Critical Thinking Book One -> ON SALE

Problem Solving, Reasoning, Logic, and Arguments

Develops logical thinking for superior reading comprehension and test success!

Grades: 7 - 12+
Subject: Logical Thinking
ISBN: 0-89455-641-X
Activities: 70
Pages: 178

Critical Thinking teaches your child to think logically, present well-developed arguments, and see through unsupported arguments. Book One of the series helps students develop the fundamentals of logic, argumentation, and critical reading. Book Two builds on the skills developed in Book One, while teaching more advanced concepts.

Easy-to-understand explanations of concepts are followed by examples and real-life, often humorous, discussion problems. Students learn to identify valid and invalid claims and arguments, sufficient and insufficient evidence, fact and opinion, generalizations, emotional arguments, inferences, deductions, and more.

Instruction/Answer Guides (Sold Separately) Includes goals, teaching suggestions, and answers. No previous background in logic is required to teach these activities.

Assessment Test Preparation

Critical Thinking guarantees top performance on assessment tests including:

Stanford Achievement Test™ (SAT/9)

Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

Woodcock-Johnson® Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJ®-R)

Terra Nova (CTBS-5)

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

ACT Assessment® (ACT)

and many more!

Table of Contents/Skills

Chapter 1--Introduction to Critical Thinking What is Critical Thinking? Who Can Learn to Think Critically? What Are You Expected to Learn in This Chapter? Discussions, Disagreements, Arguments, and Fights When Is it Stupid to Argue? General Statements Counterexamples "Proof" by Failure to Find a Counterexample Is Your Thinking Stuck in a Rut? Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 2--Introduction to Logic Symbols Used in This Chapter "Or" Sentences and Their Truth Values "And" Sentences and Their Truth Values Double Negatives and Multiple "~" Signs Necessary and Sufficient Conditions "If-Then" Sentences Truth Values of "If-Then" Sentences Proposition, Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive Substitution of Converse or Inverse for its Proposition "Only If" Sentences and Their Truth Values Arguments, Premises, and Conclusions Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 3--Basic Concepts for Critical Thinking What's the Difference Between "Probable" and "Possible"? Allegories, Old Sayings, and Literary References People May Have Different Feelings About the Same Word A Changed Definition May Produce a Changed Conclusion Don't Jump to a Conclusion--the Obvious One May be Wrong Eyewitnesses and Circumstantial Evidence Implications and Inferences Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 4--Common Errors in Reasoning Circular Reasoning "Proof" by Selected Instances Avoiding the Question Special Pleading Faking a Connection Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 5--Propaganda Techniques Introduction "Bandwagon" Repetition "Transfer" "Testimonial" "Exigency" "Free" and "Bargain" "Glittering Generality" Innuendo "Name-Calling" Miscellaneous Techniques Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 6--Advertising and Schemes Introduction "Get Rich Quick" Schemes What's in a Name? Advertising Sells Ideas Career Opportunities Stupid Advertisements Miscellaneous Schemes Asking Questions About Advertisements Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 7--Examining Arguments and Value Judgments Rules of a Society Protection of the Law Emotional Words and Arguments Double Standards Where Do You Draw the Line? Attributes of a Good Argument Chapter Review Problems and Questions Chapter 8--Looking at Different Sides of an Issue Introduction Looking at Two Sides of an Issue Recognizing Issues and Supporting Points Anticipating Arguments for the Other Side Finding Arguments of Your Own Debating Chapter Review Problems and Questions Glossary Index