Synopses & Reviews
In this book, Alec Fisher aims to teach directly an important range of thinking skills. The skills are fundamental critical (and creative) thinking skills, and they are taught in a way which expressly aims to facilitate their transfer to other subjects and other contexts. The method is to use 'thinking maps' which help improve thinking by asking key questions of students when they are faced with different types of problems. Alec Fisher explains the language of reasoning, how to understand different kinds of arguments and how to ask the right question. Other topics include: different patterns of reasoning and standards which apply in different contexts, how to clarify and interpret ideas, how to judge the credibility of claims, and how to decide whether a person really justifies their conclusions, given their audience. Particular attention is given to understanding casual explanations and evaluating decisions. THe book includes many examples and exercises which give extensive practice in developing critico-creative thinking skills.
Synopsis
In this highly accessible book, Alec Fisher shows students how they can develop a range of creative and critical thinking skills that are transferable to other subjects and contexts. Critical Thinking includes topics such as: argument analysis, clarifying terms and interpreting ideas, skilful decision making and value judgements, and applying critical thinking to different subjects. Critical Thinking includes exercises that enable students to practise their critical thinking skills, as well as an appendix of examples and exercises for teachers to use and adapt.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to critical thinking; 2. Argument analysis; 3. The acceptability of reasons; 4. Clarifying terms and interpreting ideas; 5. Grounds for accepting inferences; 6. Evaluating and producing (causal) explanations; 7. Skilful decision making and value judgements; 8. Applying critical thinking to different subjects; Appendix; Glossary.