Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

20 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics

In what way is each of these different from

the others? (You can use a dictionary to

help you answer the question.)

5    How would you define the following special

kinds of claim?

•   allegation

•   accusation

•   insinuation

•   confirmation

•   denial

•   verdict

6    The idea of claims is central to the

discipline of critical thinking. Why is

this so?

Answers and comments are on page 311.

1    Explain briefly, in your own words, the

difference between a claim and a fact.

2    Is there any significant difference between

a claim and an assertion? If so, how are

they different? If not, what do they have

in common?

3    For each of the five examples [A]–[E] in

this chapter, suggest two other claims that

have the same relation to the truth, but on

different subject matter.

4    The word ‘hypothesis’ has several close

relatives. Here are four:

•   conjecture

•   theory

•   guess

•   speculation

End-of-chapter assignments