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Print Price: $99.99

Format:
Paperback
416 pp.
14 b/w halftones and 21 b/w line illustrations, 6 1/8" x 9 1/4"

ISBN-13:
9780195324808

Copyright Year:
2009

Imprint: OUP US


The Vocabulary of Critical Thinking

Phil Washburn

The Vocabulary of Critical Thinking takes an innovative, practical, and accessible approach to teaching critical thinking and reasoning skills. With the underlying notion that a good way to practice fundamental reasoning skills is to learn to name them, the text explores one hundred and eight words that are important to know and employ within any discipline. These words are about comparing, generalizing, explaining, inferring, judging sources, evaluating, referring, assuming, and creating - actions used to assess relationships and arguments - and the words are grouped according to these and other concepts essential to critical thinking. Featuring five or more words and an introduction on how they are related, each chapter is organized into three parts. Part I includes definitions of the words, brief examples of their use, and a matching exercise. To further contextualize the words, Part II, Understanding the Meaning, provides numerous real-world examples, with commentary, of the words in use. Finally, Part III, Applying the Words, offers opportunities to employ the words in exercises and writing tasks, further enhancing understanding and providing practice of the associated critical thinking skills. Questions also appear throughout the chapters to encourage reflection and to highlight important points. Thirty-five photographs and illustrations additionally enrich the text.

The book is an ideal text for critical thinking and reasoning courses as well as a variety of courses that prepare students to succeed in college: Freshman Orientation, Developing Study Skills, etc.

Readership : Suitable for undergraduate Critical Thinking courses.

Preface
Introduction
Part 1: Comparing
1. to compare
2. to contrast
3. to distinguish
4. analogy
5. metaphor
6. model
Part 2: Generalizing
7. to generalize
8. sample
9. stereotype
10. to classify
11. criterion
Part 3: Reasoning
12. statement
13. argument
14. conclusion
15. evidence
16. to infer
17. reason
18. reasoning
Part 4: Fact and Opinion
19. fact
20. opinion
21. to confirm
22. source
23. critical
24. premise
Part 5: Reliable Sources
25. reliable
26. first-hand
27. expert
28. credentials
29. consensus
30. objective
31. to fabricate
Part 6: Degrees of Belief
32. possible
33. probable
34. plausible
35. convincing
36. certain
37. skeptical
38. dogmatic
Part 7: Cause and Effect
39. immediate cause
40. remote cause
41. contributing factor
42. coincidence
43. necessary condition
44. sufficient condition
Part 8: Scientific Thinking
45. hypothesis
46. experiment
47. variables
48. controlled experiment
49. a study
50. correlation
Part 9: Explaining
51. to explain
52. theory
53. to predict
54. story
55. motive
56. susperstition
Part 10: Valuing
57. to value
58. priority
59. goal
60. means and ends
61. principle
62. to evaluate
63. to recommend
Part 11: Justifying
64. standard
65. to justify
66. prejudice
67. impartial
68. conflict of interest
69. universal
70. relative
Part 12: Types of Reasoning
71. to imply
72. to support
73. to suggest
74. to prove
75. to refute
76. to deduce
Part 13: Mistakes in Reasoning
77. fallacy
78. propaganda
79. irrelevant
80. to rationalize
81. slippery slope
82. ad hominem
83. false dilemma
84. to beg the question
Part 14: Meaning
85. to refer
86. to mean
87. concept
88. to define
89. connotation
90. abstract
Part 15: Problems with Language
91. ambiguous
92. vague
93. loaded term
94. to characterize
95. rhetoric
96. irony
Part 16: Assuming
97. to assume
98. point of view
99. context
100. to intrepret
101. inconsistent
102. to contradict
Part 17: Creative Thinking
103. creative
104. association
105. brainstorming
106. stimulus
107. fantasy
108. to modify
For Further Study
Index

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Phil Washburn is Master Teacher in the General Studies Program at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at New York University.

Making Sense - Margot Northey and Joan McKibbin

Special Features

  • The Vocabulary of Critical Thinking teaches students effective critical thinking and reasoning skills through definitions, explanations, and applications of one hundred and eight words related to reasoning, argumentation, and evaluation - skills they can apply throughout their college experience.
  • An innovative, practical, and accessible approach to enhancing critical thinking and reasoning skills.
  • Features one hundred and eight words that are important to know and employ within any discipline.
  • Organized around seventeen fundamental reasoning skills, including comparing, generalizing, explaining, and valuing.
  • Guides students to learn words by using interesting and relevant examples and commentary.
  • Ideal for introductory critical thinking and reasoning courses taught in Philosophy, English, Communications, and other departments.
  • Also an ideal supplement for any course that teaches study, thinking, and reading skills, including Developmental Studies courses.
  • Suitable for high school students preparing for college as well.
  • With numerous study questions, exercises, arguments for analysis, and writing tasks to practice applying the words and their associated critical thinking skills.
  • Features thirty-five photos and illustrations.
  • Includes an annotated bibliography - For Further Study - with a range of books on thinking and ways to improve one's thinking.