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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.1 Introduction to Problem Solving
Introduction to Problem Solving
When you’re facing a tough decision or difficult challenge, or when problems exceed
the scope of individual choices and require many people to solve them, critical
thinking plays a vital role in making the right decisions. Coping with problems can
often be stressful and emotional, so finding an organized way to do so can help ensure
that you will make a well-reasoned decision.
One standard approach to solving a problem follows these basic steps:
Step 1: Define and Analyze the Problem
Step 2: Generate Options
Step 3: Evaluate the Options
Step 4: Make a Decision
Step 5: Implement and Reflect
Problem solvers seek input from others, challenge their own assumptions, and are
able to analyze information, and these steps help ensure that you’ll think carefully
through a problem from all angles before you decide how to solve it. Innovation plays
a key role in this process as well, as you strive to move beyond a surface-level
understanding of the problem to find a solution that works. Finally, agility helps you
to recognize that every process, no matter how logical, has its limits, so you may need
to pivot and get creative to solve the problem. Being open to collaborative solutions
and multiple possibilities will increase your chances of making a sound decision.
What You Will Learn
In this chapter, you will walk through all the steps of the problem solving process,
each of which uses the habits of mind that you’ve developed as a critical thinker.
You’ll learn
how to approach a problem using critical thinking skills,
how to understand a problem by defining it,
how to generate then evaluate options,
how to make a decision and then reflect on it, and
how to complete Assignment 2, the recommendation letter, by reviewing sources
and writing a professional letter.
To help understand the problem solving process, you will examine a case study that
demonstrates how you can use the process to make more thoughtful decisions in your
own life. At the end of the chapter, you’ll complete Assignment 2 by continuing to
address the workplace scenario from your first assignment, this time reviewing
sources and developing an argument to recommend a course of action.
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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.2 Understanding the Problem
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Understanding the Problem
The problem solving process begins with defining and analyzing the problem to make
sure you have a good understanding of it. Spend some time up front making sure you
are solving the right problem—only then should you move on to generating options,
which you must carefully evaluate before choosing one. But problem solving doesn’t end
here; reflecting on your decision after the fact is a critical part of the process and will
help you solve more problems in the future.
Anwar’s Dilemma: A Problem Solving Case Study
Throughout this chapter, you’ll read a case study about Anwar, a high school teacher
who uses the problem solving process to make a major life decision.
For most of his adult life, Anwar has lived in a small town in New Hampshire. He
has a good job as a high school music teacher and spends a significant part of his
time caring for his aging father, whose health has declined in the last few years.
Anwar’s girlfriend of two years, Bridget, has been offered her dream job as a pastry
chef at a high-end restaurant. The job is in New York City, and Bridget wants Anwar
to relocate with her. Anwar is not sure what to do, largely because he knows that
without someone checking in on his father regularly and running errands for him,
his father will likely have to move to a nursing home.
To make a tough decision, Anwar knows he will need to think critically and work
through the steps of solving a problem.
Multiple-Choice Question
Why does the first step in the problem solving process focus on defining
and analyzing the problem?
Getty Images
to make sure you know how to reflect on the outcome
to make sure you fully understand the problem
to make sure you can properly evaluate your options
Correct. The first step in the problem solving process is defining the problem in order to
understand exactly what problem you are trying to solve.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Step 1: Define and Analyze the Problem
To learn to think critically is to acquire strategies for making better decisions and
finding better solutions. When you’re faced with a problem, you may feel tempted to
just jump in and start brainstorming ways to solve it. However, setting aside time to
consider what your problem is actually about can make completing the later steps both
easier and more productive. What question are you really trying to answer? What
problem are you really trying to solve?
Your innovation skill can help make sure that you look beneath the surface to increase
your understanding of the problem so that you can find the best solutions. It’s the
difference between being able to simply state the problem versus making sure that you
really understand the nature of the problem. Depending on what the problem is,
strategies for defining it will include
stating the problem as clearly as possible,
rephrasing the problem in a new way, and
identifying any subproblems.
Rephrasing the problem in a new way is an especially important step because it can help
you refine your understanding of the problem. Simply thinking of new ways to explain
the problem can often help identify assumptions that you may not have been aware you
were making, and it may help reveal subproblems that you hadn’t considered.
While not every strategy will pertain to every problem, here’s what it might look like if
Anwar used these strategies to address the challenge he faces.
Anwar’s Dilemma: Defining the Problem
Anwar commits to finding a solution, reminding himself that his girlfriend has one
week to accept the job offer; he wants to be able to let both her and his father know
his intentions before that time is up. He acknowledges how the decision he makes
will affect both his relationship with his girlfriend and his relationship with his
father. Anwar originally understood his problem to be “Should I abandon my father
and move with Bridget to New York?” But as he thinks more about his dilemma, he
tries rephrasing it: “Can I find a way to ensure that my father is cared for while still
maintaining my relationship with my girlfriend?”
He identifies a number of subproblems involved with this dilemma—whether he will
be able to afford to move, whether he will be able to find a new job in New York if he
quits his current job, whether his father will have transportation to his doctor’s
appointments, and so forth.
SHORT-ANSWER QUESTION
What are some potential benefits of restating the problem in multiple ways?
Restating the problem would expand my understanding of it, allowing me to recognize the core
issue and potential solutions and increase the likelihood that my research will ultimately address
the issue.
Posted 8 days ago.
Reference Answer
Answers will vary but may include identifying barriers and assumptions in your thinking, refining your
understanding of the problem, and uncovering other parts of the problem you may not have seen at first.
Analyzing the Problem
Now that you’ve defined the problem, take the time to dig a little deeper and start
analyzing the problem—identifying your goals and establishing what you know in
greater detail. Analysis is the process of breaking something down to find or interpret
its meaning, so you should ask more in-depth questions that help you add to your
understanding of the situation. Once again, you’ll use your innovation skill to look
beneath the surface level.
Consider the causes and consequences of the problem, along with who it affects and
how. Depending on your situation, the problem’s causes, consequences, and affected
groups might be well established and therefore qualify as facts about your problem; or,
if they are disputed, they could be considered assumptions.
Here are some questions to consider during this phase:
What outcome does the solution need to enable?
What would success look like?
What are the facts about the situation?
What assumptions are you making?
What are the things you think are true but don’t know for sure?
What are the open questions, or things that would really be helpful to know?
What kinds of research do you need to undertake to answer your open questions?
