Publisher Description

Learn how to argue points effectively, analyze information, and make sound judgments The ability to think clearly and critically is a lifelong benefit that you can apply in any situation that calls for reflection, analysis, and planning. Being able to think systematically and solve problems is also a great career asset. Critical Thinking Skills For Dummies helps you hone your thinking abilities and become a better communicator. You'll find hands-on, active instruction and exercises that you can put to work today as you navigate social media and news websites, chat with AI, fact-check your own and others' views, and more. Become a thinking machine, with this Dummies guide. Identify other people's arguments and conclusions—and spot holes in themEvaluate evidence and produce more effective arguments in any situationRead between the lines of what people say and form your own judgmentsApply critical thinking to school or college assignments to improve your academic performance This is the perfect Dummies title for students, researchers, and everyone who seeks to improve their reasoning and analysis ability.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Critical Thinking Skills 7 CHAPTER 1: Entering the Exciting World of Critical Thinking 9 CHAPTER 2: Peering into the Mind: How People Think 23 CHAPTER 3: Planting Ideas in Your Head: The Sociology of Thinking 43 CHAPTER 4: Assessing Your Thinking Skills 69 Part 2: Developing Your Critical Thinking Skills 97 CHAPTER 5: Critical Thinking Is Like . . . Solving Puzzles: Reasoning by Analogy 99 CHAPTER 6: Thinking in Circles: The Power of Recursion 119 CHAPTER 7: Drawing on Graphics for Thinking 139 CHAPTER 8: Constructing Knowledge: Information Hierarchies 163 Part 3: Applying Critical Thinking in Practice 181 CHAPTER 9: Getting to the Heart of the (Reading) Matter 183 CHAPTER 10: Cultivating Your Critical Writing Skills 205 CHAPTER 11: Speaking and Listening Critically 225 Part 4: Reason and Argument 243 CHAPTER 12: Unlocking the Logic of Real Arguments 245 CHAPTER 13: Behaving Like a Rational Animal 265 CHAPTER 14: Using Words to Persuade 281 CHAPTER 15: Presenting Evidence and Justifying Opinions 299 Part 5: Part of Tens 323 CHAPTER 16: Ten Logical Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them 325 CHAPTER 17: Ten Arguments that Changed the World 333 Index 345

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