Thinking Critically A Concise Guide

by Chaffee, John

• ISBN13: 9780618348824
• ISBN10: 0618348824
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-17
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Designed as a brief, supplemental text for any course in which critical thinking is a key component, this Concise version of Chaffee's acclaimed Thinking Critically teaches the fundamental thinking, reasoning, reading, and writing abilities that students need for academic success. This streamlined text highlights skill development. Engaging exercises, discussion topics, reading, and writing assignments encouraging active participation and provide structured opportunities for students to develop thinking processes. Diverse readings and assignments covering a range of controversial topics--from AIDS and substance abuse to patriotism--guides students in thinking about complex issues.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Thinking	1	(35)
Living an ``Examined'' Life	4	(2)
Working Toward Goals	6	(9)
Achieving Short-Term Goals	8	(1)
Achieving Long-Term Goals	9	(2)
Thinking Passage: My American Journey	11	(1)
From My American Journey	11	(4)
Colin Powell
Making Decisions	15	(5)
An Organized Approach to Making Decisions	16	(4)
Analyzing Issues	20	(9)
What Is the Issue?	22	(1)
What Is the Evidence?	23	(3)
What Are the Arguments?	26	(2)
What Is the Verdict?	28	(1)
Final Thoughts	29	(7)
Thinking Passage: Jurors' Reasoning Processes	32	(1)
``Jurors Hear Evidence and Turn It into Stories''	32	(4)
Daniel Goleman
Thinking Critically	36	(41)
Thinking Actively	41	(4)
Influences on Your Thinking	41	(3)
Becoming an Active Learner	44	(1)
Carefully Exploring Situations with Questions	45	(4)
Thinking Independently	49	(3)
Viewing Situations from Different Perspectives	52	(5)
Supporting Diverse Perspectives with Reasons and Evidence	57	(5)
Discussing Ideas in an Organized Way	62	(9)
Listening Carefully	65	(1)
Supporting Views with Reasons and Evidence	65	(1)
Responding to the Points Being Made	66	(1)
Asking Questions	66	(1)
Increasing Understanding	66	(1)
Looking Critically @ Evaluating Internet Information	67	(4)
Becoming a Critical Thinker	71	(6)
Thinking Passage: Liberty Versus Security	72	(1)
``Liberty v Security'' by The Economist	72	(5)
Solving Problems	77	(31)
Thinking Critically About Problems	78	(1)
Introduction to Solving Problems	79	(3)
Solving Complex Problems	82	(21)
Accepting the Problem	85	(2)
Step 1: What Is the Problem?	87	(4)
Step 2: What Are the Alternatives?	91	(3)
Step 3: What Are the Advantages and/or Disadvantages of Each Alternative?	94	(2)
Step 4: What Is the Solution?	96	(3)
Step 5: How Well Is the Solution Working?	99	(4)
Solving Nonpersonal Problems	103	(5)
Thinking Passage: Living with Diversity	105	(1)
``Racism Creeps into Campus Lives''	105	(3)
Lisa Haarlander
Perceiving, Believing, and Knowing	108	(47)
Actively Selecting, Organizing, and Interpreting Sensations	110	(8)
People's Perceptions Differ	113	(3)
Viewing the World Through Lenses	116	(2)
What Factors Shape Perceptions?	118	(15)
Five Accounts of the Assassination of Malcolm X	120	(3)
Eight Accounts of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon Attacks	123	(8)
Thinking Passage: Experiences Shape Your Perceptions	131	(1)
``Acquired Knowledge''	131	(2)
Anonymous
Thinking Critically About Perceptions	133	(4)