Anwar’s Dilemma: Analyzing the Problem
Using his revised understanding of the problem as a springboard, Anwar decides
that his ideal solution needs to ensure that his father is cared for while enabling
him to maintain his relationship with Bridget.
Anwar then takes some time to expose and challenge assumptions. He thinks
that assumptions for this dilemma may include “I’m the only one who can give my
father the care he needs to maintain his independent lifestyle” or “Bridget will break
up with me if I don’t move to New York with her.”
Anwar also decides to gather facts about the situation before he decides what to
do. Are any of his siblings or cousins able to step in if he is no longer available to be
the primary caregiver for his father? How much would it cost to hire a live-in
caregiver? What are the job opportunities in his career field in New York City? How
often could he and Bridget realistically visit each other if they tried to maintain a
long-distance relationship?
Taking the time to define and analyze the problem saves you time in the end by helping
you identify your goal as well as the different questions or issues that you need to
address.
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of the following statements best defines the process of analyzing a
problem?
carefully examining and breaking down the parts
providing an overview of the basic details
applying criteria to judge quality or effectiveness
Correct. Analysis is the process of carefully breaking down a topic into smaller parts in
order to find or interpret its meaning.
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Multiple-Choice Question
Renetta is considering taking a new job that will pay more but require a
much longer commute. She is married with two kids, and it is important to
her to have time with her family. Her current job is close to home, allows
flexible hours, and has excellent benefits. Which of these questions best
represents the specific problem Renetta is trying to solve?
If I start making more money, will we be able to purchase an RV and go on a
camping trip with the kids each year?
Does having a flexible schedule and good benefits outweigh earning more
money but spending less time with my family?
Will my husband take on more responsibility if I accept this new job?
Correct. This question focuses on the key element of Renetta’s problem: weighing her
current job perks and family time against a higher income.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Defining and analyzing will help you to understand the problem. Then it’s time to move
on to the next step: generating options.
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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.3 Generating Your Options
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Generating Your Options
Putting in the effort to adequately define a problem may sometimes seem like a waste of
time, especially when you’re eager to reach a solution. However, the clarity you gain
from doing so will come in handy when you reach the next steps in the problem solving
process: generating and evaluating options.
Step 2: Generate Options
Generating options is a creative process. It’s important to start by just seeing how many
alternatives you can come up with. At this point, you’re not evaluating which idea is best
or finding reasons why proposed solutions won’t work; you’re simply brainstorming.
Having a lot of options is a positive thing, and becoming comfortable with that is the
key to being agile.
Although critical thinkers can find it hard to stop evaluating, you should turn off that
assessment engine and let the ideas flow by
looking at the problem from different perspectives,
thinking about the boundaries within which you have to work,
imagining that some key constraints are removed,
considering creative or unusual ways to approach the problem, and
asking yourself how people you admire might solve the problem.
As you consider possible solutions, you may develop a better understanding of the
problem, in which case you should feel free to revise the way you state it:
Problem: How can we keep the dog from barking when we’re not home?
Possible Solution: Give the dog away.
Revision: Without getting rid of the dog, how can we keep him from barking when
we’re not home?
Ideas typically materialize slowly at first, then appear in a rush, and then start to taper
off. Whether you need to go further depends on how much time you have, how
important the issue is, and how promising the ideas are so far. Here are some strategies
for generating as many viable options as possible:
Step away, get some rest, and then return to the problem with a fresh perspective.
Talk to other people to hear their ideas.
Try working backward—envision your ultimate goal, then figure out the last step
before that, then the last step before that, and so on.
Look for any subgoals and try to accomplish them first. Sometimes it’s easier to
solve smaller problems before tackling the main issue.
Multiple-Choice Question
What is the most important factor to think about when generating options?
considering the costs
producing a large number of ideas
thinking of a few really good ideas
Correct. Brainstorming is about quantity, not quality.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Now let’s return to Anwar’s dilemma and examine how Anwar brainstorms ideas to
solve his problem.
Anwar’s Dilemma: Generating Options
Initially, Anwar thinks he only has two possible solutions to the problem—either he
moves to New York with Bridget and abandons his aging father, or he stays near his
father but breaks up with Bridget.
But after spending time defining and analyzing the problem, Anwar realizes he may
have more than two options. When he gathered facts about the problem, he learned
that his sister, who lives an hour away, may be willing to drive over and visit their
father more often.
Anwar now moves on to the next step in the problem solving process and begins to
generate options. He discusses his situation with his sister and his best friend
Felix. He also communicates frequently with his girlfriend and family members.
Anwar imagines what the problem would be like if some key constraints
were removed. Would he hesitate to relocate with his girlfriend if he didn’t have
familial obligations in New Hampshire? If his girlfriend hadn’t gotten the job, would
New York City still be a place he could see himself moving to?
Now Anwar begins to jot down possible ways he could handle this problem,
including both likely and unlikely options:
1. Break up with my girlfriend and remain in New Hampshire to care for my
father
2. Ask my sister to move closer to our father or at least check in on him more
often, and then move to New York with my girlfriend
3. Move to New York with my girlfriend and bring my father to live with me as
well
4. Try to convince my girlfriend to turn down the job and stay in New Hampshire
with me
5. Hire a caregiver to watch over my father and move to New York with my
girlfriend
6. Stay in New Hampshire caring for my father and try to maintain a longdistance relationship with my girlfriend
7. Encourage my father to move into a nursing home while I move to New York
with my girlfriend
Now that Anwar has a list of many possibilities, not just the two he originally came up
with, he’s ready to start narrowing down the list to make a final decision. That’s where
the evaluation step comes into play.
Multiple-Choice Question
How does brainstorming contribute to the problem solving process?
It helps you find a solution quickly.
It allows you to see the problem from new perspectives.
It limits the problem by identifying a solution.
Correct. Brainstorming provides new perspectives that can help refine your
understanding of the problem.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Having many options to choose from is a good starting point, but before you plunge
ahead and make a decision, it is important to engage your critical thinking techniques
and carefully consider both the benefits and the drawbacks of all your options.
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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.4 Evaluating Your Options
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Evaluating Your Options
Once you’ve exhausted your imagination by brainstorming potential solutions, you’ll
need to sift through your options to decide on the one that will work best in the
circumstances. Remember, you don’t need to find a perfect solution, you just need to
find the best solution for your problem.
