What is Critical Thinking? 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 what decision can best remedy this situation.”  She wants your analysis in 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. 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, para 1).  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 and Chan, 2015 para 2).  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 requ.

1. What is Critical Thinking?
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 what decision
can best remedy this situation.” She wants your analysis in 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.
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

2. use of information to solve problems, and to seek relevant
sources of information to inform himself” (2015, para 1).
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 and Chan, 2015 para 2).
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 into practice by responding to the company-head’s

3. request for a critical analysis of the ongoing dispute.
The Assignment
Step 1:
Review the
Critical Thinking Rubric, expanded (3).pdf
. 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
Case Study- Accident on the Job.pdf
, 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
below). Employ the sub-steps within each of the four key steps

4. to further direct your analysis.
Assignment Deliverables
Write a short paper (1,000-1,200 words, double spaced, plus a
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
Solution
s
Personal or Summarized Conclusions and Proposed Decisions
Conclusion
Follow these guidelines:
Use the
TGS Critical Thinking Rubric
to guide your analysis:
Critical Thinking Rubric, expanded
.
Use the
TGS Written Communications Rubric
to guide your writing:
Comm Rubric Expanded Rev 032416.pdf
.

5. 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:
APA Citation Examples (UMUC Library)
;
Sample Paper to Show Appropriate APA Style
.
Include an APA title page and Reference page.
Remember
: Even though I have suggested the major sections for your short
paper, you should still follow best practices for structuring the
paper.
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

6. 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…”).