Becoming a Critical Thinker: User Friendly Manual

by Diestler, Sherry

• ISBN13: 9780132413138
• ISBN10: 0132413132
• Additional ISBN(s): 9780131779983, 9780205176038
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

This book trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs.Chapter topics include the foundations of arguments, reality and value assumptions and ethics, inductive arguments and generalizations, reasoning errors, the power of language, media literacy, fairmindedness, and persuasive speaking.For critical thinkers who want to be discerning about the messages they read or hear; make decisions based on careful consideration of both facts and values; be alert to distortion in reporting and advertising; and, defend their own viewpoints.

Table of Contents

Preface

Foundations of Arguments

What Is a Critical Thinker and When Do You Need to Be One

Values and Ethics What Price Ethics and Can You Afford Not to Pay?

Reality Assumptions Its Eleven OClock

Do You Know Where Your Assumptions Are?

Inductive Arguments: Statistical And Causal Generalizations Prove It to me: What Are the Statistics?

Inductive Generalizations: Controlled Studies and Analogies Who Said So?

And Who Are They Anyway?

Reasoning Errors I Know What I ThinkDont Confuse Me with Facts

The Power of Language Whats in a Name?

Suggestion in Media Is What You See What You Get?

Do You Really Want It?

Fair-Mindedness

Its You and Me, Kid, and Im Not So Sure About You

Persuasive Speaking Whats Your Point?

How Do You Sharpen It?

Glossary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.