Step 3: Evaluate the Options
When you’re evaluating options, it’s a good idea to have a set of criteria—qualities that
you will use as a basis for judgment—in place. For example, maybe you have a certain
budget and cost will be an issue, or perhaps you want a solution that will be
environmentally friendly. These criteria will provide a way for you to consider all the
options and decide which one you think will work best.
A good way to start evaluating options is to imagine the probable consequences of each
possible solution. You should consider both the positive and negative consequences of
any option. To more accurately predict consequences, you may need to gather
additional information. You can more easily judge your options if you know how much
something costs, what the deadlines are, what the job market in a particular field is like,
how certain people are most likely to react, and so on. Talk to the other people involved,
research various perspectives, and even seek out experts if necessary. Once you’ve
compiled a picture of the probable outcomes—the clearest picture that you can
realistically develop at this time—you may want to list the benefits and drawbacks (i.e.,
the pros and cons) of each possible solution.
As you evaluate options, refer to your earlier definition of the problem and to your
measures of success. Remind yourself of the goals you want to accomplish, and assess
how well each prospective choice fits with your goals.
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of these statements defines what it means to evaluate?
to break down a concept and interpret its meaning
to judge the benefits and drawbacks of each option
to summarize each option and explain how it addresses the problem
Correct. Considering pros and cons of each option is the central aspect of the evaluation
process.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Multiple-Choice Question
When you’re evaluating options, which action from a previous step might
you need to repeat?
gathering information
ignoring conflicting perspectives
reflecting on your solution
Correct. As you work through the problem solving process, you will continue to gather
information that will help you to accurately evaluate your options.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Anwar’s Dilemma: Evaluating the Options
Now Anwar is ready to move on to the fourth step of the problem solving process.
After he generates his list of options, he starts to evaluate the pros and cons of each:
1. Break up with my girlfriend and remain in New Hampshire to care for my
father
Pros: Bridget would get her dream job; I could continue to care for my
father; I could keep my job.
Cons: I would be devastated without Bridget; I may start to resent my
father.
2. Ask my sister to move closer to our father or at least check in on him more
often, and then move to New York with my girlfriend
Pros: My father would still have a family member to care for him; I could
be with Bridget.
Cons: My sister loves her job and hometown and probably wouldn’t be
willing to move; I’d have to quit my job, find a new job, and make an
expensive move.
3. Move to New York with my girlfriend and bring my father to live with me as
well
Pros: I could still take care of my father; I could be with Bridget.
Cons: My father would hate moving, and he hates big cities; I probably
wouldn’t want to share a tiny NYC apartment with my father; I’d have to
quit my job, find a new job, and make an expensive move.
4. Try to convince my girlfriend to turn down the job and stay in New Hampshire
with me
Pros: I could still take care of my father; I could be with Bridget; I
wouldn’t have to quit my job.
Cons: This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Bridget, and I want the best
for her; she would resent me if I asked her to turn down her dream job.
5. Hire a caregiver to watch over my father, and move to New York with my
girlfriend
Pros: There would be someone in New Hampshire to take care of my
father; my sister wouldn’t have to move; I could be with Bridget.
Cons: It would be extremely expensive to hire a full-time caregiver for my
father; I’d have to quit my job, find a new job, and make an expensive
move.
6. Stay in New Hampshire to care for my father and try maintaining a longdistance relationship with my girlfriend
Pros: I could keep my job; I could still care for my father.
Cons: Maintaining a long-distance relationship would be hard;
transportation between New Hampshire and New York would get
expensive; I really want to keep Bridget in my daily life.
7. Encourage my father to move into a nursing home while I move to New York
with my girlfriend
Pros: My father would be taken care of; I could move to New York and be
with my girlfriend.
Cons: My father would hate living in a nursing home; nursing homes are
expensive; I’d have to quit my job, find a new job, and make an expensive
move.
Anwar has done some research to examine the costs and likely outcomes of each of his
options. He’s weighed all the options carefully with a list of pros and cons that allows
him to compare the benefits and risks of each choice. But don’t get stuck in endless
evaluation; eventually, you need to make a decision.
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of the following is a good way to start evaluating options?
evaluating only your top three options
considering only your needs
considering the implications of each option
Correct. To start the evaluation phase, you should consider the implications—the likely
outcomes and consequences—of each option.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Now that you’ve evaluated your options, you should be ready to make a decision. But
there are lots of bad decision making habits that can get in your way, so coming up
you’ll learn about some common mistakes to avoid—and you’ll see which choice Anwar
finally makes.
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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.5 Making Your Decision
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Making Your Decision
Once you think you have one or more solid candidates for your final decision, it’s time
to make a choice.
Step 4: Make Your Decision
Sometimes the best choice will be obvious by this stage, but other times multiple
options may seem viable. In this case, you can use the information you gathered during
the evaluation step to start systematically eliminating options. As you narrow down
your list of options, you’ll get closer to selecting your final choice.
When you’ve narrowed your choices down to one final option, consider the following
questions:
Would this option effectively solve the problem?
Does it fit with your personal ethics?
How will it affect the other people involved?
What’s the worst that can happen?
Will it be possible to reverse this decision if it goes badly?
Make sure you commit to actually making the decision or solving the problem.
Sometimes the decision will seem so important and the consequences so profound that
you may feel paralyzed by fear, causing the entire process to grind to a halt.
It’s up to you to decide when to make your final decision. If you’re not forced to make a
decision right away, it’s usually a good idea to take some time to deliberate. Things may
become clearer over time. Before you decide, check that you’re not tempted by any
unhelpful strategies.
Avoiding Bad Decision Making
Situations that require us to make decisions often create pressure, which in turn can
affect our ability to choose wisely. In these stressful moments, you may be tempted to
act impulsively or pick the absurd option,
go with the first choice that springs to mind without considering alternatives,
follow advice from someone who knows very little about your situation or the
ramifications of this decision,
give no thought at all to the likely consequences of the decision, or
wait for external factors to determine the outcome for you.
You already know these are bad strategies, but seeing them articulated can clarify what
approaches you should avoid when making decisions.
Let’s assume you’re not making any of those mistakes and you’re really trying to reach
the best possible decision. What else might get in your way?
Other Barriers to Decision Making
The following factors may also negatively affect your decision making abilities:
fear of deciding
passiveness, or waiting for a perfect solution
self-doubt, or believing you’re not smart enough to solve the problem
unproductive habits, such as procrastination
conflicting motives
The problem solving process provides a structure and specific actions that help you
think systematically and critically about your options, allowing you to make the best
possible decision.
