Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

2.4 Identifying arguments 35 Who wants an argument? In the last unit we discussed arguments in dialogue form, as well as single ...

36 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics Commentary Overall, this conversation is a quarrel, and parts of it are no more than exc ...

2.4 Identifying arguments 37 End-of-chapter assignments C If more cash machines start making a fixed charge for each withdrawal, ...

38 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics Getting it right Before you can respond critically to an argument, by evaluating it or b ...

2.5 Analysing arguments 39 If the next train would do just as well, then there is no need to set off within ten minutes. Where p ...

40 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics Commentary The conclusion is the first sentence. It is followed by three supporting clai ...

2.5 Analysing arguments 41 R3 The news is all round the college. R4 Rajinder spread a story that I told him in confidence. C Raj ...

42 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics Summary • We have looked at the workings of some relatively simple arguments, and sugg ...

2.6 Complex arguments 43 In the last chapter we saw how reasons – independently or in combination – support a conclusion. In eve ...

44 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics distinction between sub-arguments and main arguments – is very important, as you will se ...

2.6 Complex arguments 45 Commentary This is a more complicated argument to unravel than the last one because the reasons and con ...

46 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics look for the direct reasons that support it. Then look for reasons (if any) that support ...

2.6 Complex arguments 47 are a necessary part of the text, of course, because without them the argument would not make much sens ...

48 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics • Some arguments have intermediate conclusions that lead on to a main conclusion. • ...

2.6 Complex arguments 49 1 Draw a diagram which shows the structure of argument [3]. (You may follow the model used in th ...

50 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics In [1] and [2] there was a single premise and a single conclusion. In the next passage t ...

2.7 Conclusions 51 Commentary Your discussion should have led you to see that the conclusion is the last-but-one sentence: the c ...

52 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics arguments, or steps. To distinguish main conclusions from intermediate conclusions, you ...

2.7 Conclusions 53 Commentary There are multiple-choice questions like this in some but not all critical thinking syllabuses and ...

54 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics explanatory detail, suggesting why children may be more adventurous. It is not supported ...