Thinking Critically

THINKING CRITICALLY helps you become a more sophisticated thinker by teaching the fundamental cognitive process that allows you to develop the higher-order thinking abilities needed for academic study and career success. The text compels you to use your intellect to think critically about subjects drawn from academic disciplines, contemporary issues, and your own life experiences. The text begins with basic skills related to personal experience and then carefully progresses to the more sophisticated reasoning skills required for abstract, academic contexts. Each chapter provides an overview of an aspect of critical thinking, such as problem-solving, perception, and the nature of beliefs. Thinking Activities, thematic boxes, and writing assignments encourage active participation and prompt you and your peers to critically examine each others'' thinking. Thought-provoking and current readings from a wide variety of thinkers get you to think about complex issues from different perspectives. Each chapter ends with self-assessment activities that help you to monitor your own progress as a critical thinker.