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of these things should you do to make the best possible decision?
Think systematically and critically.
Ignore potential consequences.
Select the first choice.
Correct. You are more likely to arrive at the best decision by thinking systematically and
critically using the problem solving process.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Multiple-Choice Question
After you’ve completed most of the problem solving process and are ready
to make a decision, which of the following is most likely to get in your way?
self-doubt
lack of options
unknown consequences
Correct. Self-doubt can impede the decision making process by making you secondguess your choice.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Anwar’s Dilemma: Making a Decision
Anwar embarks on his decision making process by eliminating options he
doesn’t like.
1. Break up with my girlfriend and remain in New Hampshire to care for my
father
2. Ask my sister to move closer to our father or at least check in on him more
often, and then move to New York with my girlfriend
3. Move to New York with my girlfriend and bring my father to live with me as
well
4. Try to convince my girlfriend to turn down the job and stay in New Hampshire
with me
5. Hire a caregiver to watch over my father, and move to New York with my
girlfriend
6. Stay in New Hampshire to care for my father and try maintaining a longdistance relationship with my girlfriend
7. Encourage my father to move into a nursing home while I move to New York
with my girlfriend
First, Anwar eliminates solutions that don’t effectively solve the problem.
Since his goal is to both maintain his relationship with his girlfriend and take care of
his father, breaking up with Bridget would not truly solve the problem.
Anwar also considers how his various solutions would affect the other people
involved. He knows how much the pastry chef job means to Bridget, so he doesn’t
want to ask her to give up the job for him. He also realizes how important it is for his
father to live at home, so he decides that asking his father to move (either with him
to New York or into a nursing home) isn’t a viable option. Additionally, he knows he
will have to talk to his sister more about her potential commitment to taking over a
large part of his role as a caregiver. But narrowing down his options helps making
the decision seem more achievable.
Finally, it’s time for Anwar to complete the final step and make his decision. In
the end, Anwar decides that he really wants to move to New York with Bridget. He
then discusses this decision with his sister, and they agree that they both will help
pay for a caregiver to look after their father during the week, while Anwar’s sister
will look after their father on most weekends.
RESPONSE BOARD
If you were in Anwar’s position, which option would you choose and why?
No response saved yet.
But making a decision isn’t the final step. Once you’ve made and acted on your decision,
it’s important to reflect on what you’ve done and how it’s working out.
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Thinking It Through
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.6 Implementing and Reflecting on Your Decision
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Implementing and Reflecting on Your Decision
Once you’ve made your decision, it may seem like you’re done with the problem solving
process, but it doesn’t end there. You should continue to think about the outcome of
your choice even after you implement it. You can almost always find ways to adjust your
actions to make a solution work better, to consider new information, or even to change
your original plan. Using your agility skill to consider new information and feedback or
recognizing that the original solution isn’t the best are signs of thoughtful problem
soling. Being able to pivot—even when you think the process is done—means being
agile.
Step 5: Implement and Reflect
After you make your decision, come up with an action plan to implement it. Elements of
your plan could include articulating exactly what you will do, figuring out when you’ll
begin, and listing all the people who will be involved in implementing the plan. You may
need to break down all the actions you need to take into achievable steps, making sure
that you accomplish all the necessary things required to put your decision into action.
It’s also important to reflect on your solution. Only after you’ve implemented your
decision can you observe the outcome and figure out what worked and what didn’t.
Reflection allows you to make any adjustments to your problem solving process when
facing future dilemmas. As you reflect, try to answer the following questions:
How did it go?
Was the outcome what you had hoped? How did others react?
In retrospect, was it the right choice?
What would you do differently the next time around?
What do you wish you’d known earlier?
Do you have an opportunity to try an alternative solution with this same problem?
Reflection is important for both critical thinking and problem solving because it gives
you an opportunity to think about your entire process, what you’ve learned, and how
you can improve or adjust. Critical thinking skills like analysis, evaluation, and
reflection are used throughout the problem solving process. And like the problem
solving process, critical thinking helps provide a structure for thinking through difficult
situations and coming to the best possible conclusion or solution.
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of these is the main benefit of reflecting on your decision and your
process?
It creates self-doubt and pushes you to start the process over again.
It confirms that you made the right decision for your situation.
It reveals any needed adjustments and helps improve your process in the
future.
Correct. Reflecting on your decision and your process provides you with information to
make adjustments to your original plan and to improve your problem solving process in
the future.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Multiple-Choice Question
How is critical thinking useful during the problem solving process?
It helps you analyze, evaluate, and reflect.
It speeds up the decision making process.
It limits alternative viewpoints.
Correct. Critical thinking skills help you analyze the problem, evaluate possible
solutions, and reflect on your decision.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Anwar’s Dilemma: Implementing and Reflecting
After Anwar makes his choice, he and Bridget make a list of the action items
they need to accomplish before they move. Then they implement them: Anwar
quits his job, begins sending out his résumé to open positions for music teachers,
and contacts his networking connections in the education field. Bridget accepts the
pastry
chef
Getty Images
position, starts looking for a new apartment, and searches for someone to sublease
her current apartment. Anwar connects with his sister to interview potential
caregivers until they find one that they and their father like.
A few months later, Anwar reflects on his decision. He is happy that he chose to
move to New York, because he and Bridget are now engaged to be married and both
have jobs they are happy with. However, Anwar realizes that his sister is getting
burnt out since she has to spend almost every weekend caring for their father.
Anwar reevaluates the situation and decides that he will commit to driving back to
New Hampshire more frequently to give his sister breaks.
Anwar faced a difficult decision. There were no easy options and he was sure that
whichever choice he made, he’d be disappointed or guilty. But by working through a
clear process of problem solving, he felt empowered to consider options he might not
have thought of if he hadn’t taken such a methodical approach. He used his innovation
skill to consider creative alternatives, and he showed agility when he reflected on the
outcome of his decision, realizing that the situation could be improved to be more
manageable for everyone.
RESPONSE BOARD
Given his reflection on the outcome, how could Anwar adjust his solution to
create an even better outcome for everyone involved?
No response saved yet.
While it is important to have a process in place for problem solving, remember that
your agility skill can help you to try different approaches if the first one isn’t the best fit.
