Creative and Critical Thinking

Syllabus
(Winter 2019-20)

Instructor: Dr. John McGuire

Contact information: 2220-2282 (office); mcguire@hanyang.ac.kr
Office hours: 11:00 - 12:00 Mon/Wed or by appointment

Description
Creative thinking refers to the cognitive processes through which we generate new ideas,
interesting hypotheses, novel solutions to problems, or better approaches to life. Critical
thinking refers to the analytical skills that we use to evaluate those ideas, hypotheses,
solutions, and approaches. To a very large extent, one’s success in life depends on one’s
ability to think creatively and critically. Nevertheless, most people spend little or no time
thinking about or trying to improve these skills on which their future success largely
depends. This course seeks to address that problem by helping students to recognize
flaws in their thinking, understand the skills associated with creative and critical thinking,
and strengthen those skills through practical exercises.

Course Objectives
Students in this course are presented with a wide variety of reasoning and thinking
exercises that will develop and strengthen their creative and critical thinking skills.
Equipped with these skills, students should become better thinkers, more persuasive in
written and verbal communication, and less likely to be misled by others or by
themselves. As all readings, assignments, lectures, and discussions are carried out in the
English language, this course aims to improve, not only students’ thinking skills, but also
their ability to communicate effectively in the English language.

Course textbooks

A Workbook for Arguments (2nd Edition): A Complete Course in Critical Thinking

(2016) David Morrow and Anthony Weston

Every student should obtain a copy of the above book. Additional material will be drawn
from the following books, which students need not purchase.

1. Critical Thinking (Moore & Parker, 2016)

2. Creative Confidence (Tom & David Kelly, 2013)
3. Thinkertoys (Michael Michalko, 1991, Ten Speed)
4. Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman, 2011)
5. Nudge (Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein, 2008)
6. Predictably Irrational (Dan Ariely, 2009)
7. A Rulebook for Arguments (Anthony Weston, 2000)
8. The Geography of Thought (Richard Nisbett, 2004)
9. 101 Activities for Teaching Creativity and Problem Solving (Arthur VanGundy, 2005)
10. Creative and Participative Problem Solving (René Vidal, Chapter 8)
Reference websites: educational sites for creative and critical thinking
1. Textbook companion website
http://www.hackettpublishing.com/workbookforarguments/
2. Critical Thinking on the Web: www.austhink.org/critical/
3. The Fallacy Files: http://www.fallacyfiles.org/
4. Critical Thinking Web: http://philosophy.hku.hk/think
5. The Skeptic’s Dictionary: http://skepdic.com/
6. Creativity Techniques: https://www.mycoted.com/Category:Creativity_Techniques
7. Creativity Pool: http://www.creativitypool.com/
8. Brainstorming: http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/contents.html
9. Critical and Creative Thinking: www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic69.htm
10. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://plato.stanford.edu/index.html

Course Outline
Classes will consist of lectures on the assigned readings as well as classroom exercises
and student presentations. The details of the exercises and presentations will be
announced in class. Mastering the skills associated with creative and critical thinking is
much like learning how to ride a bicycle: it is through repeated practice that these skills
are acquired. Therefore, the emphasis in this course will be on practical thinking
exercises (in class and at home) more than on theory.

Final grade breakdown

1. Mid-term exam: 20%
2. Final exam: 20%
3. Quizzes: 20% (2 x 10%)
4. Creative Assignments: 20%
5. Participation: 15% (positive and negative)
6. Essay assignment: 5%
7. Attendance: -1 for being absent; -0.5 for being less than 15 minutes late

Notes about grading:

1. There will be no make-up quizzes or exams for those who are absent or late on the
days of scheduled quizzes or exams. Therefore, it is the responsibility of students to make
sure they are present and on time on the days in which quizzes and exams are held.

2. Active participation in all class discussions is strongly encouraged and is therefore

reflected in the grades. All students should make an effort to participate regularly.

3. Students who are absent for a legitimate reason can have their absence erased by
submitting an official excuse form but they must do so on the first day that they return to
class following the absence.

4. Students are prohibited from using electronic devices in the classroom unless
instructed otherwise.
Schedule
The schedule given below is approximate and may need to be adjusted slightly as we
proceed through the course. Additional information concerning online reading material,
assignments, and tests will be announced in class and posted on the portal at the
appropriate times.

Day 1 (December 24)

Class 1: Course introduction
Class 2: Creativity and the education system 1 (Ken Robinson)

*There will be no class on December 25 as it is a national holiday.

Day 2 (December 26)

Class 3: Chapter 1a – Identifying premises and conclusions (Rules 1 and 2)
Appendix 3 – Mapping arguments
Class 4: Creativity and the education system 2 (Ken Robinson)

Day 3 (December 27)

Class 5: Chapter 1b – Reliable premises; clear and consistent terms (Rules 3 - 6)
Class 6: Quiz 1
Creative confidence (Tom and David Kelley)

Day 4 (December 30)

Class 7: Appendix 2 – Definitions (Rule D1 and D2); ambiguities
Class 8: Creativity, frustration, and procrastination (Adam Grant and Tim Harford)

Day 5 (December 31)

Class 9: Chapter 2 – Generalizations (Rules 7 - 11)
Class 10: The six basic principles of creativity; thinking like a traveler (Tom Kelley)

*There will be no class on January 1 as it is a national holiday.

Day 6 (January 2)
Class 11: Chapter 3 – Arguments by analogy (Rule 12)
Class 12: Group creativity exercises with related and unrelated stimuli

Day 7 (January 3)
Class 13: Mid-term exam
Class 14: Group creativity exercises with related and unrelated stimuli

Day 8 (January 6)
Class 15: Chapter 4 – Sources (Rules 13 - 17)
Class 16: Building on others’ ideas: innovation (IDEO)
Day 9 (January 7)
Class 17: Appendix 1 – Common fallacies
Class 18: Creative Assignment 1 (Groups 1 – 2)

Day 10 (January 8)
Class 19: Chapter 5 – Arguments about causes (Rules 18 - 21)
Class 20: Creative Assignment 1 (Groups 3 – 4)

Day 11 (January 9)
Class 21: Chapter 6 – Deductive arguments (Rules 22 - 28)
Class 22: Creative Assignment 1 (Groups 5 - 6)

Day 12 (January 10)

Class 23: Quiz 2
Chapter 7a – Extended arguments (Rules 29 - 33)
Class 24: Creative Assignment 2 (Groups 1 – 2)

Day 13 (January 13)

Class 25: Chapter 7b – Extended arguments (Rules 29 - 33)
Class 26: Creative Assignment 2 (Groups 3 – 4)

Day 14 (January 14)

Class 27: Chapter 8 – Argumentative essays (Rules 34 - 39)
Class 28: Creative Assignment 2 (Groups 5 and 6)

Day 15 (January 15)

Class 29: Thurs: Course summary and conclusion
Class 30: Final exam