Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving 4-5 Page Paper

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Assignment 2:  Problem Solving

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.

Grading for this assignment will be
based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and
writing skills, using the following rubric.

Assignment
2: Problem Solving

Criteria

Unacceptable
Below 60% F

Meets
Minimum Expectations
60-69% D

Fair
70-79% C

Proficient
80-89% B

Exemplary
90-100% A

1. Define the problem in the
scenario chosen.
Weight: 20%

Did not submit or incompletely
defined the problem in the scenario chosen.

Insufficiently defined the problem
in the scenario chosen.

Partially defined the problem in
the scenario chosen.

Satisfactorily defined the problem
in the scenario chosen.
.

Thoroughly defined the problem in
the scenario chosen.

2. Analyze the problem in the
scenario.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
analyzed the problem in the scenario.

Insufficiently
analyzed the problem in the scenario.

Partially analyzed the problem in
the scenario.

Satisfactorily
analyzed the problem in the scenario.

Thoroughly
analyzed the problem in the scenario.

3. Generate options for solving
the problem in the scenario.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
generated options for solving the problem in the scenario.

Insufficiently generated options
for solving the problem in the scenario.

Partially generated options for
solving the problem in the scenario.

Satisfactorily generated options
for solving the problem in the scenario.

Thoroughly generated options for
solving the problem in the scenario.

4. Evaluate the options for
solving the problem.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
evaluated the options for solving the problem.

Insufficiently evaluated the
options for solving the problem.

Partially evaluated the options
for solving the problem.

Satisfactorily evaluated the
options for solving the problem.

Thoroughly evaluated the options
for solving the problem.

5. Decide on the best option for
solving the problem
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
decided on the best option for solving the problem.

Insufficiently decided on the best
option for solving the problem.

Partially decided on the best
option for solving the problem.

Satisfactorily decided on the best
option for solving the problem.

Thoroughly decided 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.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
explained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether
this option was the most effective.

Insufficiently explained how the
decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was
the most effective.

Partially explained how the
decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was
the most effective.

Satisfactorily explained how the
decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was the
most effective.

Thoroughly explained how the
decision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was
the most effective.

7. Follow APA Style requirements
for format, in-text citation of quotes and paraphrases, and references page.
Weight: 10%

Did not complete the assignment or
had more than 9 errors in following APA Style requirements.

Had 8-9 errors in following APA
Style requirements.

Had 6-7 different errors in
following APA Style requirements.

Had 4-5 different errors in
following APA Style requirements.

Had 0-3 different errors in
following APA Style requirements.

8. Follow guidelines for clear and
organized writing: include an introductory and concluding paragraph; address
main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.
Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely
followed guidelines for clear and organized writing.

Insufficiently followed guidelines
for clear and organized writing: did not include an introductory and / or
concluding paragraph; did not address main ideas in body paragraphs with a
topic sentence and supporting sentences.

Partially followed guidelines for
clear and organized writing: included a partially developed introductory and
/ or concluding paragraph; partially addressed main ideas in body paragraphs
with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.

Sufficiently followed guidelines
for clear and organized writing: included an introductory and concluding
paragraph; sufficiently addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a topic
sentence and supporting sentences.

Fully followed guidelines for
clear and organized writing: included an engaging introductory and thoughtful
concluding paragraph; fully addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a
topic sentence and detailed supporting sentences.

9. Adhere to standard rules of
English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.
Weight: 10%

Did not complete the assignment or
had more than 9 errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 8-9 errors in grammar,
grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 6-7 different errors in
grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 4-5 different errors in
grammar, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.

Had 0-3 different errors in
grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.