The Critical Thinking Toolkit: Your Guide to Success in Learning, Thinking and Writing at University (Student Success) - Hardcover

Paula Beesley; Belinda Cooke; Laurence Morris; Louise Warwick-Booth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 152968319X ISBN 13: 9781529683196

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025

Synopsis

Are you looking to develop and master critical thinking skills? This introductory book is designed to meet the need for practical, applied content in this essential area. It guides you through the day-to-day application of critical thinking at university, both in preparation for, during and after university-based learning activities including lectures and seminars and in assessed work including essays, presentations, exams and practical learning opportunities.

Ideal for beginner to advanced students, this book’s approach:

·              Allows you to apply new critical thinking and reasoning skills with exercises and real-world examples

·              Helps you in building your critical thinking skills progressively in a clear way.

·              Enables you to tailor your learning journey to your specific goals with activities, examples, and personalised action plans.

Ideal for students seeking to enhance their critical thinking abilities, this book is a valuable addition to any academic toolkit.

About this title

About the Authors

Doctor Paula Beesley is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Academic Practice Lead at Leeds Beckett University, educator, researcher and author. Her teaching interests include critical thinking in communication skills, practice skill development and placement modules. Her research interests focus on pedagogical development. Her doctoral study identified a model of Collaborative Experiential Learning (Beesley, 2023) to support students on practice placement develop knowledge and skills. More recently, she has undertaken pedagogical research exploring the learning experience and environment for students with reasonable adjustments, inclusion of role play in teaching, the experiences of newly qualified social workers, and most recently exploring student poverty.

Louise is a sociologist with specific interests in health policy and social policy. She is a Reader located in The Centre for Health Promotion Research, which she has co-directed since 2013. Louise joined the University in September 2005 and has taught on a wide range of modules including sociology, health policy, research, community and global policy and health care. She also manages a range of research projects and a team of research staff.

Louise’s research projects are diverse and include a commissioned evaluation of the Way Forward Programme, a project to develop resilience in vulnerable young women with unmet need, the evaluation of a Department of Health Eatwell and Livewell Project to tackle malnutrition amongst the elderly, and the project management of the Sunderland Health Champion Programme.

Louise has recently conducted a range of research with vulnerable young women, drawing upon feminist participatory approaches to data collection in order to give young women voice. Her research has been used in practice to improve interventions during their delivery and in securing future funding for further work in this area. Her other evaluation research is used in practice similarly to further develop interventions, and to capture the voice of service users.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 152968319X
• ISBN 13: 9781529683196
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 216