What is critical thinking? How do you apply it in your assessments? How do you build a good argument or find evidence?
Critical thinking is a set of techniques. You just need to learn them.
This is your personal toolkit for demystifying critical thinking. Clear and focused, it shows you how to sharpen your ability to think critically by developing and honing your skills. You'll learn how to:
Build a solid argument and express your ideas clearly
Evaluate evidence and identify errors
Understand and account for biased or flawed thinking
Become a savvy user of technology
Sift through the deluge of digital information
Develop confident critical writing.
Designed to work with a power pack of digital resources and exercises, you'll find practical and effective tools to think and write critically in an information-saturated age.
Whether you're starting your first degree or arriving as an international or mature student, this book equips you with the skills, insights and confidence to succeed.
This second edition has been redesigned and fine-tuned with a focus on accessibility: with a new and improved layout to improve the eBook experience, and updated language, examples and further reading recommendations throughout.
Part I: The Art and Science of Being Reasonable
Chapter 1: Understanding the Reasons Behind Things
Chapter 2: Spelling Out Arguments and Assumptions
Chapter 3: Reasoning With Logic and Certainty
Chapter 4: Reasoning With Observation and Uncertainty
Chapter 5: Developing Explanations and Theories
Chapter 6: Assessing Evidence and Planning Your Reading Strategy
Part II: Being Reasonable in an Unreasonable World
Chapter 7: Getting to Grips With Rhetoric
Chapter 8: Seeing Through Faulty Reasoning
Chapter 9: Understanding Cognitive Bias
Chapter 10: Overcoming Bias in Yourself and Others
Chapter 11: Thinking Critically About Technology
Chapter 12: Putting It All Together: Critical Thinking in Study, Work and Life