Part 1: Statement of Your Critical Thinking Goals: Why would you like to think more critically? In what ways do you hope to think more critically? What outcomes do you predict for yourself if you make these changes? (50 word minimum for this section)
Part 2: Describing Cognitive Errors: Describe at least five cognitive illusions or cognitive biases that have interfered with your ability to think critically. Use the name of the particular problem (i.e. fundamental attribution error, left-digit bias) in your description.
Part 3: Describing How Cognitive Errors Become Logical Fallacies: Give at least one example of an instance where you fell into each of the cognitive errors you listed in Part 2 of this assignment (ex. falling for advertising tricks, fundamental attribution error, patternicity, cognitive dissonance, etc). Now show how the cognitive error led to using a specific logical fallacy. While cognitive biases are brain responses, logical fallacies are argumentative choices we make. (Ex: fundamental attribution error leading you to an argument from ignorance or a strawman attack on someone else; cognitive dissonance leading to a “kettle logic argument”; left-digit bias leading to rationalization would also be acceptable.) Make sure to apply the correct definition to each description.
Part 4: Describing My Strength[s]: Describe at least one mental habit that you’ve developed over the years that you can build upon to help you improve your critical thinking skills. Remember, positive thinking does not count. In fact, “positive thinking” or “wishful thinking” is often irrational and logically fallacious.
Part 5: Envisioning Your Own Improvement: Imagine at least one possible scenario you’re likely to find yourself in cognitive biases are likely to be a problem (ex. social media debate, online shopping, writing an academic paper, classroom behavior, etc.) Now imagine and describe how you’ll use the information provided in this course to improve your ability to stop yourself from engaging in logic fallacies in such a scenario.
