Synopses & Reviews
This clear, learner-friendly text helps today's students bridge the gap between everyday culture and critical thinking. The text covers all the basics of critical thinking, beginning where students are, not where we think they should be. Its comprehensiveness allows instructors to tailor the material to their individual teaching styles, resulting in an exceptionally versatile text.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical Thinking Standards
The Benefits of Critical Thinking
Barriers to Critical Thinking
Characteristics of a Critical Thinker
Chapter Summary
2. Recognizing Arguments What Is an Argument? / Identifying Premises and Conclusions / What Is Not an Argument? / Chapter Summary 3. Basic Logical Concepts Deduction and Induction / How Can We Tell Whether an Argument is Deductive or Inductive? / Common Patterns of Deductive Reasoning / Common Patterns of Inductive Reasoning / Deductive Validity / Inductive Strength / Testing for Validity / Chapter Summary 4. Language The Role of Language in the Assessment of Arguments / Deciding Whether a Premise is True or False / Precision and Personal Viewpoint in Our Own Arguments / Finding the Right Words: The Need for Precision / The Importance of Precise Definitions / Emotive