Now that you’ve seen one reliable system for approaching a problem, it’s time to get
started on your second assignment.
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Thinking It Through
Assignment 2
Assignment 2 Overview
On this page you’ll learn the requirements for Assignment 2, Making an Informed
Recommendation.
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.7 Assignment: Assignment 2 Overview
On this page: 3 of 3 attempted (100%) | 3 of 3 correct (100%)
Objective: Analyze the requirements for Assignment 2.
We make recommendations in our daily lives based on the facts around us. You might
ask your child to wear a jacket if the weather report says it’ll be chilly, for example, or
provide professional guidance to a colleague struggling at work. In both your personal
and professional lives, understanding how and why to decide upon a recommendation
is an important part of effective problem solving.
Assignment 2 builds on your first assignment, the incident timeline, by asking you to
engage your problem solving skills, evaluate the facts, review multiple sources of
information, and recommend a course of action for the company and the employees
involved in the workplace incident. Your goal for this assignment is to
recommend a course of action and explain your thought process and
reasoning behind that recommendation. This recommendation will take the form
of a professional letter. It might involve disciplinary action, or it might involve changes
to company policy and procedures; it is up to you to come up with a recommendation
for action that you think will help address the situation and explain your reasoning.
Consider the scenario below to get started.
Scenario
The general manager, Janelle Smith, has asked for a recommendation about what
should happen following the loss prevention issue identified in Assignment 1. Your
recommendation will join letters from the Loss Prevention Manager and Inventory
Manager, who have also been asked to make recommendations. All of these
recommendations will be used to help determine what course of action the company
should take and what punishment (if any) should be meted out to the employees
involved.
As Viewpoint Director, your role is to be an advocate for all employees. Your primary
responsibility is to relate employee concerns to leadership and provide guidance on
situations involving employee discipline. Consider your role as Viewpoint Director as
you review the materials on the next few pages. Remember that in this role, you are
responsible for considering employee concerns and advocating for employees.
Multiple-Choice Question
What is your main goal in Assignment 2?
to explain the punishment and consequences that employees will face
to make a recommendation about what action the company should take
to write a professional letter that describes your role as Viewpoint Manager
Correct. Assignment 2 focuses on developing a recommended course of action to the
company after the loss of the scope described in Assignment 1.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Multiple-Choice Question
In what form will you make your recommendation?
a formal memo to both the Loss Prevention Manager and Inventory Manager
a professional letter to the Viewpoint Director and the employees
a professional letter to the general manager, Janelle Smith
Correct. Your recommendation will take the form of a professional letter and it will be
written to your general manager, at her request.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Multiple-Choice Question
In your role as Viewpoint Director, what main responsibilities should you
focus on when you make your recommendation?
conveying employees’ concerns and weighing in on any proposed punishments
providing guidance on management’s interactions and communication
solving problems with employees’ efficiency and performance
Correct. Your role of Viewpoint Direction indicates that you should focus on the
employee perspectives and concerns in any given situation, advocate for employees, and
provide guidance on any disciplinary matters.
Last saved 9 days ago.
Complete and Submit Assignment 2
Follow the directions below to create and submit your second assignment, the
recommendation letter. You will use writing templates in the webtext to complete the
assignment.
STEP 1
Review the timeline you created in Assignment 1 and the feedback you
received from your instructor to reacquaint yourself with the currently known facts of
the incident.
STEP 2
Review the sources provided and use them to formulate a recommendation. You
will need to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of the recommendations from the
inventory manager and the loss prevention manager and determine how you will use
them in your own recommendation.
Note: Your recommendation may include all or parts of the recommendations of either
manager or may be completely different. Whichever option you choose, you must
provide an explanation for how you arrived at your conclusions.
STEP 3
Locate one or more additional sources to form your recommendation. These
resources should offer information that the provided sources do not include. For
example, you could use a resource that addresses how other companies have dealt with
similar situations, an article that addresses a certain aspect of your recommendation, or
a relevant professional experience that helps inform your conclusions. You will cite your
sources in SWS format.
STEP 4
Write a recommendation based on your sources in the form of a professional
letter using the writing templates in the webtext. Your message should provide your
recommended outcome (or outcomes) and an explanation for how you arrived at your
conclusions.
Refer to the length and formatting of the inventory and loss prevention managers’
letters to guide your work. Make sure your writing is professional and includes
appropriate language, organization, and grammar.
STEP 5
Format your work according to the Strayer Writing Standards. Please take a
moment to review the SWS documentation for details.
STEP 6
Download your completed document from Chapter 5 of the webtext and submit
your completed assignment in Blackboard.
Let’s get started by reviewing some of the sources that provide information that you
may want to consider when making your recommendation.
close
Thinking It Through
Assignment 2
Review Sources I
On this page you’ll review sources provided by the workplace.
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.8 Assignment: Assignment 2: Review Sources I
On this page: 1 of 2 attempted (50%)
Objective: Review the sources provided and take notes to help develop your
recommendation.
On this page, you’ll review your timeline from Assignment 1 as well as several sources
that may help you decide what action to recommend the company take following the
theft of a piece of equipment. You should use the note-taking template at the bottom of
this page to take notes on any of the documents appearing on this page.
Review Your Timeline
Start by reviewing your timeline. These are the events that you decided were verified by
the sources provided and therefore likely to be true. You should also review your
instructor’s feedback on your timeline, which you can find by going to the Blackboard
Gradebook and selecting the link for this assignment in the Gradebook column.
Assignment Template
Time
Description of Event
Explanation of Corroboration
3:02 p.m.
The scope is first introduced
via the delivery man who
drops off two other packages,
and which Sarah signs and
accepts the delivery packages.
The delivery person left
through the central doorway
and had nothing observable
in his hand.
Verified by both the security camera
situated in the view of Sarah’s desk, and
can also be confirmed via the document
and signature match of Sarah to the
package delivery.
3:12 p.m.
After checking the other two
packages, Sarah picks up a
white box with a picture of
the scope on the outside.
After reviewing the invoice
This action is verified via Security cameras
and was also confirmed via the signature.
This verification confirms, at least to some
extent, that the camera is officially in
and the box’s contents, she
complete possession and recorded down in
proceeds to nod her head as if business intake logs.
to confirm the contents.
3:25 p.m.
Sarah opens up her top
drawer, picks up the three
checked items, and walks
towards the central doorway.
3:30 p.m.
