Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies

Learn to:

• Identify other people's arguments and conclusions
• Interpret and produce your argument more effectively
• Read between the lines, see behind surfaces and identify false assumptions
• Apply critical thinking to assignments

Analyse, evaluate and apply information to create cohesive arguments

Have you ever received feedback suggesting you need to be more critical in your assignments? Written specifically for students, this friendly guide takes the intimidation out of the topic and provides hands-on, active instruction and exercises to help you apply critical thinking in your academic work to achieve higher grades.

• Have a think — grasp the science and sociology behind thinking and find out how to assess your thinking sills
• Put the pieces together — find out how critical thinking is like solving puzzles
• Your critical thinking toolbox — use mind maps, concept flow charts, dump lists, meta-thinking, virtues and vices and triangulation
• Put it to practice — apply critical thinking to reading, writing, speaking and listening
• Smoke and mirrors — separate fact from opinion, know a writer's (or speaker's) position and utilise sound source checking

Open the book and find:

• The who, where and when of thinking
• How to know your 'thinking habits'
• Why you should beware of being too critical
• The logic of real arguments
• How to be a rational animal
• Unsound argument tactics to avoid
• Lots of exercises to help you master your skills