Critical Thinking: Your Guide to Effective Argument, Successful Analysis and Independent Study

Description

Critical thinking is a set of techniques―you just need to learn them. This helpful book is your personal toolkit for demystifying critical engagement. Author Tom Chatfield will show you how to sharpen your critical thinking by developing and practicing this specific set of skills, so you can… Spot an argument and understand why reasoning matters Discover errors and evaluate evidence Understand and account for bias Become a savvy user of technology Develop clear, confident critical writing CRITICAL THINKING- FRONT COVER CRITICAL THINKING COPYRIGHT CONTENTS THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WELCOME TO THE BOOK! WHAT IS CRITICAL THINKING (AND WHY DOES IT MATTER)? 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 INTERMISSION 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 AND FINALLY… READING GUIDE GLOSSARY A SYNOPSIS OF FIVE VALID FORMS OF ARGUMENT ENDNOTES INDEX