Creative Thinking Exercise

1. Creative Thinking Exercise Consider the following aspects of Creative Thinking and answer the following questions by trying to find the correct, yet perhaps less obvious answer.

2. Major Characteristics of Creative Thinking • Fluency—coming up with many possible solutions • Originality—creating new and unique solutions • Flexibility—considering multiple theories and different perspectives • Transference—applying previous knowledge to different situations • Elaboration—extending an idea to its natural limits

3. Question 1: • A couple has nine sons. Each son has a sister. How many children are there in the family?

4. Question 1: • A couple has nine sons. Each son has a sister. How many children are there in the family? • Hint: If everyone is here, each of you has 25 classmates.

5. Question 1: • Answer: 10—it is the same sister for each of the nine sons. • If you said 18, don’t feel bad—many people do. • Critical/Creative Thinking Skills: • Flexibility • Originality

6. Question 2: • A basket containing 15 ears of corn is set by the woods. A raccoon carries away three ears a day. How many days will it take for the raccoon to empty the basket?

7. Question 2: • A basket containing 15 ears of corn is set by the woods. A raccoon carries away three ears a day. How many days will it take for the raccoon to empty the basket? • Hint: The answer is not five.

8. Question 2: • Answer: 15—did you forget that the raccoon has two ears? • Please don’t hurt me! • Critical/Creative Thinking Skills: • Fluency • Flexibility • Originality

9. Question 3: • A train one mile long traveling 60 miles per hour enters a tunnel one mile long. How long will it take the train to pass through the tunnel? • (This is strictly math, actually)

10. Question 3: • A train one mile long traveling 60 miles per hour enters a tunnel one mile long. How long will it take the train to pass through the tunnel? • Hint: 60 miles per hour equals one mile per minute, but don’t let this fool you.

11. Question 3: • Answer: 2 minutes. The entire train has to pass through the tunnel, not just the front. • If you said one minute, at least you did the math right • Critical/Creative Thinking Skills: • Transfer • Elaboration • Flexibility

12. Question 4: • A man has one brother and one sister. All three children have the same parents. The man says he is related to neither of the other two. What is he?

13. Question 4: • A man has one brother and one sister. All three children have the same parents. The man says he is related to neither of the other two. What is he? • Hint: Adoptees are considered to have the same parents. Think creatively.

14. Question 4: • Answer: A liar. I would also accept insane. • Critical/Creative Thinking Skills: • Flexibility • Originality • Fluency

15. Question 5: • Which is correct? • Eight and seven ARE fourteen. • Eight and seven IS fourteen.

16. Question 5: • Which is correct? • Eight and seven ARE fourteen. • Eight and seven IS fourteen. • Hint: Don’t let yourself be distracted.

17. Question 5: • Answer: Neither. 8 + 7 = 15 • Math is really at the root of everything. • Which is correct? • Eight and seven ARE fifteen. • Eight and seven IS fifteen. • Critical/Creative Thinking Skills: • Flexibility • Transfer

18. How does this apply to the Research Paper? • Fluency—actively developing concepts to research • Originality—creating your own search parameters rather than relying on sources • Flexibility—considering multiple approaches to the issue and being able to question your own • Transference—applying skills from other disciplines into your research process • Elaboration—explaining your points fully with evidence to completely and convincingly support your thesis and supporting points