The Thinking Toolbox: Thirty-Five Lessons That Will Build Your Reasoning Skills

Description

The Thinking Toolbox has been the best selling text for teaching critical thinking skills and introduction to logic for over 15 years. "The Bluedorns have certainly achieved their goal of creating a logic textbook that is neither boring nor distant, but rather informative, approachable, enjoyable, and valuable." - Jordan J. Ballor at the Acton Institute --Acton Institute web site "I think the best part of The Thinking Toolbox would be the examples because they are hilarious. . . . I would highly recommend this book. It's useful and great comedy at the same time." Sarah (age 11) --student This book is like a toolbox, full of different kinds of tools you can use for different thinking tasks. Just as you use the wrench in a regular tool box to fix the sink, so you can use the tools we give you in this book to solve thinking problems. - When it is dumb to argue - Using the scientific method - Five rules of brainstorming - Who has a reason to lie? - How to analyze opposing viewpoints - How to analyze evidence and sources - How to list reasons why you believe something - And much more We wrote this book for children and adults who want to learn logic and critical thinking skills. The Thinking Toolbox follows the same style as The Fallacy Detective with lessons and exercises and an answer key in the back. Parents and teachers, as well as anybody who wants to learn logic, will find The Thinking Toolbox easy to use and practical. Features: - Fun to use not dry like a math textbook - Can be used after The Fallacy Detective - Introductory teaches skills you can use right away - Self-teaching format - For ages thirteen and older - Over 60 cartoon illustrations by Richard LaPierre How to Use This Book Lesson 1: A Thinking Tool Lesson 2: A Discussion, a Disagreement, an Argument, and a Fight Lesson 3: When It Is Dumb to Argue Lesson 4: Fact, Inference, or Opinion Lesson 5: Finding the Premises and Conclusion Lesson 6: How to List Reasons Why You Believe Something Lesson 7: How to Defeat Your Own Argument Lesson 8: When Not to Use Logic Lesson 9: Using the Opposing Viewpoints Chart Lesson 10: Opposing Viewpoints Are Everywhere Lesson 11: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Evidence Lesson 12: You Can’t Believe Everything You Hear Lesson 13: Are You Primary or Secondary? Lesson 14: Who Has a Reason to Lie? Lesson 15: Corroborating Evidence Lesson 16: Mystery of the Stolen Manoot Lesson 17: Stir Plot until Thickened Lesson 18: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Lesson 19: Does a Possibly Make a Probably? Lesson 20: Circumstantial Evidence Lesson 21: Puzzling Developments Lesson 22: Mole the Scientist Lesson 23: Tools that Help Scientists Do Their Job Lesson 24: How to Be a Keen Observer Lesson 25: Brainstorming Lesson 26: Hypothesis Is a Huge Word Lesson 27: How to Prove You Are Wrong Lesson 28: A Good Experiment Lesson 29: How to Analyze Data Lesson 30: Listen and Learn Lesson 31: Pseudoscience Lesson 32: A Little Project Lesson 33: Projects Lesson 34: “Herbal the Verbal Gerbil” Game Lesson 35: The Mystery of the Large Letter Library