The first instance where the
camera captures Sarah
This information is verified by both the
coming back from the central
camera footage and is further justified by
doorway where she proceeds
Michael playing with the red rubber ball.
to open her drawer and
replaces her keys.
4:29 p.m.
Michael and Rachelle come
into view and quickly move to
the technician doorway.
Irritated, Michael proceeds to
slam the door in Rachelle’s
face, where she pauses, takes
a deep breath, and proceeds
inside. Sarah watches
Rachelle enter the technician
doorway and proceeds to exit
the main doorway. Before
proceeding out, she “stops,
and pulls her keys from her
desk drawer and exits
towards the main doorway”
(p.13).
This is verified by the security cameras and
the testimony of both Michael and
Rachelle, who recognize that a dispute
existed that day. The tension between the
two is a constant struggle. Evidence of
Sarah opening her drawer and exiting
towards the main doorway is corroborated
by camera footage, as well as Rachelle's
transcript where she "opens the technician
door, sticks her head out, and looks over at
Sarah's empty desk."
Michael enters from the main
doorway area and has the
lanyard in his hands. While
stopping at Sarah’s desk, he
sets them down and proceeds
towards the technician
doorway. He then turns
around, grabs the keys, and
heads out of the main
entrance, where six minutes
later, Sarah would emerge
This information can be evaluated for
verification by the camera footage that
shows the movements of Sarah and
Michael during this time. Similarly,
evidence of a key transfer between Sarah
and Michael was issued in both transcripts
and indicated that Michael had access to
the restroom, which has the key to the
storage room. We do not know if he
entered the storage area, but this was an
instance where two employees were
4:50 p.m.
Security cameras show Sarah grabbing the
lanyard of keys from her top drawer and
picking up the items to proceed to the
central doorway.
bombastically and later leave outside of the establishment at the same
out the main doorway.
time.
5:02 p.m.
After Michael leaves, Sarah
leaves two minutes later,
turns off her computer,
punches out, and exits the
main door. The last person to
leave that day was Rachelle,
but at this point, the scope
has already left the business.
Rachelle has eye witness confirmation that
Sarah and Michael left before her.
Moreover, evidence from the camera
footage and the timestamps from the keycard system will justify Sarah and
Michael’s end of the day.
Review Workplace Sources: Documents
Next, review the following materials collected in your workplace that may help provide
information about expected employee behavior and the incident itself:
Employee Handbook provided to all employees (excerpt)
Ethics Pledge (signed by all employees)
original invoice for purchase of the scope
If you find any information that might influence your recommendation, be sure to take
notes. To review the first three sources, you should select the link and download the
document in order to read its contents.
As you review, consider: Are there rules or action in place for this kind of incident, and
do they seem appropriate? What expectations are employees supposed to meet in the
workplace, and have those been upheld or disregarded? Do these documents provide
information that might influence your recommendation?
Employee Handbook (excerpt) Strayer University
Ethics Pledge Strayer University
Original Sales Invoice for Scope Strayer University
Review Workplace Sources: Visuals
Review the next three sources provided in visual form:
copy of police incident report filed after the theft
Inventory Manager’s email about replacement scope
online auction posting for scope matching description of the stolen equipment
As you review, ask yourself these questions: Do these documents suggest any problems
or failings that are relevant to this incident? Are any significant instances of employee
misconduct clearly identified in these documents? Do these documents provide
information that might influence your recommendation?
Incident Report
This is a document titled “Official Incident Report, Oakwood Hills
Department.” The rest of the document reads as follows:
“Venue: Electronics Repair, Inc. Service Building.
Date of Incident: Last Tuesday
Time of Incident: After 3 p.m.
Description of Incident:
After security camera confirmed arrival of testing scope delivered by courier,
item went missing.
Three employees present when item arrived. All employees interviewed at
time of visit. Employees left (camera not on doorway so no footage)
approximately 5 p.m. Supervisor is final employee to punch out and her code
was used to enable alarm at 5:06 p.m. (based on provided records).
No signs of forced entry. No additional alarm deactivations before LP
manager arrived next morning.
Scene reviewed but amount of time passed between incident and reporting
made evidence collection unreliable.
Witnesses: None
Responding Officer: A Smith #08763
Incident Number: 20-64537
Report Date: 07/27.”
Strayer University
Email from Inventory Manager
Screenshot of an email that reads
“To: caitlin.sharp@showcaseps.com
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject: Replaced Scope!!!!!!!!!
From: scott.barnes@showcaseps.com
Hey there Caitlin!
Just writing to let you know that I found a replacement for the missing scope.
Bought on auction last night from a local lister and I’m going to put in a
reimbursement request later today. Janelle will be happy and I know it wasn’t
cheap but now we don’t need to reorder. Think she’ll give me a hard time
about paying it back? The auction is non-returnable so fingers crossed.
It should be here this week or I might go pick it up. Don’t know yet...
Let you know when I bring it in. I’m going to lock this one up myself so it
doesn’t walk off. Again. [Winking emoji]
-Scooter”
Strayer University
Online Auction Posting for Scope
Graphic showing an online auction posting for a scope. Title reads, “*NEW*
2020 Professional Scope *NEW*” and there is an image of a scope next to it.
The rest of the document reads
“Can’t miss opportunity to own brand new test equipment at fraction of the
cost of purchasing from vendor!
Item location: United States (D.C. Metro Area)
Begins: 20 July 2020 (11:59 p.m. EST)
Closes: 23 July 2020 (11:59 p.m. EST)
Bids: 13
Current Bid: $785.84
Offered by: SpeedSwiper58 (1359)
100% Positive Feedback
Item ships within 3 days of closing.
FREE SHIPPING! (See Auction details for restrictions.)
Don’t miss this opportunity! Recently acquired test equipment at a fraction of
retail cost. Want to work on electronics but don’t want to pay the hefty prices
for the test equipment YOU NEED?!
How can I offer such great products at these prices???????? I purchase in bulk
from local suppliers with access inventory or jump on significant
opportunities that look my way. The point is you get excellent value, highquality equipment, and top-notch service!
Want it lightning fast? Courier delivery next-day available in greater D.C.
area.
Check my feedback for list of satisfied customers. Don’t forget to check out my
other auctions as well for more great steals!
http://www.auctionpot.com/flashdeals/electronics/equipment/iejpoiuhak8384959”
A green rectangle in the middle of the document reads “AUCTION POT, The
SOURCE for great deals!”
