1. Describe each of the Intellectual Standards in your own words: • Clarity • Accuracy • Precision • Relevance • Depth • Breadth • Logic • Significance • Fairness
2. Think of an important problem in your life. State your purpose in the situation clearly and precisely. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Is your purpose fair or justifiable? Is it realistic? Explain. • What question emerges from your problem—state is clearly and precisely. What complexities are inherent in the problem? Is there more than one question that needs to be addressed to reason effectively through the problem? • What point(s) of view are relevant to the issue? State each one clearly and make sure that you consider all relevant points of view and that you are representing each point of view accurately. • What information are you using in your thinking? Where is the information coming from? How can you determine if the information is accurate and relevant to the question? • What are the most important concepts you are using to guide your reasoning? Elaborate on each concept so you understand how you are using them. • What are the assumptions you are making in your reasoning? What are you taking for granted that might be questioned? Make sure they are justifiable in the context of the issue. • What is the most important implication of potential decisions you might make. (If I decide to do _________, then _______ is likely to follow. If I decide to act differently by doing ________, then ________ is likely to follow). Here you are to look at the logical implications and potential consequences of each decision. • After you have thought through your potential answers, state a possible final conclusion.