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A Grand Canyon University Media Publication

2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S K I L L S

C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G A N D P R O B L E M S O L V I N G

EDITION 1

FIND YOUR PURPOSE

http://www.gcu.edu
21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

A Grand Canyon University Media Publication

Edition 1

http://gcumedia.com
PAGE iv

IMPRINT. ART DIRECTION, PERMISSIONS

Executive Editor: Declan Joyce Consulting Editors: Mark Alexander and Nicole Quow-Thomason Assistant Editor: Alexis DiVincenzo Copy Editor: Lindsay Harrel Instructional Designer: Ryan Hughes

Contributors

Senior Art Director: Miranda Hildebrand Art Development and Design / Photography: David Pinter Illustrations: Brian Buckles

Art Direction

Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Photography Credits and Illustrations: Grand Canyon University, Copyright © 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

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CHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PAGE v

The previous two classes you took at Grand Canyon University, UNV- 103 and UNV-104, were designed to equip you with some of the skills you will need to succeed in college. So far, you have learned how to manage your time, take effective notes, build study skills, and search for and evaluate resources.

In this class, PHI-105, we will continue the process of building your information literacy by developing your critical thinking and problem- solving skills. At the college level, you must be able to support your opinions. If you are confronted with problems or challenges, you must be able to solve them creatively and constructively. This book is designed to help you develop these skills.

The book also features a number of shorter articles on famous individuals from different walks of life who have excelled at solving problems or at approaching them in innovative ways. From George Orwell to Jane Goodall, from Frederick Douglass to Abraham Lincoln, these individuals demonstrate what is possible when the human mind is freed to think critically and solve problems.

ABOUT THIS

BOOK

INTRODUCTION. ABOUT THIS BOOKCHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7CHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PAGE vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER ONE

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER ONE. Critical Thinking, Memory, and Forgetting by Marti Abitheira

TOPICS The Amazing Brain .................................................................................................................... 1

Whole-Brain Thinking .............................................................................................................. 2

Memory ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Short-Term Memory _______________________________________________________________3 Long-Term Memory ________________________________________________________________4

Forgetting .................................................................................................................................... 4

Why We Forget ........................................................................................................................... 5 Retrieval Failure _____________________________________________________________________5 Interference _________________________________________________________________________5 Failure to Store ______________________________________________________________________6 Motivated Forgetting ________________________________________________________________6

What Defines Critical Thinking? ............................................................................................ 6

Obstacles to Critical Thinking ................................................................................................ 8 Assumption vs. Fact _________________________________________________________________8 Thinking Superficially ________________________________________________________________8 Jumping to Conclusions ______________________________________________________________8 All-or-None Thinking ________________________________________________________________8

Benefits of Critical Thinking ................................................................................................... 9

Exercises/Food for Thought .................................................................................................... 10

Questions ..................................................................................................................................... 10

CRITICAL THINKING SIDEBARS. By Declan Joyce Problem Solvers: Eratosthenes ............................................................................................... 4

Critical Thinkers: Jane Goodall ............................................................................................... 8

CHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER ONE, TWO

TABLE OF CONTENTS. CONTINUED REFERENCES

References ....................................................................................................................................11

CHAPTER TWO. Perception, by R. Jacob Aroz

TOPICS Introduction .................................................................................................................................12

Perception ....................................................................................................................................13

The Five Senses ...........................................................................................................................13

The Deception of the Senses/Misperception ........................................................................16

Prewriting Strategies .................................................................................................................17

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................19

Food for Thought Exercise ........................................................................................................20 Three Perspectives Brainstorm ______________________________________________________ 20

CRITICAL THINKING SIDEBARS. By Declan Joyce Altered Perception: Sergei Eisenstein ................................................................................... 14

Problem Solver: John Harrison ............................................................................................... 20

REFERENCES References ....................................................................................................................................22

CHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7CHAPTERS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER THREE

TABLE OF CONTENTS. CONTINUED

CHAPTER THREE. Emotion and Emotional Intelligence by Kristen DiCarlo

TOPICS

Introduction .................................................................................................................................23

Opening Questions .....................................................................................................................23

Emotional Intelligence and Making Decisions .....................................................................24 Emotional Bias ______________________________________________________________________ 24 Enculturation _______________________________________________________________________ 25 Denial and Rationalization _________________________________________________________ 26

Cognitive Distortions .................................................................................................................26 Always Being Right _________________________________________________________________ 26 Global Labeling _____________________________________________________________________ 27 Emotional Reasoning _______________________________________________________________ 27 Shoulds _____________________________________________________________________________ 27 Blaming ____________________________________________________________________________ 27 Personalization _____________________________________________________________________ 28 Catastrophizing _____________________________________________________________________ 28 Overgeneralization _________________________________________________________________ 28 Polarized Thinking ________________________________________________________________