Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking is a study of the techniques and principles of correct reasoning and effective communication. The goals of the course are to provide students training in the techniques of presenting ideas effectively and in a logical manner, including understanding obstacles to thinking well, the basic elements of an argument (for example, analyzing inductive generalizations and hypothetical reasoning, and evaluating arguments for validity, soundness, and cogency), how to distinguish good arguments from bad ones, understanding fallacies, how our worldview influences our thinking, and moral reasoning. It is important to teach people to recognize how a scholar reaches a conclusion, what his premises are, and what his inferences are from those premises, so the student can evaluate the argument for himself.

Exit Standards:

1. Discuss what constitutes a good argument, how arguments work and what makes some arguments better than others. (minimum 600 words)

2. What is the difference between inference and deduction? (minimum two paragraphs)

3. What is a fallacy? (minimum 100 words)

4. What is the difference between an inference and a premise? (minimum 100 words)

5. Take an Indo-European topic essay of minimum of five pages in length and analyze it for soundness, validity, fallacies, rhetorical devices and overall quality of composition. (minimum 600 words)

Content © 2003 - 2006, Michael J Dangler
Updated on 03/14/2006. Site Credits / Email Me!
Basic site design from ADF.org
(Yes, I stole it!)