Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving 4-5 Page Paper

Assignment 2:  Problem SolvingWhen faced with a problem, what do you do tosolve it? This assignment asks you to apply a six-step to problem solvingprocess to a specific problem scenario. You will write a paper that presents a synthesisof your ideas about solving the problem using this systematic approach. AsVoltaire said, "No problem can withstand the assault of sustainedthinking."Choose one (1) of the problem scenarios as atopic choice for your paper (Note: Your professor must approve your topicchoice before you begin work on the assignment.)Scenario 1: You have worked at your companyfor eleven (11) years. You have returned to college to earn a Bachelor’s degreein order to increase your chances for a promotion. You are nearly finished withyour degree, when a supervisor’s position in a competing company becomesavailable in another state. The start date is in two (2) weeks, during yourfinal exam period for your courses. The position offers a $15,000 per yearsalary increase, a car allowance, and relocation expenses. Your formersupervisor works for the company and is recommending you for the position basedon your outstanding job performance; if you want the job, it’s yours. All ofthe other supervisors at this level in the company have Master’s degrees, soyou know that you would be expected to earn your Bachelor’s degree and continueon to a Master’s degree. Your present company offers tuition reimbursement, butthe new company does not.Scenario 2: Your child comes home from schoolwith an assignment sheet for a school project. He / she is very excited aboutthe project and begins work immediately, doing research on the Internet andgathering materials. You read over the assignment sheet and notice that yourchild is not including all of the required items in the project, and you havesome ideas for how to improve the quality of the presentation. You recentlyread an article in a parenting magazine about the importance of a childdeveloping responsibility for his/ her own learning. You recall the many waysin 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 aproject independently. The next day, you are at the grocery store when you seea parent of a student in your child’s class. That parent has spent over $30 insupplies for the science project and is taking a day off of work to put thepieces of the project together.Scenario 3: You have two jobs—one during theweek from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and one on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Youare taking two classes—one that meets from 6:00 to 10:00 pm, and one classonline. You have two kids—one who plays soccer, and one who is in band. Youhave two elderly parents who no longer drive. You have two siblings—one wholives 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 asoccer tournament, and the other child has a band concert. You are coaching thesoccer team, and you are in charge of fundraising for the band. You have a goalto complete your degree in two (2) years. Your doctor tells you that your bloodpressure, your cholesterol, and your weight are too high and recommends severalmedications that cost you nearly $200 per month after your insurance co-pay.Scenario 4: You are a sales representative fora company that encourages staff to log time in the field and away from theoffice. You are expected to begin and end your day at the office. You noticethat 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’ outstandingsales performance. You suspect that this co-worker is spending more timeflattering the boss instead of working leads in the field, and as a result isgetting the best client referrals. Your own sales numbers have steadilydecreased since this other sales representative was hired.Scenario 5: Professor’s Choice – problemscenario presented by your professor.Scenario 6: Student’s Choice – Problemscenario presented by you.Review the six-step problem solving processoutlined in the webtext, based on the article “The Problem Solving Process”located at http://www.gdrc.org/decision/problem-solve.html:Step One: Define theproblemStep Two: Analyze theproblemStep Three: GenerateoptionsStep Four: EvaluateoptionsStep Five: Make yourdecisionStep Six: Implementand reflectWrite 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 thisoption was the most effective.The paper should follow guidelines for clearand organized writing:Include anintroductory paragraph and concluding paragraph.Address main ideas inbody paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.Adhere to standardrules of English grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.Your assignment must follow these formattingrequirements:Be typed, doublespaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on allsides; citations and references must follow APA Style format. Check with yourprofessor for any additional instructions.Include a cover pagecontaining the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’sname, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page arenot included in the required assignment page length.Grading for this assignment will bebased on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language andwriting skills, using the following rubric.Assignment2: Problem SolvingCriteriaUnacceptableBelow 60% FMeetsMinimum Expectations60-69% DFair70-79% CProficient80-89% BExemplary90-100% A1. Define the problem in thescenario chosen.Weight: 20%Did not submit or incompletelydefined the problem in the scenario chosen.Insufficiently defined the problemin the scenario chosen.Partially defined the problem inthe scenario chosen.Satisfactorily defined the problemin the scenario chosen..Thoroughly defined the problem inthe scenario chosen.2. Analyze the problem in thescenario.Weight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelyanalyzed the problem in the scenario.Insufficientlyanalyzed the problem in the scenario.Partially analyzed the problem inthe scenario.Satisfactorilyanalyzed the problem in the scenario.Thoroughlyanalyzed the problem in the scenario.3. Generate options for solvingthe problem in the scenario.Weight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelygenerated options for solving the problem in the scenario.Insufficiently generated optionsfor solving the problem in the scenario.Partially generated options forsolving the problem in the scenario.Satisfactorily generated optionsfor solving the problem in the scenario.Thoroughly generated options forsolving the problem in the scenario.4. Evaluate the options forsolving the problem.Weight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelyevaluated the options for solving the problem.Insufficiently evaluated theoptions for solving the problem.Partially evaluated the optionsfor solving the problem.Satisfactorily evaluated theoptions for solving the problem.Thoroughly evaluated the optionsfor solving the problem.5. Decide on the best option forsolving the problemWeight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelydecided on the best option for solving the problem.Insufficiently decided on the bestoption for solving the problem.Partially decided on the bestoption for solving the problem.Satisfactorily decided on the bestoption for solving the problem.Thoroughly decided on the bestoption for solving the problem.6. Explain how you will implementthe decision made and reflect on whether this option was the most effective.Weight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelyexplained how the decision made will be implemented and reflected on whetherthis option was the most effective.Insufficiently explained how thedecision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option wasthe most effective.Partially explained how thedecision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option wasthe most effective.Satisfactorily explained how thedecision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option was themost effective.Thoroughly explained how thedecision made will be implemented and reflected on whether this option wasthe most effective.7. Follow APA Style requirementsfor format, in-text citation of quotes and paraphrases, and references page.Weight: 10%Did not complete the assignment orhad more than 9 errors in following APA Style requirements.Had 8-9 errors in following APAStyle requirements.Had 6-7 different errors infollowing APA Style requirements.Had 4-5 different errors infollowing APA Style requirements.Had 0-3 different errors infollowing APA Style requirements.8. Follow guidelines for clear andorganized writing: include an introductory and concluding paragraph; addressmain ideas in body paragraphs with a topic sentence and supporting sentences.Weight: 10%Did not submit or incompletelyfollowed guidelines for clear and organized writing.Insufficiently followed guidelinesfor clear and organized writing: did not include an introductory and / orconcluding paragraph; did not address main ideas in body paragraphs with atopic sentence and supporting sentences.Partially followed guidelines forclear and organized writing: included a partially developed introductory and/ or concluding paragraph; partially addressed main ideas in body paragraphswith a topic sentence and supporting sentences.Sufficiently followed guidelinesfor clear and organized writing: included an introductory and concludingparagraph; sufficiently addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with a topicsentence and supporting sentences.Fully followed guidelines forclear and organized writing: included an engaging introductory and thoughtfulconcluding paragraph; fully addressed main ideas in body paragraphs with atopic sentence and detailed supporting sentences.9. Adhere to standard rules ofEnglish grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling.Weight: 10%Did not complete the assignment orhad more than 9 errors in grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.Had 8-9 errors in grammar,grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.Had 6-7 different errors ingrammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.Had 4-5 different errors ingrammar, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.Had 0-3 different errors ingrammar, punctuation, mechanics, spelling.