In this first step, you will prepare to respond to your boss’s request for an analysis of a problem in your
organization. You realize that this will require careful thinking. So, you take some time to review the
process and to engage in Critical Thinking and Analysis.
When you have completed the critical thinking exercises, you will move on to the next step: identifying
the problem.
Step 2: Identify the Problem
Now that you have reviewed the process, apply that to the problem by reviewing the case, “Trouble in
the Truss Construction Shop.” Your first task is to figure out how the incident resulted in a problem in
the truss construction shop.
Remember the direction from your boss is to “apply your critical thinking and analytical skills to figure
out what happened, what we know and don’t know, and how the organization might remedy this
situation.”
So, what is the problem that resulted from the incident, and why might there be different
interpretations of the facts?
Outline the points that you want to make in the first two sections of your paper (introduction,
explanation), and draft those sections.
Next, you will analyze the information.
Step 3: Analyze the Information
Once that you have some understanding of the issues of the event, gather and analyze information. The
Problem Analysis resources will further aid your analysis and development of the third section of your
paper.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 3: Analysis of the Information of your paper, and
draft that section.
Next, you will consider other viewpoints.
Step 4: Consider and Analyze Other Viewpoints, Conclusions, and Solutions
Once you have completed your analysis of the incident, the next step is to analyze alternative
viewpoints, conclusions, and solutions. To do this you will need to apply Ethical Decision-Making and
Reasoning. Also highly recommended, Randolph Pherson’s “The Five Habits of the Master Thinker,” a
paper written for intelligence analysts, but applicable to all analytical thinking and reasoning.
Outline the points that you want to make in Section 4: Analysis of Alternative Viewpoints, Conclusions,
or Solutions of your paper, and draft that section.
Next, you will develop your conclusions.
Step 5: Develop Well-Reasoned Conclusions
You considered alternative viewpoints in the last step. Now you’re ready to develop your personal
conclusions and suggest remedies so that your boss is well-equipped to brief her leadership about the
situation.
Remember, you may need to consult outside references but this is not a research paper. It is more
investigative in nature about the facts of the case. Please cite outside sources carefully.
Now, outline your argument and draft Section 5: Conclusions and Recommendations, the final sections.
Your boss is expecting to receive a concise, focused paper to prepare her for further meetings. Stay to
the main points, although you may have more facts to answer any questions. You will submit your paper
in the final step.
Step 6: Submit Critical Thinking Paper
Your final paper should be no more than 5 double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and
References page(s). Please organize your paper in accordance with your preparatory steps, using these
subheadings:
1. Introduction
2. Explanation of the Issue
3. Analysis of the Information
4. Consideration of alternative viewpoints and conclusions
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
Evaluation Criteria
A.1: Organize document or presentation clearly in a manner that promotes
understanding and meets the requirements of the assignment.
A.2: Develop coherent paragraphs or points so that each is internally unified and
so that each functions as part of the whole document or presentation.
A.4: Tailor communications to the audience.
A.5: Use sentence structure appropriate to the task, message and audience.
A.6: Follow conventions of Standard Written English.
B.1: Identify and clearly explain the issue, question, or problem under critical
consideration.
B.2: Locate and access sufficient information to investigate the issue or problem.
B.4: Consider and analyze information in context to the issue or problem.
B.5: Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions or decisions, checking them against
relevant criteria and benchmarks.
Here are some tips for success:
 Consider outside sources if they inform your case. However, stay on task.
 Use APA style for “in text” and reference citations. At this point, your citations should be errorfree.
Consider these Best Practices for a paper:
 An effective introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone and direction for
the rest of the paper;
 Supporting paragraphs that move the reader from the general introduction to the more specific
aspects of your analysis;
 Body paragraphs that provide support; and,
 A conclusion that leads to a natural close to what you have presented in your paper.
Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and each sentence should convey one main idea. There
should be 2 spaces after each period.
References
References will be double-spaced with a hanging indent (first line at left margin and second
subsequent lines indented). Please create this indent by going into Paragraph and choosing the
indention choice there. Do not count on using the space bar to manually space the indent. There
should not be an extra line of space between items, and the items should be double-spaced.
References are listed in alphabetical order by last name of the first author. If there is no author,
alphabetize the entry by its title.
Citing Your Sources
In-text citations are used to give credit to other authors for their ideas. You will also always
cite specific facts that are not your own and any quoted material in the body of the text. An intext citation should be in parenthesis and include the last name of the author followed by a
comma and date of publication (Name, Year). When there are two authors, an ampersand (&) is
used. When there are more than two authors, the rules get more specific, so please refer to the
Direct Quotes
Direct quotes must also have a page number or para associated with the citation. They are
formatted like this (p. X). Depending upon the placement of the in-text reference, the page
number can be placed in the same parenthesis as the author and year, or in a separate parenthesis.
Short direct quotes should appear in the body of the narrative with quotation marks.
Block Quotations
Longer quotes (more than 40 words) should be typed in an indented block without quotation
marks. Here is more specific guidance to format block quotations. Avoid over-dependence on
others’ ideas. Your paper should not be a series of quoted ideas from other authors. Even if
cited properly, this will not be your original work, and that is what is required in graduate school.
It would be helpful to review the keys to effective paraphrasing to avoid unintentional
plagiarism.
References Types (centered, in same size and font, not bold)
1. Online journal:
Last name, First initial. (Date). Title with first letter of first word in caps and rest in lower case
letters. Journal name, Vol (no), page range (x – x). Retrieved from url or doi
2. Website:
Last name, First initial. (Date). Title with first letter of first word in caps and rest in lower case
letters. Website. Retrieved from url or doi
3. E-book:
Last name, First initial. (Date). Title. Retrieved from url or doi. (Note that you will not need to
include publishing data unless book is a hard copy.)
4. Report:
Office or department. (Date). Title using the capitalization rule. (Publication No.) Retrieved from
url or doi
5. Webpage or Piece of Online Content:
Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Title of page. Site name. URL