremely low initial, but variable, rate is rooted in the idea that all have a right to owning an affordable home. The bank does not state that the loans are packaged in a product sold to another, larger bank that may or may not work with customers in difficult situations. The smaller bank is no longer exposed to the risk of longer-term loans, and makes a large profit. Which moral theory is the bank operating under?
Question 17
Which of the following MOST clearly illustrates a moral dilemma?
Question 18
How do excuses and justifications differ?
Question 19
Every day on his way to work, Frederic stops by a large chain hotel at which he is not staying, walks into the lobby, and helps himself to the continental breakfast. He believes this is the right thing to do because it saves him a lot of money and is very convenient. What ethical theory is he using to justify his actions?
Question 20
Which theory is characterized by doing what is best for others instead of oneself?
Question 21
Annie argues that reducing carbon emissions in the United States will take a toll on the economy far exceeding any potential environmental benefits. Leo responds by arguing that several Scandinavian countries produce less carbon than the United States. What fallacy is Leo committing?
Question 22
The two parts of an argument are _________ and _________.
Question 23
When considering learning more about the topic of stem cell research, the most appropriate website to visit is most likely to be _________.
Question 24
Which of the following statements uses "innuendo"?
Question 25
Which of the following is an irrelevant question to ask when evaluating a claim?
