Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection

Description

Written by internationally renowned author Stella Cottrell, this is an essential resource for students looking to refine their thinking, reading and writing skills. Stella Cottrell’s student-centred approach demystifies critical thinking and breaks down a complex subject into manageable chunks. With clear explanations, relevant examples and plenty of exercises throughout, this book helps students to develop their analytical reasoning skills and apply them to a range of tasks including reading, note-making and writing. This text will turn even the most hesitant student into a proficient critical thinker.

This is an ideal companion for students of study skills, humanities, social sciences, business and arts programmes, where assessment includes essay and report writing. It is suitable for students of all levels.

Key Features

• Authentic examples of students’ work throughout
• Lots of opportunities for students to practise new skills as they go along, and a detailed answer key which explains the reasons behind the answers
• Companion website features yet more exercises for students alongside ready to use PowerPoints and lecture notes for lecturers
• Written by leading study skills author, Stella Cottrell, who has sold over one million books to date

New to this Edition

• Brand new chapter on critical thinking and employability
• Includes a wider range of examples to highlight the variety of contexts in which critical thinking can be used
• Coverage of both academic and professional forms of critical writing

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Glossary
3. Acknowledgements
4. What is Critical Thinking?
5. How Well Do You Think? Develop Your Thinking Skills
6. What’s Their Point? Identifying Arguments
7. Is it an Argument? Argument and Non-Argument
8. How Well Do They Say It? Clarity, Consistency and Structure
9. Reading Between the Lines: Recognising Underlying Assumptions and Implicit Arguments
10. Does it Add Up? Identifying Flaws in the Argument
11. Where’s the Proof? Finding and Evaluating Sources of Evidence
12. Critical Reading and Note-Making: Critical Selection, Interpretation and Noting of Source Material
13. Critical, Analytical Writing: Critical Thinking When Writing
14. Where’s the Analysis? Evaluating Critical Writing
15. Critical Reflection
16. Critical Thinking for Your Future Career and Employability
17. Texts for Activities.

Author Description

Stella Cottrell is an international bestselling author, with over a million sales worldwide. Her other titles include The Study Skills Handbook, Critical Thinking Skills, Skills for Success, The Macmillan Student Planner, The Exam Skills Handbook and Mindfulness for Students. Stella was formerly Director of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leeds, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching at the University of East London.