Constructing Beliefs	137	(2)
Believing and Knowing	139	(3)
Knowledge and Truth	142	(13)
Stages of Knowing	143	(6)
Thinking Passage: Perceptions of Patriotism	149	(1)
``Flag Fever: The Paradox of Patriotism''	150	(5)
Blaine Harden
Reporting, Inferring, and Judging	155	(35)
Reporting Factual Information	159	(4)
Inferring	163	(6)
Judging	169	(14)
Differences in Judgments	170	(3)
Thinking Critically About Moral Judgments	173	(3)
The Thinker's Guide to Moral Decision-Making	176	(6)
Why Be Moral?	182	(1)
Final Thoughts	183	(7)
Thinking Passage: Character and Intellect	184	(1)
``The Disparity Between Intellect and Character''	184	(6)
Robert Coles
Constructing Arguments	190	(36)
Recognizing Arguments	194	(9)
Cue Words for Arguments	196	(1)
Thinking Passages: Legalizing Drugs	197	(1)
``Drugs''	198	(1)
Gore Vidal
``The Case for Slavery''	199	(3)
A. M. Rosenthal
Arguments Are Inferences	202	(1)
Evaluating Arguments	203	(6)
Truth: How True Are the Supporting Reasons?	203	(3)
Validity: Do the Reasons Support the Conclusion?	206	(2)
The Soundness of Arguments	208	(1)
Understanding Deductive Arguments	209	(7)
Application of a General Rule	210	(1)
Modus Ponens	211	(1)
Modus Tollens	212	(1)
Disjunctive Syllogism	213	(3)
Final Thoughts	216	(10)
Thinking Passage: Human Cloning	216	(1)
``Cloning Human Beings'' by National Bioethics Advisory Commission	216	(10)
Reasoning Critically	226	(49)
Inductive Reasoning	227	(1)
Empirical Generalization	228	(5)
Is the Sample Known?	229	(1)
Is the Sample Sufficient?	229	(1)
Is the Sample Representative?	230	(3)
Fallacies of False Generalization	233	(3)
Hasty Generalization	233	(1)
Sweeping Generalization	234	(1)
False Dilemma	235	(1)
Causal Reasoning	236	(7)
The Scientific Method	237	(6)
Causal Fallacies	243	(4)
Questionable Cause	243	(1)
Misidentification of the Cause	244	(1)
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc	244	(1)
Slippery Slope	245	(2)
Fallacies of Relevance	247	(11)
Appeal to Authority	248	(1)
Appeal to Tradition	249	(1)
Bandwagon	249	(1)
Appeal to Pity	250	(1)
Appeal to Fear	251	(1)
Appeal to Flattery	251	(1)
Special Pleading	252	(1)
Appeal to Ignorance	252	(2)
Begging the Question	254	(1)
Straw Man	255	(1)
Red Herring	255	(1)
Appeal to Personal Attack	256	(1)
Two Wrongs Make a Right	257	(1)
The Critical Thinker's Guide to Reasoning	258	(17)
What Is My Initial Point of View?	258	(1)
How Can I Define My Point of View More Clearly?	258	(1)
What Is an Example of My Point of View?	259	(1)
What Is the Origin of My Point of View?	259	(1)
What Are My Assumptions?	260	(1)
What Are the Reasons, Evidence, and Arguments That Support My Point of View?	260	(2)
What Are Other Points of View on This Issue?	262	(1)
What Is My Conclusion, Decision, Solution, or Prediction?	262	(1)
What Are the Consequences?	263	(1)
Thinking Passage: Critical Thinking and Obedience to Authority	264	(1)
``Critical Thinking and Obedience to Authority''	265	(10)
John Sabini
Maury Silver
Thinking Critically, Living Creatively	275	(36)
Living Creatively	276	(14)
``Can I Be Creative?''	277	(4)
Becoming More Creative	281	(9)
Living a Life Philosophy	290	(21)
Choosing Freely	293	(4)
Choosing ``the Good Life'	297	(1)
The Meaning of Your Life	298	(4)
Thinking Passage: Original Spin	302	(1)
``Original Spin``	302	(9)
Lesley Dormen
Peter Edidin
Glossary	311	(10)
Acknowledgments	321	(2)
Index	323