Problem Solving

HUM/111 Version 7

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Problem Solving
Using the five steps from Ch. 5 of Thinking Critically, create a plan for solving a problem you are currently
facing. For the last step, identify how you will determine the effectiveness of your chosen solution.
Step 1: What is the problem?

Disiplining my child for being a bully

Step 2: What are the alternatives?

One alternative is to spank and the other is to put

him in timeout.

Step 3: What are the advantages and/or

disadvantages of each alternative?

The disadvantages of spanking is that he

continues to bully his friends, hates me for
spanking him, and thinks of me as a bully. The
disadvantage of timeout is that he will use the time
to take a nap.
The advantage of spanking is that he will
remember that if he bullies someone mom will
spank him. An advantage for timeout is that he can
think of what hes done.

Step 4: What is the solution?

The solution that I chose to pursue is spanking

because timeout did not work. As soon as timeout
was over, he was beating up his friend again.

Step 5: How well is the solution working?

The solution is working very well. He is no longer

fighting his friends.

Write a 100- to 150- word reflection about this process. How did this process help you devise a solution?
How can you use this process with future problems? Will this work for all problems you face? Why or why
not?
This process helped me to devise a solution by allowing me to look into different alternatives and try a
different course of action. I can use this process with future problems by taking the necessary time to
evaluate and analyze the situation. This will allow me to reflect on past decisions that worked best in the
past and those that didnt. Yes, I do think the step will work for all problems I face because it will give me
the opportunity to research the situation and find evidence to help me solve the problem.These step help
me to look at thing in depth and I can see it from a different perspective.

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