Prepare: In preparation for discussing the importance of critical   thinking skills, please read the following articles: Critical Thinking and   the Challenges of Internet (Links to an external site.)Links to an external   site. 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    (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.and references (Links   to an external site.)Links to an external site..

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.