. Discuss   additional ways one can think more critically. Each participation post should   be a minimum of 75 words.

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses.
Elements   of Critical Thinking

Prepare: In preparation for discussing the importance of critical   thinking skills, please read the following articles: Critical Thinking and   the Challenges of Internet   and Common Misconceptions   of Critical Thinking. You may   also read other applicable sources found under the Week Four Resources tab to   gain a better understanding of what it takes to be a critical thinker.

Reflect: Reflect on the characteristics of a critical thinker.   What makes you a critical thinker? Critical thinking gets you involved in a   dialogue with the ideas you read from others in this class. To be a critical   thinker, you need to be able to summarize, analyze, hypothesize, and evaluate   new information that you encounter.

Write: For this discussion, you will address the following   prompts. Keep in mind that the article or video you’ve chosen should not be   about the topic “critical thinking,” but should be about someone making a   statement, claim, or argument. One source should demonstrate good critical   thinking skills and the other source should demonstrate the lack or absence   of critical thinking skills. Personal examples should not be used.

• Explain at least five elements of critical thinking        that you found in the reading material.
• Search the Internet, media, or the Ashford University        Library, and find an example in which good critical thinking skills are        being demonstrated by the author or speaker. Summarize the content and        explain why you think it demonstrates good critical thinking skills.
• Search the Internet, media, or the Ashford University        Library and find an example in which the author or speaker lacks good        critical thinking skills. Summarize the content and explain why you        think it demonstrates the absence of good, critical thinking skills.

Your initial post should be at   least 250 words in length, which should include a thorough response to   each prompt. You are required to provide in-text citations of applicable   required reading materials and/or any other outside sources you use to   support your claims. Provide full reference information of all sources cited   at the end of your response. Please use correct APA format when writing in-text citations and references.

Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts, and respond to at least two   of your peers by Day 7. When responding to your classmates, please provide   feedback on their examples of good and poor critical thinking skills. Discuss   additional ways one can think more critically. Each participation post should   be a minimum of 75 words.

Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this   Discussion Thread.