Critical reasoning : a practical introduction / Anne Thomson.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 173) and index.

1. Analysing reasoning -- 2. Evaluating reasoning -- 3. Recognizing implications -- 4. Two skills in the use of language -- 5. Exercising the skills of reasoning.

Critical reasoning focuses on giving reasons for one's beliefs and actions, on analysing and evaluating one's own and other people's reasoning, and devising and constructing better reasoning. This new and original textbook offers the opportunity to practise reasoning in a clear-headed and critical way. It will raise readers' awareness of the importance of reasoning well and help improve their skill at analysing and evaluating arguments.

Anne Thomson combines practical examples drawn from newspaper articles, such as the BSE controversy and reporting on crime statistics, with exercises designed to promote the students' ability to reason well. Her approach is valuable in four important ways: practising particular skills will improve readers' ability to evaluate longer passages of reasoning; the use of lively topics of general interest does not require readers to have specialist knowledge; model answers enable readers to check their progress throughout the book in the classroom or at home; and a final exercise allows readers to form their own opinions on longer passages. This stimulating new textbook encourages students to develop a range of transferable reasoning skills for any discipline, providing an invaluable foundation that will prove useful well beyond school, undergraduate or college studies.