Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

78 Unit 2 Critical thinking: the basics

4    Start a file, or database, of common

reasoning errors by listing the ones you

have met in this. You could use three

headings, or fields:

Name (or brief description), e.g. Relying

on anecdotal evidence

Explanation, e.g. Using a single

occurrence of something and drawing a

general conclusion from it.

Example, e.g. I know someone who fell

through the ice at this spot. Therefore it is

never safe to cross this lake.

Whenever you encounter flawed or suspect

arguments, add them to the file.

Answers and comments are on page 315.

C According to her diaries Farrah had

never been seriously ill.

D Few people are still working in their

late nineties.

E Many writers live physically inactive

lives.

3    Would the data in the two graphs below

support the conclusion that computer

games contribute to violence? Give

reasons for your answer.

01/09 01/10 01/11

0%

10%

Levels of reported

20% assault (Police Dept.)

Quarterly downloads of

new computer games

from one online supplier

2009

Sales

(million units)

2

4

6

8

10

2010

General theme Violent theme