Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument (Palgrave Study Skills)

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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. 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. What is critical thinking? -- How well do you think? : Develop your thinking skills -- What's their point? : Identifying arguments -- Is it an argument? : Argument and non-argument -- How well do they say it? : Clarity, consistency and structure -- Reading between the lines: recognising underlying assumptions and implicit arguments -- Does it add up? : Identifying flaws in the argument -- Where's the proof? : Finding and evaluating sources of evidence -- Critical reading and note-making: critical selection, interpretation and noting of source material -- Critical, analytical writing: critical thinking when writing -- Where's the analysis? : Evaluating critical writing -- Critical reflection The 4th edition features a new section on argument mapping techniques, which help readers to visualize the structures of an argument. It also contains new and updated examples that link to current affairs, showing the importance of critical thinking as a lifelong skill.

Includes a wider range of examples to highlight the variety of contexts in which critical thinking can be used assess your current understanding of critical thinking and identify your priorities for improvement