Strayer University
Use the template below to record any notes from the workplace source you reviewed. Be
sure to identify which specific source(s) you took information from in your notes.
Note-Taking Template
What information from these sources might affect your recommendation?
ItalicBold
Rich text editor
To complete this template, you must click the “Add to My Notes” button.
If the button cannot be clicked, make sure you have responded to the prompt.
You’ve reviewed several documents to provide context for the workplace incident
involving the disappearance of the scope. Coming up, you’ll need to review two
important letters from managers who have also been asked to make recommendations
about how the company should deal with this incident.
close
Thinking It Through
Assignment 2
Review Sources II
On this page you’ll review letters from fellow managers who have made
recommendations.
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.9 Assignment: Assignment 2: Review Sources II
On this page: 0 of 5 attempted (0%) | 0 of 3 correct (0%)
Objective: Review the sources provided and take notes to help develop your
recommendation.
On this page, you’ll review two letters written by colleagues making recommendations
about what should happen in the wake of the incident involving stolen equipment. One
letter is from the Inventory Manager and the other is from the Loss Prevention
Manager. You should use your critical thinking abilities to consider their
recommendations before you make your own decision. You should also think critically
about the format of these letters, and decide which one to use as a guide for creating
your own professional letter.
Formatting a Professional Letter
Professional letters are expected to follow a certain pattern. They are formatted
consistently so that all the necessary information is present and organized, allowing the
recipient to easily locate what they need to know about the sender. Take a look at this
graphic, paying close attention to the contents of each main section:
This is a letter with labeled sections.
Sender’s address: Dev Simmons
Senior Sales Associate
WRQC Media
456 Applicant St.
Herndon, VA 20170
Date: June 1, 2021
Heading: Ms. Surita Oakley
Human Resources Manager
Showcase Products and Service, 123 Anywhere St.
Herndon, VA 20170
Greeting: Dear Ms. Oakley:
Body: I am writing to inquire about the recent job listing for a regional
manager of sales and marketing at your company, Showcase Products and
Service. I have four years of experience in direct sales in my current position
at WRQC Media, and an extensive background in marketing with several
local companies as outlined in my enclosed résumé. I have been looking for
an opportunity to take on more responsibility and supervise a team; your
open position appears to provide an excellent opportunity for growth in this
field.
In my experience, sales and marketing must work together in order to
maximize a company’s profile in the community and enlarge the potential
market. In my current position of Senior Sales Associate, I have a proven
record of increasing direct sales by 10 percent over each of the past four
years. I have also contributed to several successful marketing campaigns,
including the winner of the 2018 Outstanding Marketing Campaign Award
for the tri-state area. I would welcome the opportunity to join the Showcase
team and bring my experience to such a successful organization. I would love
to be considered for this position, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Closing: Sincerely,
Sender’s name and title: Dev Simmons, Senior Sales Associate
Emma Haseley/Soomo Learning
When writing a professional letter, follow these guidelines:
Begin with the sender’s contact information followed by the date and a heading
that includes the recipient’s information (name, job title, and address).
Include an appropriately placed formal greeting and closing.
Make sure paragraphs are single-spaced and not indented.
Place an extra line break between each main section, including the paragraphs in
the body.
Restrict your letter to one page.
Keep in mind that you want to maintain a formal tone in a professional letter, so your
greeting and closing should be appropriate for the situation. For example, “Dear Ms. X”
is an expected greeting; phrases like “Hey Ms. X” are too informal. Similarly, a closing
should convey formality, so phrases such as “Sincerely,” “Respectfully,” or “With
regards,” would all be fitting.
Multiple-Choice Question
In a professional letter, where would you find the recipient’s address?
in the body
in the closing
in the heading
Multiple-Choice Question
According to the graphic, what kind of punctuation follows the greeting in a
professional letter?
a comma
a dash
a colon
Multiple-Choice Question
Which of the following is an appropriate closing for a formal letter?
Later,
Respectfully,
Talk soon,
Review the Letters
Two of your colleagues, the Inventory Manager and the Loss Prevention Manager, were
also asked to write letters recommending a course of action. You can review their letters
below. Read them with the formatting requirements shown above and you may find that
they contain formatting errors you should avoid.
Letter from the Inventory Manager
The Inventory Manager is responsible for purchasing inventory and making sure it is
properly stored and used. He has seen the same video and documentary evidence that
you reviewed to create your timeline, as well as the documents you reviewed on the
previous page. Consider both the benefits and the drawbacks of the Inventory
Manager’s letter as you think about your own recommendation.
Google Doc. Inventory Manager’s Letter. Uploaded October 20, 2020, by Soomo
Learning. Follow the link to view the document in a separate window.
Note-Taking Template
What information from this source might affect your recommendation?
ItalicBold
Rich text editor
To complete this template, you must click the “Add to My Notes” button.
If the button cannot be clicked, make sure you have responded to the prompt.
Letter from the Loss Prevention Manager
The Loss Prevention Manager is responsible for making sure company property is
secured and for investigating instances when policies and procedures are not followed.
She has seen the same video and documentary evidence that you reviewed to create
your timeline, as well as the documents you reviewed on the previous page. Consider
both the benefits and the drawbacks of the Loss Prevention Manager’s letter as you
consider your own recommendation.
Google Doc. Loss Prevention Manager’s Letter. Uploaded October 20, 2020, by Soomo
Learning. Follow the link to view the document in a separate window.
Note-Taking Template
What information from this source might affect your recommendation?
ItalicBold
Rich text editor
To complete this template, you must click the “Add to My Notes” button.
If the button cannot be clicked, make sure you have responded to the prompt.
Now that you’ve read the letters from the other managers, it’s time to locate an outside
source that helps support your recommendation.
close
Thinking It Through
Assignment 2
Locate a Source
On this page you’ll follow the guidelines to locate a source to support your
recommendation.
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.10 Assignment: Assignment 2: Locate a Source
On this page: 0 of 1 attempted (0%)
Objective: Locate a relevant outside source and take notes to help develop your
recommendation.
The final step before writing your own letter is to locate a source that helps support your
decision. This resource should provide information that the other sources you’ve
reviewed in the webtext do not include. It could address how other companies have
dealt with similar situations, a relevant professional experience that helps inform your
conclusions, or any information that helps support your recommendation or decision
making process.
