MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

P.O. BOX 15653 –00503, NAIROBI, KENYA. MAGADI ROAD,

Tel. +254 20 891 201/2, Fax: +254 20 891 949

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SEMESTER: JANUARY – APRIL 2016
COURSE CODE: FSU 2103
COURSE TITLE: CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING
LECTURER : WAMBUA PAUL .K.
TIME/DAYS: THURSDAY 1400HRS – 1700HRS
VENUE: MTRLABO
CREDIT: 3
OFFICE HOURS: THURSDAY FROM 1400HRS – 1700HRS
CONTACT: theophillusp@gmail.com +254 735 441 668

Course Purpose
This course is designed to investigate the nature of critical thinking, its principles and techniques. It
seeks to make the student have a grasp of critical thinking as a means of establishing a reliable basis
for knowledge claims, beliefs and attitudes about oneself and the world. In this sense it seeks to
assist the student adopt a rational approach of comprehending reality and human prospects within
that reality. This course is meant to examine special critical thinking skills necessary for realizing the
ultimate objective of reason-bound inquiry – truth. It reflects on certain models of critical thinking
with an aim of inculcating in the student an interrogative attitude that is viable for professional
practice in particular and life in general.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
o Raise vital questions and problems, as well as to formulate and present them clearly
o Gather and assess information and interpret it effectively to reach well-reasoned
conclusion and solutions
o Clearly communicate ideas, positions and solutions to others.

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Requirements
All submitted work should be typed, double-spaced, font type (times new roman) , font size 12,
alignment (justified) and free of mechanical (spelling, grammar, punctuation) errors and written
utilizing APA format.
Assignments that are submitted late, without prior approved extension, will be deducted 20% per day
late, including weekends, and will receive a mark of zero after 5 days.
Cell phones during class lectures must be switched off.
All students are expected to be in class before the lectures commence. This means punctuality is very
important.
The final exam will be based on all material covered in the course including class lectures and
discussions, assignments, quizzes, presentations and assigned readings.
Teaching Approaches
Lectures, Student presentations and group discussions

Grading
The grade distribution of the 100 marks consists of:
Course Work 30%
Final Exam 70%

Course Content
WEEK SUBJECT AREA DISCUSSION TOPICS
1&2 Introduction of the course:  Course outline overview
Concepts  Definition of critical thinking
and creative thinking
 Difference between critical
thinking and creative thinking
 Levels of critical thinking
 Nature and scope of critical
thinking
 Fundamentals of critical
thinking
 Uses of critical thinking
3 The process of critical thinking
4 Critical thinking tools  Tools of analysis

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  Tools of evaluation
 Tools of transformation

5 Obstacles to critical thinking  Habit, authoritarianism, peer

pressure, religious dogmas,
propaganda
 Baconian idols of the mind
6 Argument  What is an argument?
o Premises and
conclusions
o A proposition
o Types of proposition
7 CAT 1
8 Kinds of arguments  Deductive argument
 Inductive argument
9 Determining good arguments Validity, strength and truth of
arguments
 Validity and strength
 Soundness and cogency
 Truth
 Two mistakes to be avoided in
arguments.
10 & 11 Fallacies  What is a fallacy?
 Kinds of fallacies
o Formal fallacies
o Informal fallacies
12 CAT 2
13 Models of critical thinking
14 END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

Recommended Texts
Ruggiero, V.R. (2011). The Art of Thinking: a guide to critical and creative thought. (10 th ed.). NY,
USA: Longman.
Richard, P. & Linda, E. (2008). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools.
Dillon Beach, Califonia, USA: Foundation for critical thinking press.
Facione, P.A. (2010). Critical Thinking: What it is and why it counts. Millbare CA: Insight
Assessment, Califonia Acadenic Press.
Journals
Thinking skills and creativity. ISSN.18711871, Elsevier

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Journal of critical thinking. ISSN. 1477-1576, 1755-1196, Framingham State University
Journal of thinking and reasoning. ISSN: 1354-6783, 1464-0708, Taylor and Francis

Reference Materials
Lau, J. Y. F. (2011). An Introduction to critical thinking and creativity: think more, think better.
Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and sons.
Fisher, A. (2011). Critical Thinking: An introduction. London, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Richard, P. & Linda, E. (2011). Critical Thinking Tools for taking charge of your learning and youe
life (3rd ed.). Upper saddle river, NJ: Prentice Hall Publishing.

Journals
Internal journal of learning. ISSN: 1741-8119, 1477-8386, CG Publisher
Ethics and critical thinking journal. ISSN: 1547-5425, kings college wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania.
Argumentation. ISSN: 0920-427X, 1572-8374, Kluwer Publishers, Spring

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