Becoming a Critical Thinker: A User Friendly Manual - Softcover

Diestler, Sherry

3.78

69 ratings by Goodreads

9780131779983: Becoming a Critical Thinker: A User Friendly Manual

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0131779982 ISBN 13: 9780131779983

Publisher: Pearson, 2004

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For courses in Critical Thinking, Informal Logic, Rhetoric, Argumentation, and English courses which cover the Argumentative Essay.

This text trains students to distinguish high-quality, well-supported arguments from arguments with little or no evidence to support them. It develops the skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs.

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Review:

"Diestler has definitely written the book to be just what its cover advertises―user friendly. It is quite easy to read and it presents difficult concepts in a basic way so that the average student has little trouble understanding them . ... A cut above many other critical thinking books." ― R. Natasha Mohr, Creighton University

"There are very few hooks that can introduce a beginner to the thrill of critical thinking in a way that seems fairly uncomplicated, and yet that fosters progressive competency. Diestler's book says to a potential student, 'Come and try critical thinking: it is not scary, and you will soon become better at it than you think!" ― Lee Loots, California State University. Hayward

"For the kind of class that I teach and the particular group of students I encounter, this text is the best I have found." ― Steven Benfell, Western Michigan University

From the Back Cover:

Sherry Diestler has written a straightforward text to train students to distinguish well-supported arguments from ineffectual arguments with little or no evidence to support them. She develops students' skills required to effectively evaluate the many claims facing them, from classic sources as well as contemporary print and broadcast media, as citizens, learners, consumers, and human beings, and also to be effective advocates for their beliefs through both writing and public speaking.

Features

Combines basic principles of logic, rhetoric, and argumentation
Provides extensive contemporary, multicultural issues for students from a variety of disciplines and subject areas
Covers decision-making and the Toulmin model of argumentation
Teaches students the fundamentals of persuasive speaking
Includes end-of-chapter writing and speaking exercises

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