Asking the right questions : a guide to critical thinking

Browne, M. Neil 1944- (author). Keeley, Stuart M., 1941- (author).

Summary: "Used in a variety of courses in various disciplines, Asking the Right Questions helps students bridge the gap between simply memorizing or blindly accepting information, and the greater challenge of critical analysis and synthesis. Specifically, this concise text teaches students to think critically by exploring the components of arguments--issues, conclusions, reasons, evidence, assumptions, language--and on how to spot fallacies and manipulations and obstacles to critical thinking in both written and visual communication. It teaches them to respond to alternative points of view and develop a solid foundation for making personal choices about what to accept and what to reject. "--

Record details

ISBN: 0321907957 (Paper)
ISBN: 9780321907950 (Paper)
Physical Description: print
xiii, 169 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.
Edition: Eleventh edition
Publisher: Boston : Pearson, [2015].
Copyright: ©2012

Content descriptions

General Note:

Includes index.

Formatted Contents Note:

The benefit and manner of asking the right questions -- Speed bumps interfering with your critical thinking -- What are the issue and the conclusion? -- What are the reasons? -- What words or phrases are ambiguous? -- What are the value and descriptive assumptions? -- Are there any fallacies in the reasoning? -- How good is the evidence : intuition, personal experience, case examples, testimonials, and appeals to authority? -- How good is the evidence : personal observation, research studies, and analogies? -- Are there rival causes? -- Are the statistics deceptive? -- What significant information is omitted? -- What reasonable conclusions are possible?