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:

1. What’s
   interesting or helpful about this view?
2. What
   would I notice if I believed this view?
3. 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 a