You can use the Strayer Library to find credible, published sources, such as magazines
or journals that focus on business and ethics issues. You may also be able to locate
articles using the internet, but you’ll need to evaluate those carefully to verify their
credibility. Once you’ve found the source that you’d like to use, be sure to copy the URL
and the author’s name and credentials below so that you can cite your source
appropriately in SWS style.
Use this template to write down information about the source you found.
Note-Taking Template
Author
Date of publication
Title of source
URL
What specific information will you use from this source? Include a quotation or a
paraphrased sentence.
ItalicBold
Rich text editor
To complete this template, you must click the “Add to My Notes” button.
If the button cannot be clicked, make sure you have responded to all prompts in the
template.
Incorporating Sources in SWS Style
Remember that when you incorporate information from a source, you’ll need to
introduce it correctly and cite it in SWS Style. This means that any direct quotations or
paraphrased information should be included as part of a sentence. Exact wording must
be identified in quotation marks, and the sentence must conclude with an in-text
citation. You may choose to introduce the source with a signal phrase, as you will see in
the example below. Take a look at the following sentence, which shows a quote cited
correctly using SWS Style. Pay close attention to the use and placement of punctuation
as well.
Sentence reads “No one knows exactly how many single-use plastic bags are produced, but
the United Nations estimates ‘between one and five trillion bags are produced worldwide
[...] that translates into bag use of two million bags per minute’ (Parker, 1).” “The United
Nations estimates” is highlighted as the signal phrase; “between one and five trillion bags
are produced worldwide [...] that translates into bag use of two million bags per minute” is
highlighted as the quotation; and (Parker, 1) is highlighted as the in-text citation.
Clint McFarlin/Soomo Learning
The signal phrase indicates that the information being quoted came from the United
Nations, and the in-text citation identifies the last name of the author of the source as
Parker. The author’s last name will lead to an entry in the source list with more
complete information about the source, like the title and date of publication. For
additional help, you can always refer to the SWS guidelines or consult the Strayer
Library’s SWS webpage.
You’ll use the information you’ve gathered about your source to cite it using SWS Style
in your letter. You’ll be able to review this information when you begin writing your
letter, which you’ll do next.
close
Thinking It Through
Assignment 2
Write Your Letter
On this page you’ll draft your letter to recommend a course of action to your supervisor.
5 Problem Solving / Page 5.11 Assignment: Assignment 2: Write Your Letter
On this page: 0 of 4 attempted (0%)
Objective: Review your notes on the sources provided to help develop your
recommendation.
You’ve reviewed a number of documents and sources to help shed light on the
workplace incident involving the missing equipment. It’s time for you to make your
recommendation. You’ll need to write a professional letter that includes a citation from
one outside source. You can also refer to any of the other sources you’ve reviewed,
including the letters from the Loss Prevention Manager and the Inventory Manager.
Only your outside source needs to be cited in SWS style.
Review Your Notes
Before you get started on Assignment 2, take a moment to review your notes.
Note-Taking Template
You didn’t complete one or more of the previous templates.
The following templates must be completed before this one can be started.
Page 5.8: Review Workplace Sources
Page 5.9: Take Notes on First Letter
Page 5.9: Take Notes on Second Letter
Make Your Recommendation
Now you can begin to compose your letter. Use the template below to create a
professional letter. Be sure to note any sources you refer to and include an SWS-style
source list at the end of the letter. For a review of SWS, you can always refer to the SWS
guidelines and to the model essays provided in the webtext, or consult the Strayer
Library’s SWS webpage.
Use this template to write your letter.
Assignment Template
Heading:
Your Name
Viewpoint Director
Showcase Products and Service
123 Anywhere St.
Herndon, VA 20170
Ms. Janelle Smith
General Manager
Showcase Products and Service
123 Anywhere St.
Herndon, VA 20170
Date:
Enter today’s date.
Greeting:
Write your greeting and the recipient’s name, followed by a colon.
Body:
Write the body of your letter here.
• BulletsItalicBold
Rich text editor
Closing:
Write your closing.
Signature:
Type your first and last name in the space below.
To complete this template, you must click the “Add to Assignment 2” button.
If the button cannot be clicked, make sure you have responded to all prompts in the
template.
Cite Your Source
Remember that you must cite one outside source in your letter. Be sure that you
included an in-text citation in the body of your letter above, and put quotation marks
around any exact wording you took from your source. The template below will help you
create an SWS-style source list entry. Take a look at this example for a reminder of how
to format an SWS-style source list entry.
Graphic of a citation with the sections highlighted and labeled. The citation reads “Laura
Parker. June 7, 2019. The World’s Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/plastic-pollution/” “Laura
Parker” is labeled as the author’s name. “June 7, 2019” is labeled as the date. “The World’s
Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained” is labeled as the title of source. The URL is labeled as
location of source (URL, DOI, or permalink).
Emma Haseley/Soomo Learning
Note that the main elements—author’s name, date of publication, title of source, and
location of source—are all separated by periods. If you include a URL as the source
location, be sure to unlink it. To review SWS requirements, you can always refer to the
SWS guidelines or consult the Strayer Library’s SWS webpage.
Assignment Template
You didn’t complete one or more of the previous templates.
The following templates must be completed before this one can be started.
Page 5.10: Locate a Source
Download Assignment 2
You’ve completed your letter—great work! Now remember to carefully proofread it to
correct any small errors in your writing or formatting. Once you’re satisfied with your
final product, download your assignment from the template below.
Assignment Template
You didn’t complete one or more of the previous templates.
The following templates must be completed before this one can be started.
Page 5.10: Locate a Source
Page 5.11: Write Your Letter
Page 5.11: Cite Your Source
When you click the button to download Assignment 2 in the template above, the file
may be automatically saved to your Downloads folder or to another location you’ve
specified, depending on your browser’s settings. To ensure that your document is
correctly formatted, you must open it in an application that fully supports the DOCX
format, such as Microsoft Word.
Review and Submit
After you download, be sure to check the formatting of your letter. You may want to
make edits in Microsoft Word before you submit the final copy. Once you’re satisfied,
return to Blackboard and upload your assignment for grading.
Upload Your Assignment to Blackboard
Select the link below and navigate to the Assignment 2 submission screen in your
Blackboard course, then upload your assignment there.
Strayer Blackboard
Nice job! You’ve completed your second assignment. Coming up, you’ll wrap up the
week by reviewing the main ideas you’ve learned and what you’ll tackle next week.
close