Thinking Critically [Paperback]

John Chaffee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0618536485 | ISBN-13: 978-0618536481 | Edition: 008

Thinking Critically, 8/e, teaches the fundamental thinking, reasoning, reading, and writing abilities that students need for academic success. The text begins with basic skills related to personal experience and then carefully progresses to the more sophisticated reasoning skills required for abstract, academic contexts. Thinking Critically introduces students to the cognitive process while teaching them to develop their higher-order thinking and language abilities. A number of distinctive characteristics make the text an effective tool for both instructors and students. Exercises, discussion topics, and writing assignments encourage active participation, stimulating students to critically examine their own and others' thinking.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What I like most about the book is its many Thinking Activities. It really does live up to the promise that learning comes through doing."

"John Chaffee knows how to put together a fine book, one that easily engages instructor and student."

"I love the way the book is laid out; it's very 'user-friendly' with its colorful pictures, charts, etc. The categories are interesting and engaging. I think any student would be interested in learning from this text. Your book is a winner!" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 008 edition (December 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618536485
• ISBN-13: 978-0618536481
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thinking Critically - Great for new or returning students!, March 2, 2002

By 

"jolly_buddha" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking Critically Sixth Edition (Paperback)

This is the book I used for my 1st college class in many years.
There are tools in here, such as "mind mapping", that I am still using and will continue to use in much of my academic future. Lots of information learned here can easily be applied to work situations as well. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me tremendously with my way of THINKING. :), August 10, 2010

By 

Adrien Caldwell (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thinking Critically (Paperback)

This book is great for helping you learn how to maintain your stance on a belief and being able to identify fallacies in other people's arguments. I found it easy to read and helped empower me to maintain my point of view. This was a required text for college and it is the only book I still own to this day to reference from time to time and refresh my memory.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think about it..., December 27, 2009

By 

Ken (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thinking Critically (Paperback)

I honestly do not understand some of the negative reviews that I read. I originally purchased a heavily used 8th edition of this book for an undergraduate class and returned to Amazon to get a new copy. I am sorry for the people that thought the book was confusing, but honestly I think the material is appropriate for the high school level - I also think the sections on logical fallacies should be mandatory study for junior high level. Overall, it follows the axiom of: "The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

I do not agree with everything in the book. Also, some of the issues that are raised would be benefit more from a classroom environment where students can refine their skills at discussing alternate perspectives in a diplomatic and rational manner. Having said that, I felt it provided good information and exercises in the difficult task of trying to get the reader to think more critically. Some of the valuable information in this book includes understanding personal motivations, how to set and achieve goals in order to make life more enjoyable, and logical fallacies and how to avoid them. On those subjects alone, I recommend this book.