reliability.

A. Research -- library, Internet.

B. Ask someone knowledgeable.

C. Brainstorm: free association / stream of consciousness, web and
cluster, outline.

3. Develop several alternative solutions.

4. Pick a possible solution and try it.

5. Evaluate the outcome.

6. Try again if necessary

* * * * *

_Problem Identification_ as the first step of problem solving

In life, personal problems are often complicated by outside
challenges. In literature, these forces are called external conflicts.
The external conflict may be man challenged by nature, man embattled
by society, or one man opposed by another man. In science, problems
are often exclusively matters of a physical nature and the external
conflict is man being challenged by nature.

Internal conflicts have a personal nature. By comparing personal
internal conflicts to Aristotle's structure for dramas, these
conflicts can often be recognized. Aristotle's drama structure divided
the play into five acts with a hero, a villain, an external conflict
and climax, and an emotional cleansing involving an internal conflict.
Real life internal conflicts often involve character traits and values
that are easily identified by this method.[5] (Character traits and
values are discussed in the section on interpersonal relationships.)

* * * * *

_Fact Gathering_ in Problem Solving.

The preferred order for gather facts is based on the order of
reliability: library research, asking someone knowledgeable, and
brainstorming.

Facts should be tested for logic, emotional fallacies, and the
credibility of "expert" witnesses. Facts gained from research in a
library are easiest to verify, and other methods of gathering facts
must often be re-verified through library research. Logical and
emotional weaknesses of arguments can often be recognized by the use
of certain fallacy recognition checklists.[6] The most widely used of
the fallacies is the over or under generalization: everyone (all,
without exception, none, never, no one) rode a bicycle when only two
years old.[7]

* * * * *

The more common persuasive fallacies are:

Logic Fallacies.

1. Generalization -- It is raining everywhere. It has not rained
anywhere. (The exception is discounted.)

2. Circular argument -- That team is the best because it is the
greatest. (Similar adjectives describing each other.)

3. Either or fallacy -- Either the city will dril