Critical Thinking

<p>In <em>Critical</em> <em>Thinking: An Appeal to</em> <em>Reason</em>, Peg Tittle empowers students with a solid grounding in the lifelong skills of considered analysis and argumentation that should underpin every student’s education. Starting with the building blocks of a good argument, this comprehensive new textbook offers a full course in critical thinking. It includes chapters on the nature and structure of argument, the role of relevance, truth and generalizations, and the subtleties of verbal and visual language.</p><p><strong>Special features include:</strong></p><p>• an emphasis on the constructive aspect of critical thinking—strengthening the arguments of others and constructing sound arguments of your own—rather than an exclusive focus on spotting faulty arguments<br>• actual questions from standardized reasoning tests like the LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, and GRE<br>• graduated end-of-chapter exercises, asking students to think critically about what they see, hear, read, write, and discuss<br>• numerous sample arguments from books, magazines, television, and the Internet for students to analyze<br>• many images for critical analysis<br>• analyzed arguments that help students to read critically and actively<br>• an extensive companion website for instructors and students</p><p><strong>A companion website features:</strong></p><p>• for instructors: an extensive instructor’s manual; a test bank; and PowerPoint slides<br>• for students: extended answers, explanations, and analyses for the exercises and arguments in the book; supplementary chapters on logic and ethics; downloadable MP3 study guides; interactive flash cards; and thinking critically audio exercises.</p><p><strong>www.routledge.com/textbooks/tittle</strong></p> <p><strong>Chapter 1: Critical Thinking </strong>1.1 What is critical thinking? 1.2 What is critical thinking not? <strong>Chapter 2: The Nature of Argument </strong> 2.1 Recognizing an Argument 2.2 Circular Arguments 2.3 Counterarguments 2.4 The Burden of Proof 2.5 Facts and Opinions 2.6 Deductive and Inductive Argument <strong>Chapter 3: The Structure of Argument </strong> 3.1 Convergent, Single 3.2 Convergent, Multiple 3.3 Divergent <strong>Chapter 4: Relevance</strong> 4.1 Relevance 4.2 Errors of Relevance <strong>Chapter 5: Language </strong> 5.1 Clarity 5.2 Neutrality 5.3 Definition <strong>Chapter 6: Truth and Acceptability</strong> 6.1 How do we define truth? 6.2 How do we discover truth? 6.3 How do we evaluate claims of truth? <strong>Chapter 7: Generalizations, Analogies, and General Principles </strong> 7.1 Sufficiency 7.2 Generalizations 7.3 Analogies 7.4 General Principles <strong>Chapter 8: Inductive Argument – Causal Reasoning </strong> 8.1 Causation 8.2 Explanations 8.3 Predictions, Plans, and Policies 8.4 Errors in Causal Reasoning </p><p><em>Supplemental Chapters on the Companion Website:</em> <strong>1. Categorical Logic 2. Propositional Logic 3. Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues</strong></p>